E.P. Tom Sawyer state park

Today we went to Tom Sawyer state park in the East End of Louisville. The trailhead for Goose Creek Trail is in between Westport and Old Lagrange rd on Hurstborne Ln. The trail we took today was 1.25 miles and was a mix of wooded and grassy areas. It was fairly easy to navigate although the KY State Park App with its GPS map of the trail helped a lot when we'd cross with other trails. Also that app was really cool to show Ben and Isaac (4yo) about maps and compasses. 

The trail itself had one tiny incline of a hill and a creek crossing that we didn't have to go over but we did a couple times.  Some highlights were the creek for sure, it was beautiful and we saw fish. There were information signs around the trail to look out for certain wildlife which the boys always love. Also, there is a mental hospital cemetery there from the 1800s, which is creepy and we skipped over but could be interesting with older kids. 

The trailhead is located right off North Hurstborne Ln. 

First wildlife? A slug. We watched it for like 10 mins. 

Forgot my hat but there were hardly any bugs. No Mosquitos or ticks today (but we did wear bug spray). 

This map was awesome. The trail we followed was the orange route on the map. 

Ben with his robot hand (a stick), talking to his "bird friends". 

Isaac leading the way across the creek. 

We may come back here with towels sometime and creekwalk. It's a clean creek with wildlife such as crawfish (is that the same as crawdads?)

Another favorite today was a vine in the middle of the trail. 

The Anchorage Trail

Anchorage Trail is located in downtown Anchorage in the East End of Louisville in Middletown.  Its a beautiful paved trail which I believe is a total of 2.2 miles.  I also think there is some wooded paths along the way, we've gone down one, it was a short 1/4mi cut through.  Theres a little sign post with the wildlife people have seen near the front as well as one near the pond about wetlands.  

This is a great place to go if you have little ones learning to ride their bikes (its a little long but the boys do well) and also is perfect for strollers.  Highlights include the bridges, a pond, a wetland, stream exploration, big rocks to climb on and wooden swings.  

We love all the "rustic" swings around the trail- they'd be great for some professional pictures too!

The best part of the trail is a marshy wetland area about 1/2 in, there is a deck with information on the wildlife and stairs down to the pond where the kids can go exploring.  Also there are hundreds of what look like iris bulbs popping up, we'll have to go back again soon and see if they've blossomed. 

There are different kinds of areas to the trail, a pond, forest and meadows.  This was one I tried to snap of 5 deer.

Being brave with daddy on a "dam" (which seems more like a bunch of sticks against a fallen tree, but Issac assured me beavers made this.

Perfect Day

Morgan Conservation Park

Today we went to Morgan Conservation Park, operated by Oldham County Parks and Recreation.  They have about 3 or 4 miles of wooded trails that are clearly marked at the trailhead and throughout.  There is a bit of an incline here and there but for the most part it was good for my two four year olds, Ben and Isaac to do.  There was also some creek crossings. Also, there was literally no one else there!

Morgan Conservation Park Brochure

There was a good map at the front of the trail and I had snapped a photo of their map online before we left. We ended up taking the Connection to the Primary Loop and went about a mile today and turned around.  A lot of the area was just a grass path once we got on the main loop and we weren't really prepared with tall socks or bug spray... and we ran into some ticks. 

Its becoming a thing now that someone goes first and then we switch.  Its been nice to see how much more comfortable they are in the woods already.

Headed out on the trail! 

A water fall we ran into- this would be beautiful after a rain!

Our favorite spot of the day, a bridge over a little creek.  We took a few minutes and sat there listening to the sounds of the forest. 

Me and my guys

Isaac wanted me to snap a picture of the creek we passed over many times.

How will we get across!?

So proud!

Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve

Today we visited the Creasey Mahan Nature preserve in Goshen, Kentucky.  It was a little under 15 mins north of Crestwood.  The Preserve was BEAUTIFUL and all the trails were clearly marked and easy to follow. 

http://creaseymahannaturepreserve.org

Trailhead at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve in Goshen, Kentucky

We ended up going about 1.5miles today, which took us an hour and a half all together, because we stopped and looked at every bug and butterfly along the way.

Among the animals we saw a white butterfly, turtles, frogs, dragonflies, a deer, squirrels and birds

Our most excited wildlife experience was here at the frog pond, where there were turtles and frogs everywhere!

Where we saw the deer

A cool old bridge

A "porcupine" lives in here... I think it was some type of fungus?

Water break!

Tons of tadpoles turning into frogs- TONS!

Ben called these turtles brave because they didn't jump in when we got close

A great day!  Although I caught Ike at a grump moment :)