Clyde E. Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary (Blog Hike #145)

Trails: Blue and White Trails

Hike Location: Clyde E. Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary

Geographic Location: south of Frankfort, KY (38.13477, -84.85511)

Length: 1.3 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: June 2004, May 2017

Overview: An easy walk through the upland forests of central Kentucky.

Sanctuary Information: http://www.centralkentuckyaudubon.org/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940323
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: The route into Buckley Sanctuary is complicated, so follow these directions carefully.  Take I-64 to US 60 (exit 58) just east of Frankfort.  Exit and go south on US 60.  Take US 60 less than 0.5 miles to SR 1681 and turn right on SR 1681.  Take SR 1681 south 2.5 miles to its end at SR 1659.  Turn left on SR 1659.  Take SR 1659 1.6 miles to SR 1964 and turn right on SR 1964.  Take SR 1964 1.1 miles to Germany Rd. and turn right on Germany Rd.  Take Germany Rd. north, bearing right at a junction with Shore Acres Rd.  The park entrance is located on Germany Rd. 1.3 miles north of SR 1964.  Turn left to enter the sanctuary, and park in the gravel “public parking” area.

The hike: Although Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary is located only 4 miles as-the-crow-flies from the state capitol of Kentucky, these grounds make you feel as if you are 100 miles from anywhere.  As the directions indicate, this destination is fairly remote, and you may very well find yourself as the only hiker on the trail.  Even on a nice Saturday morning in June, we were the only car in the parking lot when we pulled in.  So you will not just happen to end up here, but for those who make the effort, the rewards abound.

            The Clyde E. Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1967 when Emma Buckley donated 275 acres of land to the National Audubon Society as a memorial to her husband.  Since that time, the not-for-profit organization has managed the land as a sanctuary for wildlife and humans seeking to get back to nature.  The nominal fee charged for admission to the sanctuary, payable at the “well” located near the parking area, stays at the sanctuary and helps provide for the maintenance of the trails and nature center, which is open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in the summer.

            Three trails traverse the land at the sanctuary.   All three trails start from the signboard located just uphill from the parking area, and all three trails have numbered self-guiding posts.  Trail brochures are also available at the signboard.   Energetic nature enthusiasts should consider the Red Trail, a 3.5 mile trail that leads through succession forest to the banks of the Kentucky River.  This hike will include the brief 0.3 mile White Trail and the somewhat longer 1 mile Blue Trail to create an easy 1.3 mile hike through the forest at the Buckley Sanctuary.

White and Red Trails enter the woods

            At the information board, pick up a white folder and a blue folder, trail guides for the white and blue trails respectively.  Look west across the field for a white wooden rabbit nailed to a tree that marks the beginning of the White Trail.  The White and Red Trails enter the forest along the same treadway.  Pass a new picnic shelter on the right while traveling through upland forest dominated by maple and beech.  In 0.1 miles, a red wooden fox directs the Red Trail to turn right while another white rabbit directs the White Trail to the left.  Follow the rabbit’s paw and take the left fork.

            At 0.2 miles, the trail begins treading along the hillside above Elk Lick Branch, which is not visible downhill to the right.  At 0.33 miles, the White Trail returns you to the parking area.  The Blue Trail begins at almost the same spot, exiting to the right and back into the forest.  The Blue Trail is marked with blue paint blazes and a blue wooden bird that cleverly directs you with an outstretched wing.

Sign marking Blue Trail

            The Blue Trail heads gently downhill to intersect a grassy power line swath where it curves left.  Numbered posts correspond to numbers in the trail guides you picked up from the information board.  0.5 miles into the hike, the trail leaves the power line swath by curving right and reentering the woods.  The trail crosses a small creek without the aid of a bridge before beginning a long, gentle uphill climb toward the pond.  Notice the large fungi growing out of some of the dead trees along your walk up to the pond.

            0.7 miles into the Blue Trail, the trail comes out beside the pond.  This small pond is man-made, created by damming a couple of tributaries of Elk Lick Branch.  The pond’s isolation makes it a great place to sneak up on some wildlife.  On our visit, dragonflies were buzzing around the banks, and a couple of turtles were sunning themselves on logs in the pond.  We heard but could not see some frogs blurping out their mating calls from the water.

The Mathprofhiker's mother beside the pond

            The trail heads along the right bank of the pond before darting in the woods to cross one of the pond’s tributaries without the aid of a bridge.  The trail then curves left for a second pass, now along the eastern end of the pond, before heading back into the woods for good.  All of these turns are marked by blue blazes.

            Paralleling sparsely traveled Germany Road, the trail descends moderately along another power line swath.  0.9 miles into the Blue Trail (1.2 miles from the start of the hike as described here), the trail reaches and then crosses the sanctuary entrance road.  Across the road, the trail passes along the southern edge of an active hay field.  Uphill, you can see an old red and black tobacco barn that is now used for storing the hay harvested from this field.  Now heading west, a short stint through the woods will leave you in front of the nature center.  Complete the hike by walking to the left of the nature center to the public parking area, making sure to return the trail guides to the information board before leaving.