Highland Cemetery Forest Preserve (Blog Hike #67)

Trails: (numerous)
Hike Location: Highland Cemetery Forest Preserve

Geographic Location: Fort Mitchell, KY (39.03865, -84.54782)

Length: 2.5 miles

Difficulty: 7/10 (Moderate/Difficult)

Dates Hiked: May 2000, May 2017

Overview: A fairly difficult hike with young maple forest and two waterfalls.

Area Information: https://highlandcemeterysite.wordpress.com/

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=186907
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Take I-75 in Kentucky to Dixie Highway (exit 189).  Exit and go south 0.25 miles to the Highland Cemetery entrance.  Turn left to enter the cemetery.  At each intersection, turn right and proceed to the very rear of the cemetery where the road is gated.  Turn left on the last road before you reach the gate and park where the road curves sharply left.  The trail heads east into the forest just to the right of the road.

The hike: Located on a steep hillside in Northern Kentucky, Highland Cemetery Forest Preserve is a rugged, green oasis in an otherwise highly developed area.  Adjacent Highland Cemetery is the second largest in the state.  In 1990, the cemetery's Board of Directors decided to set aside 150 acres of wooded land as a nature preserve and authorized construction of a trail system. 

            Three trails were constructed at that time, and two more have been added since.  Despite the preserve's close proximity to downtown Cincinnati, the narrow trails and steep hills allow the preserve to provide a good bit of solitude.  I suggest hiking these trails in early spring or late fall when understory growth is at a minimum.  Also, these trails contain numerous unbridged stream crossings that are made easier when water tables are low.

Start of Black Squirrel Trail

            This hike starts on the Black Squirrel Trail, one of the preserve's main trails.  The trail starts at a wooden post at the cemetery's edge and heads steeply downhill through a field before turning left to enter the forest.  This part of the trail is steep, badly eroded, and heavily encumbered with undergrowth. Fortunately, trail conditions only improve from here.  The trail drops steeply through young maple forest toward a small feeder stream. 

            At the bottom of the hill, the trail forks, with the Black Squirrel Trail going left and the Opossum Path staying along the stream going right.  The trails reunite in 0.2 miles, so the choice is yours.  I would suggest hiking Opossum Path, as it gives you a view of an old stone springhouse located downhill and across the stream.  Early settlers to the area used such places to keep perishables fresh during the warmer months.

            After Opossum Path rejoins the Black Squirrel Trail, the trail stays at a nearly constant elevation on the hillside heading for its junction with the Box Turtle Trail.  Again, these two trails rejoin later in the hike, so either route will do.  I suggest turning right and following the Box Turtle Trail downhill to follow along a larger creek.  From the intersection, the Box Turtle Trail descends rather steeply to the stream side.

Hiking along a creek

            The water level in this south-flowing creek varies throughout the year from a dry bed of rocks to a raging river after a thunderstorm.  The streamside forest is still dominated by maple with a few black walnuts and sycamores mixed in.  The trail stays on the west side of the creek and soon begins a moderate climb to rejoin the Black Squirrel Trail.

            Continuing straight on the Black Squirrel Trail, the trail curves left around the hillside, soon descending gently to cross a significant tributary of the larger creek.  There is no bridge at this stream crossing, so you could get your feet wet during periods of high water.  Across the stream lies a trail intersection with the Black Squirrel Trail and the Screech Owl Trail.  Turn right to begin the Screech Owl Trail, a lollipop loop trail that gives access to the newer and more remote section of the preserve.  After only 500 feet, the trail forks to form the Screech Owl Trail's loop.  I suggest turning right and hiking the loop counterclockwise. 

Starting the Screech Owl Trail

            The Screech Owl Trail maintains a level elevation with the hillside on the left and the main stream, now smaller than it was back on the Box Turtle Trail, on the right.  About half way around the loop, the Screech Owl Trail turns left while the Fossil Trail continues straight, deeper into the preserve. 

Hiking the Screech Owl Trail

            Begin the Fossil Trail, a short loop trail.  Still following the stream, the Fossil Trail proceeds 500 yards to intersect the Coyote Trail, another short loop trail.  Continue straight to begin the Coyote Trail.  Clinging tenuously to the hillside, the Coyote Trail leads to a small waterfall in the main stream.  A well-placed bench overlooks the waterfall, making a good resting point.  This is also the farthest point from the trailhead on this hike.

            Continuing past the waterfall, the trail turns left and ascends the ridge.  Although the hill is steep, the trail uses a switchback to ascend the ridge, thereby easing the rate of ascent.  This newer trail is an example of good trail construction, contrasting with the older Black Squirrel and Box Turtle Trails, which go straight down the hillside, making for a steeper, more difficult climb.  Also, steeper hills mean greater potential for trail erosion, thus hurting the landscape and making hiking even less pleasant. 

            After a short stint high along the hillside, the trail turns left and descends to close the loop and rejoin the Fossil Trail.  Turn right to continue counterclockwise around the Fossil Trail, which ascends the ridge via a double switchback.  The trail continues high on the hillside for about 500 feet before descending to intersect the Screech Owl Trail.  Turn right on the Screech Owl Trail.  From this point, 900 feet of level hiking will close the Screech Owl Trail's loop and bring you back to the Black Squirrel Trail.

Small waterfalls

            Upon reaching the Black Squirrel Trail, turn right to pass a small waterfall in the stream to your left that looks very similar to the one you saw earlier.  The trail next climbs to a small bluff before descending steeply to cross the creek again.  Immediately after crossing the creek, the Black Squirrel Trail forks.  The trail going right follows the stream and ascends moderately to join the cemetery road.  I suggest turning left: although more difficult, this option will keep you in the forest longer, making for a more scenic walk. 

            The trail begins a long and very steep ascent to the ridgetop.  In case you had not guessed, we have returned to the older section of the trail system.  Once atop the ridge, the trail turns right and passes a few sinkholes on either side of the trail.  Sinkholes such as these are created when groundwater erodes the underlying limestone, causing the soil above it to cave in.  Past the depressions, the trail passes through a small meadow before leaving the preserve to intersect the cemetery road.  A left turn will return you to your car and complete the hike.