Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve

Spring at Boone County Cliffs
Spring at Boone County Cliffs
© The Nature Conservancy

Why You Should Visit
Situated along a tributary to Middle Creek, Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve boasts rich flora, fauna and unique geological features. The preserve derives its name from the 20- to 40-foot conglomerate "cliffs" that rise above the valley slopes.

You can enjoy hiking and other forms of passive recreation (bird watching, photography and nature study) at Boone County Cliffs during all seasons. Wildflowers are abundant in the spring and the fall foliage is spectacular.

Location
Boone County

Size
74 acres

Conditions
Visitors are welcome from sunrise to sunset. Due to the fragile nature of this preserve, rock climbing, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, rappelling and all-terrain vehicles are strictly prohibited. All visitors must stay on the well-marked trails. No pets are allowed on the preserve.

Some 2 miles of moderate to strenuous marked trail offer hikers an opportunity to experience the tranquility of this preserve. Trail maps and preserve brochures are located at the trailhead.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
For more information on visiting this and other Nature Conservancy sites in Kentucky, see our Preserve Visitation Guidelines page.

Directions

  • From I-75, take exit #181 west 5 miles to Burlington
  • Continue on KY 18 for 6 miles, where Middle Creek Road intersects from the left
  • Turn left and proceed for 1.9 miles to our parking area.

What to See: Plants
This area is characterized by a calcareous mesophytic forest consisting of:

  •  sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
  • basswood (Tilia Americana)
  • beech (Fagus grandifolia)
  • white oak (Quercus alba)
  • white ash (Fraxinus americana)
  • slippery elm (Ulmus rubra).

The preserve also supports an abundance of wildflowers, ferns, and shrubs, with over 300 species recorded.

What to See: Animals
The moist, spring fed stream valley is home to the redback salamander (Plethodon cinereus) -- a rarity in Kentucky -- and the dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) -- an indicator species of exceptionally clean water. In addition, the cliffs support an unusually high diversity of bird life, with over 90 species recorded. This rich forested area provides a home to some resident species and a rest stop for migrants.

Fall at Boone County Cliffs
Fall at Boone County Cliffs
© J.M. Long
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The Boone County Cliffs Nature Preserve's history, geological features, flora and fauna are the most significant in Northern Kentucky. The cliffs are referred to as the "Enchanted Valley," in recognition of the area's beauty, which has remained undiminished over the years.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The original 46 acres, purchased in 1974, became the Kentucky Chapter's first preserve, dedicated in 1987. (Dedication provides land with the highest form of legal protection available in Kentucky.) In 1990, the Conservancy dedicated the additional 28 acres as a State Nature Preserve. Although the Conservancy owns the preserve, it is jointly managed with Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission.

The Conservancy's goals for this site include protecting the mature, mixed mesophytic forest, reducing the threat of invasive species, and development of a long-term community monitoring study.