Howard: Hiking, Nature and Golf

Howard is a destination with specific outdoor activities: hiking trails, a paved multi-use route and a golf course with clear details. Nature highlights also include a habitat for state-threatened wildlife species and riverbank beaches along Jelloway Creek. For your trip planning, it helps to first decide what you would like to focus on: hiking, water, natural areas or golf.

Hiking Trails and Waterside Destinations

Honey Run Highlands Park covers 348 acres and has hiking trails. From Honey Run Waterfall, visitors can hike to the Kokosing River. These are different points of reference for choosing an outing: the park’s terrain and trails define what it offers, while the Kokosing River is the named destination for the second option. If you like to plan around a specific hiking destination, the route from the waterfall to the river provides a clear point of reference.

Hellbender Preserve has the Buckeye Grove Loop Trail. A nature trail also provides access to riverbank beaches along Jelloway Creek. Here, you can choose between two different features: a specifically named loop trail and a path that leads to the riverbank beaches. If you’re looking for a connection to the water for your outing, the nature trail is a good point of reference; if you’d prefer a loop on a named trail, consider the Buckeye Grove Loop Trail.

A Paved Multi-Use Trail

The Kokosing Gap Trail runs through Howard and is paved. It can be used for hiking, jogging, cycling and rollerblading. This makes it a versatile option for travelers who want to include more than one way of getting around in their plans. Its paved surface and the activities specifically listed give it a different profile from a nature trail or a hike to a particular river destination. If jogging, cycling or rollerblading are also important to you, in addition to hiking, this trail offers a clear point of reference.

Wildlife Habitat and Golf Course

Honey Run Highlands Park offers outstanding habitat for state-threatened wildlife species. In addition to its hiking trails, the habitat adds a distinct nature focus: for travelers interested in habitats and threatened species, it is a specific feature of the park landscape. This means you can consider the park not only for its trails but also for its significance as wildlife habitat.

Howard is also home to Apple Valley Golf Course. The golf course has 18 holes, covers 160 acres and is listed as a par 72. These details describe different features: the number of holes, the course par and its area. If golf is part of your reason for traveling, this gives you a more detailed picture of the course than simply knowing that golf is available. Golf is therefore a distinct focus alongside hiking and nature in Howard.

Choosing the Right Activity for Your Plans

If, when hiking, you care most about the type of trail, the paved Kokosing Gap Trail and its multiple uses provide a clear point of reference. If you would rather take a hike to a named destination, the route leads from Honey Run Waterfall to the Kokosing River. Hellbender Preserve adds a nature trail to riverbank beaches to these options. These differences can help you decide what to focus on during your stay and choose Howard as a destination that suits your interests.

Discover more destinations: Gambier, Mount Vernon.

View the main travel overview: Knox County.