LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As summer starts to wind down and fall settles into the Commonwealth, many people will head to Kentucky’s hiking trails to see the change of seasons.

The Kentucky State Park system offers more than 300 miles of hiking trails, including horseback riding and mountain bike trails. Whether you’re a beginner looking to get your feet wet, or a skilled hiker looking for a more strenuous challenge – there is a trail for you.

State Naturalist Robert Myers says fall is a great time to get out and enjoy the state’s various hiking trails. He recently hiked Pine Mountain State Resort Park and saw box turtles, deer and raccoon among other wildlife.

“Right now all of the wildlife are moving around quite a bit,” said Myers. “Beautiful song birds are still here. They have not migrated south yet, so it’s a wonderful time of year.”

The trails also attract many Kentuckians who are eager to see fall leaves changing colors.

Kentucky State Parks also offers guided hikes at many state parks. Some of these guided tours appeal to specific interests like birding, wildlife identification or wildflower walks. You can learn more about the various upcoming guided hiking tours on the Kentucky State Parks website. 

“If you can’t go on a guided, hike we also have self-interpretive hikes at a lot of our parks. As long as you have a map, and you go out, there will be little monument areas describing what you’re looking at as you go along the trails,” Myers said.

In order to ensure a safe adventure on Kentucky’s trails, Myers says to get a trail map before you begin a hiking trail, carry water with you, let someone know where and when you are hiking, and take your time.