We have traditionally done a fall destination hike, in the past we have gone to Bernheim Forest. Next Saturday we will be gathering to visit Jefferson Memorial Forest.

This forest of nearly 6,600 acres is the largest municipal urban forest in the United States serving as a woodland tribute to local veterans. It is located southwest of Louisville in the Knobs regions of Kentucky about a 35 minute drive from the east end of Louisville. The Knobs region includes Bernheim Forest and Berea representing geologic remnants from sediments deposited 360 million years ago when part of the region was covered by an ancient sea. It now consists of hundreds of isolated, steep sloping cone shaped hills.

We will gather between 9:45-10:00 in the gift shop parking lot. Address 11311 Mitchell Hill road in Fairdale .Please note there are multiple entrances to the forest so make sure you either enter this address or google gift shop. If this parking lot is full there is an overflow lot across the street.

A little about the hiking options.

#1 Easy short hike Those of you wanting just a short walk can do the .6 mile Memorial Loop, if you want a little more you can drive a short distance to the Tulip Tree Trail a paved path along a creek that is .3 mile out and back giving you another .6 miles Both of these should not take you longer than 90 minutes inclusive of travel time between trails.

#2 Moderate hiking with about 400 feet of elevation gain 3.2 miles approximately 1 1/2- 2 hours

This hike is a combination of the Yost Ridge Trail connecting to the Mitchell Hill Lake Trail Loop, if you want to do less you can skip the loop and just hike an out and back saving a mile by not taking the loop trail to the lake. Bring hiking shoes and poles if you are doing this one, I have an extra set of poles to loan and will bring these as well.

There are rest rooms at the visitor gift center

I also suggest we consider car pooling. I can take 3 additional people and suggest meeting in the parking lot of the 4003 Kresge Way Baptist Hospital Parking lot on the parking lot side of the Cancer Center, the second parking lot on the left if you are coming off Breckinridge lane. This space will be vacant on the weekend, We should meet here at 9:15 in order to get to the hiking meeting spot by 9:45.