Enjoying fall without taking in the beauty of the fall leaves is like eating a warm brownie without ice cream. It just should not happen!
To help you avoid such a mistake, here’s our top 5 favorite family favorites to enjoy the fall foliage in Louisville:
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest: An easy drive south of Louisville, this forest is a great one for a morning or afternoon trip with the family. The Tree Canopy is an easy walk to view some fall foliage being 75 feet above the forest floor. Be sure to read our review here and check out their website for more on exploring Bernheim with children.
Clifty Falls State Park: This park is a family favorite to get immersed with the colors of fall with the views, the waterfalls, and variety of rugged trails to hike. It is a great day trip (about 90min from Louisville) to pack a picnic and go. A short review of the park and the park’s website are helpful.
Jefferson Memorial Forest: This forest gives you a chance to enjoy nature’s beauty without leaving home too far behind. Check our review out and their website for more information on their trails and other activities.
Knobstone Trails: For the families with older kids or feeling more adventurous this fall, Knobstone Trails is a great place to do some backcountry hiking and camping. Indiana Outfitters has some great info on these trails. We have only hiked the one close to Deam Lake with our young family. We enjoyed the geocaching and the views.
Mammoth Cave, Brown County State Park, and Red River Gorge Area: So I have combined my favorite- farther- away- places to take in the changing leaves of the trees. They are all trips doable in a day. However, if you have a free weekend in the fall, they are worth spending more time there. After touring the cave, Mammoth Cave trails has some great overlooks perfect for fall. Here’s our review.
Red River Gorge has it all – the scenic views, good mix of different levels of trails, the natural bridge, outdoor adventures – rock climbing, zip lining. We also have a great post about tips for visiting Red River Gorge that you would find helpful. Click here. As you can see from the view in the photo above, it’s such a sight. That photo was taken before the colors started to change. You will not be disappointed enjoying the season of fall here for sure when the colors are so vibrant! For a review of Nature Bridge State Park and Resort which is a part of the Red River Gorge area check out this link.
Kentuckiana has so many fantastic outdoor places to enjoy the fall foliage, it was difficult to choose a top 5. Find your family’s favorite places to visit to see the oranges, browns, and reds on trees!
