Big Bone Lick State Historic Site: Coralberry Trail (Blog Hike #71)

Trail: Coralberry Trail
Hike Location: Big Bone Lick State Historic Site

Geographic Location: west of Walton, KY (38.88508, -84.74415)

Length: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: August 2000, August 2012

Overview: A hilly course through young forest and field near the perimeter of the state park.

Park Information: https://parks.ky.gov/union/parks/historic/big-bone-lick-state-historic-site
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=717298
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Take I-75 in Kentucky to SR 338 (exit 175).  Exit and go west.  Take SR 338 west 7 miles to the park entrance.  Turn left to enter the park.  Turn left at the first side road.  Park in the gravel lot at the end of this road.

The hike: Nestled in the rural hills of southern Boone County, Big Bone Lick State Historic Site (formerly known as Big Bone Lick State Park) is a popular recreation spot and getaway for many people in greater Cincinnati.  The park is named for a fossil excavation that took place on this land earlier this century.  This and other features of the land's history can be explored at a museum located on the park grounds.  Just follow signs from the park entrance to get there. 

            The park also contains a small lake popular for fishing, a picnic area, a developed campground that stays very busy in the warmer months, and a few hiking trails.  A short trail traces a course around the lake, while a longer one known at the Coralberry Trail follows the park boundary for much of its distance.  This hike combines portions of both trails for a grand tour of the park's lake area.

Climbing steps to the dam

            The hike begins where the side road leading to our parking area ends at a vehicle gate.  Past the gate, the trail turns right and begins a short but steep ascent to the dam creating the park's 7.5 acre lake.  The lake is not visible until you have almost completed the climb up the wooden in-ground steps.  Reach a trail intersection on the right (west) side of the dam.  Turn left here, cross the dam, continue straight at another intersection on the east side of the dam, and enter the forest.

Crossing the dam

            The trail begins a steep descent through young forest to arrive near Big Bone Creek.  At this point, the wide dirt trail turns right and begins an equally steep climb out of the creek valley.  Over the next 0.2 miles you will gain over 200 feet in elevation.  At the top of the hill, the forest opens up somewhat and a hay field comes into view just over the fence on your left.

            The trail proceeds to turn gradually to the right, dipping through a couple of drainages from the fields on your left.  A herd of cows not 20 feet away stared at me eerily as I walked along the trail on a warm, muggy, August evening.  The trail soon climbs a small rise and comes out at the rear of the campground near a white water tower.  Make your way to the paved campground road, so as not to disturb the campers, and go right. 

            Stay to the right whenever the road forks and soon arrive at the recreation hall on the right.  Go to the rear of the hall and pick up a trail that enters the forest at a red Kentucky State Park sign.  The trail drops steeply, heading toward the park's small lake.  At a T-intersection, turn left and cross a small footbridge soon to come out at a wide gravel road.  Turn right on this trail, and soon the lake comes into sight.

Park lake

            The trail turns left to follow the west shore of the lake, which lies on the right. A sharp right turn to cross the spillway on a wooden footbridge will return you to the top of the wooden steps leading down to the parking lot.  Turn left and descend the steps to finish the hike.

Wooden bridge over spillway