bernheim arboretum & forest

Stopped by here for a quick snack recently whilst en route to Bardstown - unfortunately it was not the best of weather and the cafe was very quite however despite that the food was well prepared and service was prompt - quality and quantity of food was very good and I loved the corn bean soup - hit the spot on a cold winters day followed by a delicious smoked ham and cheese toasted sandwich

Visited Bernheim with a 6 year old during the fist week of January. It was open (closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas) and there was much for us to see. Dispite the grey, misty day the park's beauty shown through. We visited the visitor center that offered a small cafe and some Kentucky crafts. The educational center offered samples of natural species and a wonderful wild life viewing room. (A porch area with rocking chairs looking out of a large glass window to a pretty copse of trees with many, full, bird feeders and plenty of feeding birds. ) there are paths of varying lengths suitable for the elderly and small kids all the way up to serious athletes . The canopy tree walk is a wonderful stretch of walkway reaching out from the edge of the hill through the tree tops 75' up into the canopy. (With all the leaves gone it was stunning!) the best patrol the park was the dispersal of various pieces of art throughout the park. For avid walkers it is a wonderful hike. For those not as adventuresome it is a pleasant stroll in Eden.

Great cafe with reasonable prices and several choices... We are volksmarchers and totally enjoyed 10K walk available by asking for the "Walk Box" at visitor center...

My wife and I traveled to Bernheim Forest from Louisville on October 25 to do some hiking for the day. From reading their website, I noticed they had a 5k/10k walk/run in the forest that started at 9am. I sent an email to a nature@bernheim.org that I found on the contact page to inquire about the forest being open with the walk/run that morning. I explained that I would be arriving around 9-9:30am that morning and wanted to hike the Elm Lick trail in the back of the property. I explained that I wanted to be sure I would have access before driving out there and wasting my time. I arrived around 9:30am and paid the $5 admission. The guy working the booth said nothing. As I approached the visitor center, a gentleman directing traffic informed me the road was closed until 10am for the race. I explained to him that is not what I was told but he would not let me through. We decided to spend a little time in the visitor center waiting for the road to open. The worker there had no idea the road was closed either. Around 10am, I walked back to traffic director to see about the roads. He said they were still closed and it would be another 20-30 minutes. At this point, I was mad but there was nothing I could do about it. Finally, the road opened and we were able to drive back to the trailhead. We eventually had a great day hiking the Elm Lick Trail. We even saw a bald eagle soaring overhead on the Tree Canopy Walk. All in all, we had a pretty good day, even though he people working the forest have no idea what is going on. In the future though, we will just stay away if the forest is hosting an even.

Bernheim is a good place for leaf viewing. There are several walking trails to lakes and through woods. The arboretum has good exhibits for nature as well.

Admission is free during the week and $5 per car on the weekends.You could easily just drive through the park and enjoy the beauty or stop and park at trailheads.There are 35 different well-marked trails in the park for all levels of hikers. The Nevin Lake Trail is a very nice and easy walk that circles the lake. There are other short hikes as well. Don't miss the canopy view trail which really isn't a trail but a short boardwalk that gives views out over the treetops. FYI the fire tower trail does not give access to the fire tower. It is gated and locked which I was a little disappointed by. There are plenty of benches and places to have a nice picnic. You can easily find seclusion if you are looking for it but you will also see people. It's a great place to spend the day with nature. You can even have your wedding there.The park is dog friendly and provides bags to clean-up after your dogs at the visitor center. The visitor center, however, is not dog friendly but that is where the maps are located. There is a free map available and a more detailed map/brochure for a dollar at the visitor's center which is located in the middle of the park. They also have a little cafe. Restrooms are available throughout the park.The park has a good website for more information.

We love coming here with our family. There's trails to walk or run, bike lanes, fishing, etc. this place is huge and has endless amounts of stuff to do.

Large area with a variety of activities. A nice selection of areas to walk. There are plenty of informative signs explaining the plants and activity areas. Edible garden is interesting. Visited on a weekday. We enjoyed the lemon twist turkey sandwich at Isaac's Cafe. Highly recommend for a visit to spend a couple of hours especially in cooler temperatures.

Beautiful peaceful place. Something for everyone and great place to take family photos. Take the time and stop and enjoy.

Bernheim is a great place to spend the day. There are plenty of trails to hike and a big lake to fish in if you're so inclined. There are also activities for young children that the park employees put on, and you can also see some eco-friendly art around the park.

Arrived early for Kentucky Music Week to explore the Bardstown area. Decided a nature hike was in order as this vacation is all about relaxing and doing different things.The entrance to Bernheim Forest does not do justice to the contents of this wonderful place. $5.00 per car gets you onto a long drive that appears to be prairie.You wind around on well paved roads to ample visitor parking and a beautiful visitor center shaded by a massive pergula draped in Virginia Creeper. Bernheim has acres of walking paths and trails taking you around three (3) ponds of varying sizes with fishing allowed in the largest.The trails range from asphalt, compacted gravel but there are others for the adventurous hiker which take you above the tree canopy. There are overlooks at the ponds, places to sit, and gorgeous plantings.Trail lengths range from easy 1/2 miles to rigorous 13.75 miles around the entire perimeter.There are turtle/fish food dispensers near the ponds (at 25 cents). The turtles and fish do not disappoint and show up in numbers.There is an education center with a viewing room that includes live bee hives. Bernheim Forest is the most immaculate nature area I have ever visited. This place is a treasure with information about sustainability, edible gardens, tremendous varieties of plants and trees. You could easily get lost in the feeling that you are there alone when standing on the overlooks and peering into the streams. The birds and other wild life appear to be quite happy there.I did not even notice mosquitos but then there were Purple Martin homes, bat boxes, and other insect eating animal accomodations.

Isaac Wolf Bernheim (the IW of IW Harper's Bourbon) created a foundation to reclaim 14,000 acres of logged out and mined out land in the Bourbon Country of Kentucky. This beautiful oasis is now a beautifully preserved arboretum and research center that is beautiful pristine forest, field and pond. It is a living experiment of how we should care for the land and learn from it…by the way it is directly across from the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont…don't miss this beautiful natural setting.

Monday through Friday visit Bernheim Forest free. There's so much to do in this beautiful park not far from Louisville. Bring your bikes for a leisurely ride. Take one of many trails. Wander the plant study areas and see labeled mature plants in the various seasons. Fish on Lake Nevin. View art in nature from the many artists-in-residence who've worked in the Park. Bring some bread or crackers and feed the ducks. Visit the green visitor's center designed by the husband of Caroline Kennedy. Take the tree top canopy trail and get a birds' eye view of the park. Don't forget your camera and a blanket to relax on after all the activity. If you go on the weekends it's $5.00 a carload. Google the Bernheim site for events in the park year round. Truly a treasure.

A wonderful park, just a short drive from Louisville. Lots of trails, ponds, and well maintained visitor center. Kids had a wonderful time feeding the fishes and the turtles. Don't forget to carry some quarters to buy some fish food from the kiosks installed next to the ponds.

A wonderful park, with miles of trails, Picnic areas, Also paved Bicycle and walking paths. There are exhibits and outdoor art, fishing. Lake Nevin has a great Mile and a quarter mostly flat gravel trail around it, to walk or run. Lots of open area for the kids to play.