Raven Run Nature Sanctuary: Red Woodland Loop (Blog Hike #107)

Trail: Red Woodland Loop

Hike Location: Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

Geographic Location: southeast side of Lexington, KY (37.88713, -84.39733)

Length: 4.6 miles

Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: September 2001, May 2017

Overview: A quality lollipop loop featuring an overlook of the Kentucky River Palisades.

Sanctuary Information: https://www.lexingtonky.gov/raven-run-nature-sanctuary

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=717674
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Lexington, go south on I-75 to Man-O-War Blvd. (exit 108).  Exit and go west.  Take Man-O-War Blvd. 2 miles west to US 25 (Richmond Road) and turn left.  Where SR 418 continues straight, bear right to stay on US 25.  Take US 25 to SR 1975 (Jacks Creek Pike) and turn right on SR 1975.  Where SR 1975 turns right, continue straight on SR 1976 to stay on Jacks Creek Pike.  In another 1.5 miles, turn left to enter Raven Run Sanctuary.  Park in the only public parking lot.

The hike: Located just 30 minutes southeast of Lexington, Raven Run Nature Sanctuary is one of the premier hiking destinations in central Kentucky.  The primary attraction of the preserve is the Kentucky River overlook located 1.0 miles into this hike.  The river flows through one of the few remaining limestone gorges in the Bluegrass, and the overlook perched atop the rim of the gorge makes for a great view and good wildlife viewing opportunities.

            The park is operated by the Fayette County Parks and Recreation Board.  The land consists mainly of young forest in various stages of succession along the hillsides with meadows covering the flatter upland.  Despite its location close to a major population center, the park does not experience a tremendously large volume of visitors, even on pretty weekends.  Still, the fabulous scenery ensures that some trail traffic will be present.

            The trail system at Raven Run is comprised of two main concentric loops.  The shorter and easier Green Loop (not described in detail here) takes the visitor on a sunny journey through the upland meadows.  This trail would be good for viewing summer wildflowers, butterflies, and insects.  The Red Trail is the longer trail and the one described here.  The Red Trail stays in the woodlands for most of its journey and includes the overlook described above.  The two trails are connected by trails marked in blue, with white trails leading to points of interest.  This hike would be excellent for beginning hikers looking to expand their horizons, as the trail provides some length and difficulty without going overboard in either respect.  Also, the trail is well worn and well marked, so getting lost is not easily accomplished.

Heading for the Nature Center

            Start by following signs for the Nature Center, first on a blacktop path, then on a mulch trail.  Stop at a bird blind along the trail which allows you to view several varieties of songbirds up close.  After arriving at the nature center, a small white building housing limited exhibits, pick up a trail map and continue along the gravel trail behind the center.  In 200 feet arrive at the beginning of the Red Trail, which goes right and left while the Green Trail continues straight ahead.  Since the trail is a loop, one could turn either right or left here.  This description assumes a right turn here, hiking the loop counterclockwise.

Start of Red Trail's loop

            Heading east, the trail passes through some meadows following a decaying rock wall, a remnant of this land’s agricultural past.  The presence of hedgeapple trees also give away this land’s prior uses before becoming a nature preserve.  In 0.3 miles the trail turns sharply right and begins a moderate descent into the Chandler Creek ravine.  Just prior to reaching the creek, the trail reaches Point A on your map, also marked by a brown carsonite stake with the letter A and the trail mileage.  Letters go in ascending order, while mileage descends to the finish.

            The trail turns sharply left at Point A and begins following Chandler Creek downstream.  Rather than crossing the stream, the trail curves left again and ascends back to the ridgetop and point B where a blue connector trail goes left.  Continue following the red blazes to the right, which in 0.1 miles descend a wooden staircase to point C, where a side trail leads right to the Kentucky River Overlook.

            Turn right at point C and in 0.1 miles come out atop a rock outcropping which represents the overlook.  Be careful at this overlook, as there are no railings to prevent one from falling over.  The view of the gorge is tremendous, especially in the fall.  The broad, light brown Kentucky River flows some 100 feet below you, and more limestone cliffs can be seen just upstream.  The Kentucky Bluegrass had few gorges to begin with, and most of those that did exist have been dammed to provide energy, flood control, and water recreation.

Kentucky River in palisades

            Take several minutes to soak up the view before returning to the Red Trail, where you should continue straight.  Most people simply hike to the overlook via the route described above and return to the parking lot by reversing course.  Those that choose this option miss some more terrific scenery on the rest of the trail, but this decreases trail traffic for the rest of us.

            Continuing around the Red loop, the trail soon reaches point D where the steep Yellow Trail goes downhill to the right.  Turn left to remain on the Red Trail, which uses switchbacks to climb moderately through some of the best forest on this hike before assuming a more constant elevation through a steep ravine.  As you near the head of the ravine, the trail turns right, crosses the creek on a wooden bridge, then curves gently to the left along the hillside.  The Yellow Trail rejoins from the right at point H as the Red Trail assumes a constant elevation along the wall of the ravine containing the run for which this park is named.

Crossing the power line corridor

            The trail soon crosses a power line corridor for the first of four times then descends slightly to point K, which marks the side trail leading right to the old Evans Mill.  Turn right here and descend moderately to the remains of the mill that once ground corn along the banks of the creek.  The grist mill marks the midpoint of this hike.

            Ascend moderately on a rocky course to reconnect with the Red Trail and continue counterclockwise along the hillside with a tributary of Raven Run on your right.  The trail descends slightly to arrive at point N.  At this intersection, a blue trail continues straight while the Red Trail turns right to cross the creek.  When I hiked this trail in mid-September, the concrete bridge over this stream was out, but the stream was low enough so that I could rock-hop the creek.  In times of higher water, this stream would contain some nice cascades.

            The trail traces a course along the opposite bank of the ravine for 0.2 miles before turning left onto the adjacent ridge.  The power line corridor is crossed for the last two times in quick succession and the trail reenters young succession forest consisting of young maples, junipers, and red cedars.

Climbing out of ravine

            After staying on the ridge for 0.4 miles the trail descends one last time into a ravine.  Although the forest is much younger, the creek much narrower, and the banks less steep, the map confirms that this is actually the upper reaches of the same ravine we passed through near point N.  Upon reaching the creek, the trail turns left, crosses the last wooden bridge, and ascends moderately up the opposite side of the ravine.  An additional 0.4 miles close the loop, bringing us back to the gravel trail behind the nature center.  Turn right here and follow the gravel, mulch, and blacktop trails back to the parking lot to complete the hike.