Meet a Greenspace: Hike the Highland Cemetery Nature Trails

Fort Mitchell’s Hidden Oasis: Highland Cemetery Nature Trails

Tucked in the suburban neighborhoods of Fort Mitchell lies a greenspace gem known as the Highland Cemetery Nature Trails. The paths traverse six miles of Northern Kentucky woodland and creek beds, where black squirrels and birds are abundant. Follow the creek bed and stumble upon a small waterfall and the remains of a nineteenth-century springhouse. Take a closer look at the rocks under your feet and you will see the remnants of sea creatures in the form of fossilized shells.  If you’re lucky, you might spot a box turtle!

The 150-acre property is part of a Wildlife Enhancement Program, which entails the establishment and maintenance of a space to improve wildlife habitat. This type of protection includes the removal of invasive species, establishment of permanent vegetation, forest edge improvement, and leaving snags, dead or partially dead standing trees, as shelter for a variety of animals. In spring, wildflowers can be found blooming throughout the woodlands. Early summer is the perfect time for birders to experience the native and neotropical species. 

This second-growth woodland is the next location for the Greenspace Alliance’s Meet a Greenspace Hike on Friday, June 7th, from 3 – 4 p.m. The address for the Highland Cemetery Nature Trails is 2167 Dixie Highway. To reach the trailhead from the cemetery entrance, take all right-hand turns until you reach its parking area across from the bird feeders. It will be marked by a Little Free Library. The hike will include stone steps, crossing shallow creeks, step downs, and ducking under tree limbs. Please dress accordingly. 

Register here for this Meet a Greenspace Hike!

We hope that these hikes will provide those who join in the time and space they need to reconnect with nature. If you have any questions, contact Green Umbrella’s Greenspace Alliance Manager, Claire Carlson, at claire@greenumbrella.org.