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Boone Cliffs State Nature Preserve

4.7 (14 reviews)

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Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy's website
Karina M.

This 74 acre state nature preserve is owned by The Nature Conservancy, an international non-profit agency dedicated to preserving ecologically important lands and waters. Boone Cliffs is a wonderful retreat into the pristine backwoods of Kentucky yet is only a short scenic drive (about 20-30 minutes) from Interstate 75. The "cliffs' of this park rise 20- to 40-feet above the valley floor, creating a scenic view of the flora and fauna below. Hiking, photography, birdwatching and nature study are welcome at Boone Cliffs. However, rappelling, rock-climbing, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, and ATV riding are strictly prohibited. Pets are also prohibited from the park. The preserve sits toward the back of a residential road and isn't very well marked. The beginning of the trail is easy to navigate for hikers of most skill levels. Over two miles of trails are appropriate for moderate to advanced hikers, with several steep slopes near the top of the cliffs. A rudimentary map is available at the trailhead, though it isn't overly helpful. Plants such as slippery elm, white ash, and basswood can be located in the forest, while redback and dusty salamanders, as well as over 90 species of birds, can be spotted in their natural habitat. I highly recommend nature lovers check out Boone Cliffs, one of the most idyllic preserves in Greater Cincinnati.

Matt M.

This was an awesome hiking spot. Great, great views and a very well kept trail made this a must see for any serious hiker or outdoors person. I wouldn't recommend this for families with young children because of some tricky spots on high, rocky hills that would be a bit dangerous for young children. But the views are absolutely breathtaking if you're willing to work you way up to them. I loved it.

The trailhead
Jamie F.

Getting out to Boone County Cliffs is a bit off the beaten path, but I'm already planning on going back when I have more time to hike this again as well as the nearby Dinsmore Homestead. The road getting out here IS two way and from experience, 2 cars will (barely) fit. The parking lot will be on your left and it is tiny, but paved now, and right at the trailhead. This is a pretty straightforward 2.5 mile loop trail with an incline at the start, a hike around the ridge and a trek back downhill to the road. We hiked it in about an hour, but we were moving at a good clip. There are plenty of benches along the trail to rest or take in the gorgeous scenery, which had the sun not been setting, I would have loved to do because it's stunning landscape. Wildflowers were blooming at the end of the trail next to a creek, and we even spotted a handful of deer just off the main road in. One of the cool things about this preserve is just how remote it is. It's one of the first parks I've been to in a while where you don't even get a hint of "civilization" noise. No traffic noises, soccer or baseball field noise, just the sound of your feet crunching over leaves and the rustling of the wind in the treetops. I'll definitely be back.

I'm loving it!
Scrappy R.

Wow! Wow! Wow! This place is fabulous! If you want a fantastic workout in the presence of nature, this is the place to be! Burlington's #1 Best kept secret! Just a little piece of heaven! Great place to make family memories! Enjoyed every minute! Come prepared & bring the water! This is a good hike!

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7 years ago

Good to get some walking steps in! Great wooded shaded area. Perfect for quiet time and nature lovers

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Review Highlights - Boone Cliffs State Nature Preserve

The atmosphere: This is a small parking pad and a trailhead on the side of the road that is the entrance to fairy land.

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Gunpowder Creek Nature Park

Gunpowder Creek Nature Park

5.0(10 reviews)
3.7 mi

I almost didn't want to write this review ... because this truly is a hidden gem and I don't want…read moreit to get too crowded! But, I think I've kept this awesome Burlington trail a secret for long enough. Let me start by saying that there is a park area with a playground and covered shelter and grill that looks nice and clean! On our most recent visit, there was a big cookout going on, and all of the parking spaces in the small lot were full. Don't be concerned if that's the case when you arrive ... there's plenty of street parking available in the surrounding neighborhood. And - even if the play area is full of people, we've never seen another person on the actual trail beneath the park. This trail is not for hiking amateurs. You can except a VERY steep climb back uphill at the end of your visit. There is a side path that's a little less steep - but it's very rocky with lots of switchbacks. I definitely recommend this trail for more experienced hikers. If you are a beginner and still want to check it out, just be sure you know what you're getting into. It's definitely worth the climb! My husband and I often bring our dogs for a quick spin around this trail, on both weekday and weekend mornings. When you get down to the actual river, there's plenty of wildlife to check out. Most recently, we enjoyed the blooming Honeysuckle plants, but steered clear of a few snakes in the water. Be sure to watch where you step. Check out Gunpowder Creek the next time you're looking for a unique nature hike with a bit of a challenge. You won't be disappointed.

Very fun trails to walk around or run on. We had 2 dogs that we let loose to run around and explore…read morethe creek and they had plenty of space to not bother other hikers! Only downside is the way back to the car is a 1/4 mile hill that will take your breath away if you are not in the best shape lol. Great fun park all around.

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Gunpowder Creek Nature Park - Snakes like warmer weather. Watch your step!

Snakes like warmer weather. Watch your step!

Gunpowder Creek Nature Park
Gunpowder Creek Nature Park - Creek

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Creek

Boone County Arboretum - A weeping golden redbud at the entrance to our Pollinator garden.

Boone County Arboretum

4.6(23 reviews)
4.4 mi

We took a "field trip" here while learning about trees in our homeschool unit and we really…read moreappreciated three things: the walking trails are very nicely maintained and paved well, all of the natural shade with benches to rest, and all of the labels & information panels on the various types of trees! The area is beautiful and a great place for a walk. My 4 star rating is coming from a desire for a better map, the ones they have are ok but I had a little bit of trouble at times, and then for being let down on 2 things I promised my kids. The "children's garden" has definitely seen better days and is very lackluster in general. There's nothing to do inside of it and we were honestly just confused. The other thing was the butterfly garden, all of the bushes were gone on our visit. In general, these things aren't a big deal but considering I had 4 small kids with me, these were 2 things advertised that we were looking forward to.

What a lovely little paved path just off the main road in the Union-Florence area! Don't let the…read morebaseball fields fool you - just follow the trail in to experience a wonderful little oasis of nature. There's plenty of parking - regardless if you're there for a baseball game or for a nice walk. We brought our dog with us, and ended up doing the entire loop in just under an hour. We'd initially pulled up this trail in the AllTrails app, and it told us this was 1.1 miles ... we're not so sure that's accurate, since it felt like we were walking for much longer than that. Next time, we'll make sure to measure how far we've gone. Either way - what a gorgeous way to start your day! The plants and trees are all labeled, and sorted into various collections. The Magnolia Collection was by far our favorite, although that's about as far back into the loop as you can get. The trail itself is well-maintained, and wasn't too busy at all on a Saturday morning around 9 a.m. There was a good age range among the folks walking ... it was nice to everyone from families to elderly couples out for a morning stroll. We'll definitely return to this paved trail - it's especially convenient after a big rain, when you don't want to hike through the mud!

Photos
Boone County Arboretum - Prickly pear cactus at the Arboretum entrance

Prickly pear cactus at the Arboretum entrance

Boone County Arboretum - Butterfly Garden

Butterfly Garden

Boone County Arboretum - Prickly pear cactus at the Arboretum entrance

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Prickly pear cactus at the Arboretum entrance

Boone Cliffs State Nature Preserve - hiking - Updated May 2026

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