Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is the best half day outdoors near Bardstown: more than 16,000 acres of wooded knobs, meadows and lakes in Clermont, with about 40 miles of trails, a boardwalk that juts out 75 feet above the forest floor, and three enormous wooden giants by Danish artist Thomas Dambo tucked along a 2-mile loop. It’s about 16 miles and 25 to 30 minutes northwest of Court Square on KY 245, the grounds open at 7 a.m., and entry runs on a $15-per-car suggested donation. Go early on fall weekends, when the lots fill.
The Forest Giants
Most first-timers come for the giants, and they are worth the walk. Dambo built “Forest Giants in a Giant Forest” in 2019 for Bernheim’s 90th anniversary from recycled regional wood. Mama Loumari is pregnant and resting against a tree. Little Nis and Little Elina are her children, scattered through the woods nearby. A poem by Dambo ties them to Isak Heartstone, his giant in Breckenridge, Colorado, and Little Elina keeps a “writing capsule” of notebooks and pencils where visitors leave notes.
The route linking them is about 2 miles round trip from the Visitor Center, with only modest climbing (AllTrails logs about 111 feet of gain). Extra parking sits closer to Little Nis and Mama Loumari if anyone in your group can’t manage the full loop. The rules are simple: climb only on Mama Loumari’s legs, hands and feet only on the two children, and no carving or graffiti.
One honest caveat: Dambo expected in 2019 that the giants would last about three years. Bernheim has extended their lives and still features them in September 2026, but they are wood outdoors in Kentucky weather. Check the official page before you build a trip around them.
Canopy Tree Walk and other highlights
The Canopy Tree Walk is the other can’t-miss. It is only 0.1 mile: a boardwalk “pier” off the High Point Loop trailhead that climbs on a gentle 5% paved grade until the ground drops away and you stand 75 feet above the forest floor among the treetops. Parking is 125 feet away and the pier ends in a flat wooden deck with benches, so it’s the easiest big view in the forest.
Beyond those two:
- Playcosystem, a 17-acre natural playground Bernheim describes as on track to be the nation’s largest.
- Heart of the Forest, a 27-foot “Tin Man” sculpture at the Jackson-Yoe trailhead.
- Lake Nevin, for largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and sunfish (Kentucky fishing license required).
- Big Prairie, 36 acres of regenerated native grassland, plus the 4-acre Edible Garden and a Sensory Garden near the Visitor Center.
- The fire tower, a 48-foot Aermotor tower from 1929, with volunteer-guided climbs about once a month, weather permitting.
The Visitor Center itself was Kentucky’s first LEED Platinum building, and Isaac’s Cafe serves from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Trails for real hikers
If the giants are a warm-up, the backcountry is big. Bernheim counts about 40 miles of trails, led by the 13.3-mile Millennium Trail through the forest’s hills and hollows. The arboretum core covers about 600 acres with 3,845 accessioned plants, so a slow loop through the landscaped collections in spring or fall color is its own outing. Pick up a map at the Visitor Center, carry water in summer, and remember that the forest closes in the evening; the scenic Forest Hill Drive shuts at 6 p.m. and the grounds at 7 p.m. in the current season.
How much does Bernheim cost, and when is it open?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Admission | $15 per car recommended; members free (except ticketed events) |
| Bus groups | $100 |
| Grounds | 7 a.m.-7 p.m. (seasonal) |
| Visitor Center and Isaac’s Cafe | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| The Hollow | 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. |
| Forest Hill Drive | 7 a.m.-6 p.m. |
| Annual closures | Thanksgiving (Nov. 26, 2026), Dec. 24-25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2027 |
Hours shift with the seasons, so check the visit page before you go, especially in winter when daylight is short.
When to go and what to bring
Every season works, but each one changes the visit. Spring brings redbuds (Bernheim even has a redbud art installation, ACRE) and the gardens waking up. Summer is shady on the trails and hot on the open prairie, so walk to the giants early and save the short Canopy Tree Walk for later. Fall color is the peak, and the lots fill on October weekends; aim to be through the gate by 9 a.m. Winter is quiet and bare, but check hours and closures first.
Allow at least half a day, more if you want a real hike. Bring water, sturdy shoes and layers, a Kentucky fishing license if you plan to cast at Lake Nevin, and snacks if you arrive before Isaac’s Cafe opens at 10. Grab a paper trail map at the Visitor Center, and ask the staff which trails are wet or closed; after heavy rain the lower paths can be muddy. Leave time at the end for the Visitor Center and the Edible Garden across the road, which is an easy, flat stroll for tired legs. For a quieter hour, the Meditation Trail is the forest at its most still.
A little history
Isaac W. Bernheim founded the forest in 1929 on cut-over land he bought for about a dollar an acre, and the Olmsted firm began design work in 1931. It opened to the public in 1950 and took its current name, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, in 1988. The cut-over land he started with is now more than 16,000 acres of regrown forest.
Getting there from Bardstown
Take KY 245 northwest from town toward I-65 exit 112 at Clermont; the entrance is at 2075 Clermont Rd., about 16 miles and 25 to 30 minutes from Court Square. Jim Beam’s Clermont campus is about five minutes from the forest, which makes the two easy to combine. KY 245 is the main bourbon road between Louisville and Bardstown, so expect some truck traffic. The route is one of several covered in scenic drives.
Pair it with
The natural combination is Clermont in one go: a morning tour at James B. Beam Distilling Co., lunch at The Kitchen Table there (Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), then the giants in the afternoon light. The Clermont day trip lays out timings. Someone in the car stays sober if there’s a tasting before the drive. If you’d rather stay close to town, Bardstown’s own parks and walking trails offer short, steep woods walks, and families should see Bardstown with kids for how Bernheim’s playground fits a family weekend. Before you go, check the Visit Bardstown listing and Bernheim’s own calendar for ticketed programs. Anglers take note: with Sympson Lake closed in 2026, Lake Nevin is one of the easiest places near Bardstown to wet a line; more options are in lakes, fishing and paddling.
