Fall is almost here! Nothing says autumn like tree leaves changing from green to glowing red and oranges.
Many people think they have to delay their leaf-peeping until autumn is in full swing, but there are hidden gems in Kentucky where the leaves begin to turn as early as mid-September and Louisville parks are some of the perfect places to see leaves turn.
If you're looking for peak time, The Farmer's Almanac , which has been predicting long-range weather outlooks annually since 1818, has released its 2024 fall leaves peak color forecast. According to the Almanac, leaves start to change in the Midwest, which includes Kentucky, by late September. And according to the Explore Fall: Interactive Foliage Map , the peak time to see fall colors in this region is between Oct. 28 and Nov. 4.
Keep in mind that autumn doesn’t last that long, so get out and take in the colors before the leaves and temperatures drop for winter. Here are some of the best places in the Louisville area to see unbe- leaf able fall colors.
2075 Clermont Road, Clermont, Kentucky; bernheim.org
Bernheim Forest has more than 16,000 acres of lush green landscapes and tall trees as far as the eye can see in Bullitt and Nelson counties. It also has more than 40 miles of trails open to walkers and bikers and a canopy tree walk that takes you up into the trees themselves. See the colorful fall displays that include maples, dogwoods, magnolias, conifers, cypresses, hollies and buckeyes. Walk, hike or bike the trails and see the mature trees in a natural setting.
Lake Nevin Loop Trail is a very easy walk that circles the lake, and the canopy tree walk isn't a trail but a short boardwalk that extends into the forest canopy, suspending visitors 75 feet above the forest floor, offering breathtaking views of the gorgeous knobs. These are two prime locations to watch leaves turn and you can view trail locations on its interactive map.
1340 South 4th St.; olmstedparks.org/park/central-park/
One of the city's smaller parks, Central Park was formerly the country estate of the DuPont Family and was converted into a park between 1904 and 1905 with plans created by Frederick Law Olmsted. The park is a 17 acre green oasis with places to sit or walk and take in the fall folage in the Old Louisville neighborhood.
Central Park is most known for hosting the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival , Jazz in Central Park and other visual and performing arts. The Louisville Visitor Center in located in the park. Despite its size, the park has walking paths, as well as a playground, sprayground, picnic tables and volleyball and tennis courts and plenty of trees to watch the leaves turn.
745 Cochran Hill Road; louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/cherokee-park
Cherokee Park was planned by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who designed New York City's Central Park. It has rolling hills, open meadows and woodlands of the Beargrass Creek valley.
The park is 409 acres, and the main feature is its 2.4-mile Scenic Loop with rolling hills, open meadows and woodlands with separate lanes for vehicle traffic (one-way) and a second for pedestrians and bicyclists. It's a great place to see the leaves turn in your car, on a walk, hike or bicycle. There are multiple trails that leave the main loop for those looking for a quieter hike through a more heavily wooded area with plenty of trees. The secret to the park is to keep turning left to stay in the park or keep turning right to leave the park.
Along with the walking trails, there are basketball courts, a playground, picnic tables, grills, a nine-hole golf course, Hogan’s Foutain (dog-and horse-watering fountain), Nettleroth Bird Sanctuary and dog run. Cochran Hill Dog Run is located between Interstate 64 and Lexington Road at the northern end of the park. The dog park is divided to allow one side for all dog use and one side for small dog use.
1024 Thruston Ave.; louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/george-rogers-clark-park
While Iroquois Parks has the city's tallest tree, G eorge Rogers Clark has the oldest, a more than 200-year-old bald cypress protected by a fenced enclosure on Mulberry Hill. Cypress trees are one of the few that aren't evergreen and sheds its needle-like leaves during the fall. Their fall colors are tan, cinnamon, and a fiery orange. Beargrass Creek runs through much of the park, and is crossed by numerous pedestrian and automobile bridges.
There are plenty of other color-changing trees at the park, surrounding the 46 acres of land. The park has a horseshoe pit, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, multi-purpose field and playground. A good place to see the leaves changing is going up Mulberry Hill. You can get a great view your surroundings and ther picnic tables if you want to stop and sit.
2120 Rundill Road; olmstedparks.org/park/iroquois-park/
Iroquois Park was also designed by Olmsted and designed in 1891. It's the south Louisville cornerstone of the park system, is made up of 725 acres, and has plenty of forested hillsides and scenic vistas for those willing to walk the extra mile, the panoramic North Overlook. This is a good place to watch fall foliage; from the top, you can see panoramas of Louisville and trees for miles.
Iroquois Park also has an open-air amphitheater, where a variety of concerts and other shows are held throughout the year. The park has a playground as well as areas for basketball, tennis, disc golf, fishing, golf, picnics and more.
Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of the easy hiking trails in Iroquois Park that is great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? There are trails ranging from 213 to 314 feet in elevation gain.
11311 Mitchell Hill Road; louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/jefferson-memorial-forest
Jefferson Memorial Forest has approximately 6,600 acres of steep slopes covered with mature, second growth hardwood trees. The forest spans nearly 10 miles from east to west and is ribboned with scenic trails and small streams. It also has a fishing lake, outdoor recreational facilities, a conference center, and a welcome center with trail maps, hiking supplies, nature related books and souvenirs and more. Mitchel Hill Lake Trail is one of the popular trails of the forest, a must do for fall foliage.
To see a full list of the trails and their difficulty levels, go to louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/hit-trails. For more information and details regarding hiking/camping and other amenities, go to wildernesslouisville.org .
1297 Trevilian Way ; louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/joe-creason-park
Joe Creason Park is across the street from Bellarmine University and is a popular spot for bird watchers and cross-country runners with its 1.5-mile paved walking path that circles Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve. There are two hills along the route along with two bridges a prime place to see leaves turn, according to louisvilleky.gov.
The park has a playground with several swing sets and two separate playgrounds that are near each other. Also, several picnic tables and home to Louisville Tennis Center.
Multiple locations; theparklands.org/
The Parklands is made up of four parks, Beckley Creek Park; Pope Lick Park; Turkey Run Park, Broad Run Park and the Strand, a collection of land that links the two northern and the two southern parks.
It features 19 miles of the Louisville Loop and over 60 miles of hiking, biking, and paddling trails thread throughout. Each park has its own personality. The paved or natural-surface trails that wind along the creek at Beckley Creek Park are a perfect place to see fall foliage and at Broad Run Park check out the Big Vista Overloop.
4501 W. Broadway; louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/shawnee-park
Shawnee Park was also designed by Olmsted and is located in west Louisville along the Ohio River. He designed it to be a public space for picnics, sports, parades and large public gatherings.
Shawnee boasts an expansive Great Lawn, the principal feature of the park is enclosed by plantings and a circular drive that is lined with trees. It is a great place to view the trees fall colors.
Improvement to Shawnee Park includes floating vegetative islands, three chess tables and the restored Lily Pond, another great place to watch fall color.
The park has a state-of-the-art outdoor athletic complex at 230 Southwestern Parkway, an 18-hole golf course and includes a portion of Louisville's Riverwalk Trail extending across the city's waterfront. There is a nature play space where kids can use their imagination and basketball courts, road biking, baseball diamonds as well as access to Louisville Loop.
Shawnee Park is also home to Kentucky’s premier outdoor summer basketball league, The Dirt Bowl . Basketball players from the region, including NBA and NCAA stars, have graced the courts at Shawnee Park.
4800 Waverly Park Road; louisvilleky.gov/government/parks/park-list/waverly-park
Not far from the famous Louisville haunted attraction Waverly Hills Sanatorium and adjacent to the Bobby Nichols Golf Course , you’ll find Waverly Park is the perfect destination for those wanting to take in Louisville's fall colors.
Waverly Park is also a favorite place of mountain bikers and hiking enthusiasts due to its extensive system of shared-use trails (biking/hiking) and its 6.4-mile mountain biking loop. It has a scenic 5-acre fishing lake that is regularly stocked by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife (open to anyone with a valid fishing license), playground, nine hole golf course, canoe access and two shelters that can be rented for picnics or other types of gatherings. An accessible gravel trail encircles Waverly Lake a good location to walk and watch leaves turn.
Reach features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Here are 10 places, parks to see fall foliage in the Louisville area
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