John James Audubon Trails
Museum Trail
The Museum Trail is a short .25-mile loop trail that begins behind the Audubon Museum. This is the easiest trail at the park and features interpretive signs along its course. To walk this trail, follow the service road to the right of the museum and then turn left behind the museum and you will see the trail head sign. Most of this trail is paved.
Kentucky Coffee Tree Trail
The Kentucky Coffee Tree Trail is .5-mile in length. To walk this trail, begin walking on the Museum trail. Then follow the Kentucky Coffee Tree Trail to the right where it will meander and descend to a lush valley. The trail ends at the hilltop where hikers can return to the museum by taking the Woodpecker Trail or by taking a right on the Wilderness Lake Trail and then another right onto the Warbler Road. This trail is hilly.
Woodpecker Trail
Audubon State Park is home to seven species of woodpeckers, many of which can be seen on this trail. The Woodpecker Trail is .4-mile in length. To walk this trail, start walking on the Warbler Road. The trail begins on the left and will descend to the valley. There you will cross a bridge and begin a long steady climb. At the top of the hill you can return to the museum by taking the Kentucky Coffee Tree Trail or by taking a right on the Wilderness Lake Trail and then another right onto the Warbler Road.
Warbler Road
This road is named after the 20 different species of warblers that can be seen and heard at the park in spring and summer. Warblers are small, colorful migratory birds that inhabit the park during the breeding season. This road is also an enjoyable walk to see early spring wildflowers. Many of our trails either begin or end at some point on this paved road. Although it serves as a connector between our parking area and trailheads, many visitors find it to be a rewarding walk by itself. This .7-mile road begins at the main office parking lot and ends at the Wilderness Lake trail head. It is open to foot travel only.
King Benson Trail
The King Benson Trail is named for a former naturalist that worked at Audubon State Park. This relatively easy trail has illustrated interpretive signs that refer to the natural history of the park as well as the artwork of John James Audubon. It is .3-mile in length and begins at a set of steps off of the main office parking lot. Once the trail winds around and joins the Warbler Road, hikers will take a left and follow the road back to the parking area.
Wilderness Lake Trail
The Wilderness Lake is a 13-acre lake which is nestled in part of the park that is dedicated as a State Nature Preserve. To walk this one-mile trail you will walk .25-mile on the Warbler Road and then turn left onto the Wilderness Lake Trail. After following the ridge for a while, the trail will turn left at a shelter that was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and recently restored through an Eagle Scout Project. You will follow a ridge and eventually descend to the lake using a steep stairway. The trail winds around the lake providing a good opportunity for wildlife viewing. A variety of birds including great blue herons, green herons and belted kingfishers can be observed along the bank as well as other wildlife including white-tailed deer, beaver and basking turtles. The trail is also one of the best in the park for observing a diversity of spring wildflowers. At the end of this trail, there will be a steady incline that will lead back to the warbler Road, Follow the road back to the parking area. Total combined hiking distance is 2 miles.
Scenic Overlook Trail
The scenic overlook trail is a short trail that diverges from the Wilderness Lake Trail at the Civilian Conservation Corp shelter. This .22-mile trail provides a rewarding view of the Wilderness Lake from above. Hikers will have to return using the same route.
Back Country Trail
For the more experienced hiker, the Back Country Trail provides welcome solitude. This trail travels over hilly terrain in the rich northern part of the Nature preserve. Although the Back Country Trail is 1.6-miles in length, it must be accessed using the Warbler Road and the Wilderness Lake Trail which makes a loop hike of 3.3 miles.
Eagle Glenn Pet Trail
The Eagle Glenn Pet Trail is the only trail in the park that allows leashed pets. This loop trail was designed and installed through an Eagle Scout Project in 1996. The trail begins at the end of the museum parking lot where it proceeds downhill. Soon you will come to a split in the trail that marks the beginning of the loop. This .9-mile trail is hilly and fairly difficult due to the amount of steps.