The Unique Kentucky Park That Will Transport You To Another Time
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.
Kentucky has no shortage of great state parks to explore. You can find a great place to retreat into nature in every corner of the state and everywhere in between. However, if you’re looking for an experience that you won’t find at any other park, then head to Big Bone Lick State Park in northern Kentucky.
Big Bone Lick State Park is located in Boone County, only about 30 minutes from Cincinnati.
Replicas and fossils of the animals that were attracted to the abundance of salt springs in the area thousands of years ago are on display so you can get an idea of what this part of Kentucky looked like before and during the Ice Age.
These creatures found the salt and mineral deposits here difficult to resist, which is why they frequented this part of Kentucky, which at the time was very swampy.
There is a museum in the park as well, where you can see many of the bones on display. You can also see Native American artifacts. The first humans in the area are thought to be from the Pre-Paleo Period (about 13,000 BC). The abundance of animals made this area an ideal hunting ground.
Today, there are herds of bison living in the park that you can go see. This herd is an attempt to restore the bison population in Kentucky. Wild bison used to roam free in huge herds in Big Bone Lick, but they were hunted to near extinction.
The Discovery Trail, which is located behind the visitors' center, is a 4.5 mile trail that consists of every trail within the park combined into one big, fascinating hike. You'll traverse through forests, grasslands, a savanna, past the salt-sulphur springs, and the bison-viewing area.
