Program Update
Canoe Trips
The Licking River Overnight Canoe trips are increasing in popularity; both the May 31st trip and September 13th trip have a waiting list. There is however availability for the June 28th and July 19th trips. If you are interested in booking spots for either of the June or July trip, or would like to be placed on the waiting list for the May or September trips, please contact Paul Tierney at ptierney@qx.net.
Museum programming
Memorial Day Weekend is just right around the corner! The Blue Licks Pioneer Museum will be planning numerous activities to enhance the overall experience of the museum visit as part of the parks weekly activities. Visitors will be able to join in on weekly battlefield walks, history lectures in the museum, and hands on activities throughout the summer, all centered around the newly renovated Pioneer Museum.
School Groups
The month of May brings many school groups out into the parks, for Blue Licks, this includes many KY 4th grade classes learning about early Kentucky history. With the newly renovated Pioneer Museum, Blue Licks offers a rare and special look into parts of Kentucky history that many students and teachers never were aware of. From prehistoric times, all the way up to one of Kentucky’s only Revolutionary War battle sites, Blue Licks offers a glimpse into a history of our state you can’t find anywhere else. If you know of any teacher that could benefit from a field trip to Blue Licks, or are teachers looking for information on field trips and resources, give us a call or email us for a free teacher’s packet full of ideas and information on utilizing Blue Licks for your educational needs.
Trail Information
Buffalo Trace Trail
The Buffalo Trace Trail is one of the most historic areas of our park. In prehistoric times, mastodons were attracted to this area in large numbers to lick salt from the springs. Year’s later buffalo used the same trails made by the mastodons to do the same. Now days, you may not see the actual buffalo or mastodons, but you can see the result of there large numbers traveling over the ground for thousands of years. This trail begins at the Nature Center and ends across from the Campground entrance.
Distance: .2 mile
Difficulty: easy
The Licking River Trail
Parts of this trail are thought to be the same escape route used by Daniel Boone at the Battle of Blue Licks. The trail moves along side the River Road for a short distance and then emerges into a forested area of the park where one can find many of the interesting wildflowers that call Blue Licks home. This is a great trail during spring wildflower season. This trail begins beside of the William J. Curtis Shelter House and ends at the Campground registration building.
Distance: app. 1 mile
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Savannah Loop
This addition to the Licking River Trail travels onto a Nature Preserve. While on this trail a visitor can see what perhaps Kentucky looked like over 200 years ago, including old hardwood species and even some of Kentucky’s Native Warm grasses. This trail can be accessed from the Licking River Trail at the Campground registration booth.
Distance: . 5 mile
Difficulty: easy
Indian Run Loop
Blue Licks newest trail follows the Licking River to a small tributary called Indian Run Creek. Along the way one can see the types of plants and animals that live in or around the banks of the Licking. This trail is also a great trail for the spring wildflower season. This trail begins near the intersection of the River Road and Cottage Area.
Distance: .8 mile
Difficulty: easy to moderate
The Blue Licks Heritage Trail
The Blue Licks Heritage Trail retraces the history of the Blue Licks Springs. Ranging from prehistoric times to the present, all of the Blue Licks history revolves around the Salt Springs that were once found here. As you walk this trail, visitors will see a Nature Preserve that is home to one of the most endangered species of wildflower, the Short’s Goldenrod. After traveling through the Nature Preserve, visitors will have the chance to see what life would have been like here at the Spring’s through a re-constructed trade fort, documented being here as early as 1784. Visitors can access the trail from the Buffalo Trace trail beside the Ranger Station.
Estimated distance: 3.5 miles
Difficulty: easy walking