Fall in Kentucky is a beautiful thing, when the state’s titular blue hills and pastoral fields take on every hue of the autumn rainbow: golden yellows, shimmering coppers, pumpkin oranges, vibrant reds. Leaf peeping is a full-time job in Kentucky, with so many wonderful places to revel in the seasonal resplendence of the Bluegrass State. Near Lexington, Floracliff Nature Sanctuary is a little-known nature preserve that’s often overlooked for its big-name brethren, and we happen to think it has some of the best fall foliage in Kentucky.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary is a 346-acre nonprofit nature preserve located in the ever-beautiful Kentucky River Palisades region.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
It’s a marvelous place for year-round recreation, with its grounds home to some of the finest flora and fauna in Kentucky.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
The hiking here is phenomenal, and nature enthusiasts have a lot to love at this little nature preserve in Kentucky, which is home to flying squirrels, monarch butterflies, bobcats, turtles, snakes, and myriad avian species.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
And while lovely all year long, this preserve takes on sublime, breathtaking beauty in the autumn.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
The fall foliage at Floracliff Nature Sanctuary is extraordinary, with its towering oaks forming an incredible, colorful tree canopy over its trails.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
Floracliff, in fact, is home to some of the oldest known trees in Kentucky: 10 chinquapin oak trees dating to the 1600s!
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
In addition to its fantastic foliage, the gray gorges and stark rock formations of the park look utterly lovely when juxtaposed with vibrant, falling leaves.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
Add it all up, and you have a place that’s truly, wholly, undeniably beautiful; and, in our humble opinion, one of the best places to revel in the breathtaking and abundant fall foliage in Kentucky.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
Have you experience autumn at Floracliff Nature Sanctuary before? This hidden gem is sure to capture your heart with its brilliant and beautiful fall foliage!
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary/Facebook
Please note: Floracliff is only open for guided hikes and events; however, they offer a variety of programs, volunteer and research opportunities, and hands-on workshops to interested individuals and groups. View the nonprofit’s Upcoming Events to register for an upcoming hike or program; there are several this fall!
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Address: Floracliff Nature Sanctuary, 8000 Elk Lick Falls Rd, Lexington, KY 40515, USA
