Lower Howard's Creek Guided Hikes
Lower Howard's Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve contains endangered and threatened plant species and sensitive historic cultural sites, therefore, all hikes into the Preserve must be with an approved guide. Pets are not allowed into the Preserve.

photos above by Jim Lane, www.thephotolane.com

FALL 2009

Open a printable schedule by clicking here.

Fall is a great time to lace up your hiking shoes and get moving in cooler temperatures after this long hot summer.

All hikes will start at the Preserve’s main entrance/parking lot on Athens-Boonesboro Road unless otherwise noted.

Please call the Preserve manager at (859) 744-4888 and leave a message to make reservations. Since this is a Kentucky State Nature Preserve, no dogs are allowed on the hikes. Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. Hikers should dress according to the expected weather. The terrain at the Preserve is quite steep and rocky, so please wear appropriate shoes or boots. Shallow creek crossings are a possibility on all hikes and your feet may get wet. Please call the preserve manager if there is a question about suitability of the weather. It is recommended that you carry water and trail snacks. Hike is free to members of the Friends of Lower Howard's Creek, $5 donation suggested for each non member.

September 12, 2009 - 10 a.m. - Slow Stretch Hike: Fall flowers will be in evidence after a summer of above average rainfall. Join the preserve manager for a hike into the creek valley along the historic road. Moderately strenuous, 3 hours. Call 859-744-4888 to reserve your spot.

September 20, 2009 - 2 p.m. - Sunday Afternoon Hike: Meet at Hall's on the River for a hike into the lower creek valley. We will traverse old roads and trails through abandoned quarries for one of our less strenuous hikes. Creek crossings, so come prepared with either boots or water sandals for the crossings. 3 hours. Call 859-744-4888 to reserve your spot.

October 3-4, 2009 - Lower Howard’s Creek Rock Fence Workshop: The Dry Stone Conservancy will hold a public Introductory Workshop on dry stone wall construction at Lower Howard's Creek. This will be two full days of classroom and hands-on instruction in the structural techniques required to build or restore a durable early Kentucky rock fence or retaining wall. Workshop registration is is limited so register early. Registration forms are available at www.drystone.org.

photo by James Mann, Winchester Sun photo by Jim Lane, www.thephotolane.com

October 3, 2009 - 10 a.m. - Rock Fence Hike: Since the Dry Stone Conservancy is sponsoring a workshop at the Preserve we will take the opportunity to hike to some of the finer and more unusual examples of stone walls within the Preserve. Moderately strenuous, 3 hours. Call 859-744-4888 to reserve your spot.

October 25 - 2 p.m. Fall Colors: Fall colors should be peaking this weekend. This is a Sunday hike, so we will leave a bit later than on our Saturday hikes. Weather and creek level permitting, we’ll head a bit further upstream than we normally do to check out the leaf color on the Preserve’s Viburnum molle and witchhazel population. 3 hours, moderately strenuous.

October 31 - 10 a.m. Halloween: As one would imagine, the LHC valley has accumulated its fair share of ghost stories through the 200+ years of its occupation. Today’s hike will take visitors through the Thompson Ridge settlement and several old cemeteries. Your guide will polish up her story telling skills to recount true hair-raising tales that occurred there during the last two centuries. 3 hours, moderately strenuous.

November 7 - 10 a.m. Trail Workday: Volunteer trail repair workshop for members and those that want to help. A recently acquired Transportation Enhancement grant will allow us to improve 2miles of trails within the Preserve. We need help scouting out and flagging the route of the old Salt Springs trace. Bring your gloves and hand-tools such as machetes, grubbing hoes, axes and loppers. We’ll meet at Hall’s on the River and work our way upstream past Kitt’s hole. There’s not a lot of work to do, but it will be a chance for the Friends of Lower Howard’s Creek to orient themselves to the interesting features on the lower end of the Preserve. Plan on spending about 3 hours for this outing, with opportunity for longer hike when the trail work is finished. Not a member of the Friends’ group? Use this opportunity to become one.

November 14 - 9 a.m. Plant Ecology: Bill Crankshaw is a retired PhD forest ecologist who offers a unique perspective on the ecological relationships between the different areas within the LHC Preserve. Join Bill for a hike that will open your eyes to the diversity of plants within the Preserve. Main entrance. 3 hours, moderately strenuous.

December 5 – 10 a.m. Quarry tour: CANCELLED - RESCHEDULED ON DECEMBER 13.

December 12 – 9 a.m. Preserve Topography: Dr. Bill Crankshaw will also lead this hike, starting at the Main Entrance. Most of the leaves should be off the trees by this date, so Dr. Crankshaw’s emphasis will be on the topography rather than the plants. Expect some creek crossings as you work your way upstream past the Martin dam site to one of our least visited areas within the Preserve. 3 hours, moderately strenuous.

December 13 – 10 a.m. Quarry tour: This tour is not for the faint-hearted! We will meet at the Main Entrance and work our way through several quarries scattered throughout the Preserve, ending the tour at Hall’s on the River. Length of hike is 4 hours, with multiple creek crossings.

We will be limiting the group size for all these hikes in order to maintain a good experience for everyone. Reservations are required by calling the Preserve Manager at (859) 744-4888. Guest tour guides are being scheduled, and will be announced as their programs become available. Volunteer training for invasive plant eradication, trail construction, environmental education, and historic interpretation are being planned. If you would like to schedule a private hike for a family or group, call the reservation number to find out available dates.

photo by Jim Lane, www.thephotolane.com