Buck Hill Trail

UNDER 2 MILES

DIFFICULTY: EASY–MODERATE

DRIVE TIME: 20 MINS*

HIKE TIME: 1.5 HOURS

DISTANCE: 1.8 MILE LOOP

VIEWS: FOREST

* from Lexington Visitor Center, 106 E. Washington St.

TAILHEAD + PARKING

Located at the Caverns at Natural Bridge, there is a sign for Buck Hill Trail at the parking/picnic area. Enter the woods to begin the hike.

DESCRIPTION

Located at the Caverns at Natural Bridge, there is a sign for Buck Hill Trail at the parking/picnic area. Immediately after entering the woods the trail forks. This description follows the left fork, heading in a clockwise direction. The trail is marked with green blazes and is easy to follow. The forest is here is composed of young oak, hickory, and poplar.

There is an easy uphill around a bowl above the entrance to the caverns followed by a set of five stone steps before the grade becomes flat as it passes over a shoulder. There are eight wooden steps during a short climb.

Buck Hill Trail continues straight making an easy climb to a bench dedicated to the trail’s builders. After the bench, the trail descents through series a “S” turns before crossing a narrow hollow near a small sink hole on the left. Past the sinkhole, there is a short climb to an old road. Turn right on the road. The distance is 0.5 miles.

Once on the logging road, there is a short climb to a small saddle before descending steeply to a small drainage. After crossing the drainage, it climbs again. There is a Blackberry thicket on the right—a delicious snack in the early summer!

The short climb is followed by another easy drop and a signpost for the Buck Hill Trail. The distance is 0.9 miles. The trail exits the logging road to the right and becomes a path again. Shortly after entering the woods, the trail turns right again.

There is an easy climb featuring larger hardwoods including Black Cherry, Tulip Poplar and White Ash. The trail flattens, has a series of ups and downs as it passes through several small hollows coming down from the right. The distance is 1.25 miles The path bends to the left and begins to descend.

At the end of the descent, there is a right bend followed by a left bend through another narrow hollow. There is a huge dead Red Oak on the left. It crosses an old, paved road and turns left back into the woods. Almost immediately, the Buck Hill Trail crosses a small footbridge. The distance to the footbridge is 1.4 miles.

A short distance later, there is a second road. The trail turns right and follows the road about fifty feet before turning left back into the woods. Here there is an old stone foundation and cinder block building. An easy uphill is followed by a short steep descent (1.55 miles). Stone steps have been laid to make the drop easy. The end of this drop is marked by passing between two small boulders. The descent is followed by an easy climb to a narrow hollow, and through a left bend. A second left bend is followed by an easy descent. Here the forest opens back up. Small hardwoods dominate the forest canopy. The easy descent continues to the wooden post. Turn left to head back to the parking area.

The park asks that you leave no trace; pack out everything you carry with you, collect your pet's waste, keep pets on a lease, be aware of bears and leave only footprints.

NATURAL BRIDGE STATE PARK ACTIVITIES

7 miles of trails

Children's Discovery Area

Kids in Park TRACK Trail: Skyline Trail

International Dark Sky Park

LOVEworks



DETAILS: Click Website Link below for trail details, photos, and maps.