Boone County: Nature Trails, Fossils, and History

Boone County combines outdoor experiences with tangible traces of its history. At Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, fossils of prehistoric animals sit alongside several hiking trails; Rabbit Hash offers a different focus with its historic general store. When choosing a hotel for your stay, the order of your visits can help: first decide whether nature, cultural heritage, or a scheduled event will shape your trip.

Nature: Trails, Forest, and Wetlands

The visitor center at Big Bone Lick State Historic Site displays fossils of many prehistoric animals that lived in this area. The site has 4.5 miles of hiking trails across five routes, ranging from easy to moderate in difficulty. Boone County Arboretum offers a different kind of trail: a winding multi-use trail more than two miles long; the grounds cover 121 acres. It was the first arboretum in the United States located within an actively used recreation park. In direct comparison, Big Bone Lick offers several trails, while the arboretum has one longer, winding multi-use trail.

The nature themes also differ beyond the trails. Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve features diverse flora and fauna as well as unique geological features; wildflowers, ferns, and shrubs are among the plants found there. The Boone Cliffs and Dinsmore Woods State Nature Preserves area protects a relatively undisturbed forest of maples, oaks, and ash trees in Boone County. England-Idlewild Park includes fishing ponds and natural wetlands. Alongside the trails, you will find a variety of landscapes and plants.

Cultural Heritage and Historic Places

The original outbuildings at Dinsmore Homestead house 19th-century farm equipment and cooking utensils. Most of Rabbit Hash’s historic buildings have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Rabbit Hash General Store was built around 1831 and is considered the best-known and best-preserved country store in Kentucky. The ruins of the historic Crisler-Gulley Mill, built in 1817, are located at the Earl and Hazel Jones Center for Conservation.

The events calendar can also factor into your trip planning: Rabbit Hash Old Timers Day is an annual cultural heritage event in Boone County. Check the event dates before your visit.

Visiting Hours and Getting Around

Guided tours of Dinsmore Homestead are offered on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tours begin on the hour between 1 and 5 p.m.; the last tour starts at 4 p.m. Since operating details may change, check the times before your visit.

During the spring, summer, and fall seasons, you can explore the Boone County Environmental and Nature Center grounds on three maintained trail systems during the “Hike the Trails” events. The Nature Park Event Center at Florence Nature Park can be rented by the public for parties or special occasions. Rental arrangements may change; check current options if you’re planning a visit for this purpose.

Stringtown Park is located on Kentucky Route 18 (Burlington Pike), between Kathryn and Wallace Avenues in the eastern part of Florence. It covers 8 acres and is open from morning until evening. Since park hours may change, check current opening hours before your visit. Boone County Distilling Co. is about one mile from Interstate I-75; this approximate distance may help you plan your route.

Discover more destinations: Walton, Florence, Petersburg, Hebron, Verona, Harlan, Jessamine County, Nelson.

For the broader travel overview: Kentucky.