The State Fort In Kentucky Brimming With History That's Perfect For Hiking
By Rachel Shulhafer|Published February 20, 2017
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Rachel Shulhafer
Author
I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. I have lived elsewhere twice, but keep coming back. I'm a video editor and freelance writer who enjoys watching people wearing University of Louisville uniforms excel at sports, scaling the faces of large rocks, and hanging out with my border collie/laborador/cattle dog mutt thingy that I have.
If you’re both a history buff and a hiking or biking enthusiast, then Kentucky has the perfect place for you to visit. Fort Duffield isn’t far from Louisville, and it’s a Civil War fort listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, these days it is available for hiking and biking, and makes an excellent day trip.
Fort Duffield Park is a Civil War fort located only about 40 minutes outside of Louisville in the town of West Point.
There is still evidence of all the history that took place here, such as these log cabins. The park now has 10 miles of hiking trails and 8 miles of biking trails, and you can marvel at all the history that still remains at the park.
The biking trails are a bit difficult, and aren't recommended for beginners or inexperienced riders, but seasoned riders will find them to be a fun challenge.
This battlefield is located at the mouth of the Salt River, and offers some stunning views. In fact, it was known as "the Union Stronghold at the Mouth of the Salt River."
There are about 61 solders buried at Fort Duffield, who died while they were in service here. These tombstones are now surrounded by beautiful gardens and scenery.