Bernheim Forest: The Perfect Day Trip from Louisville (2024)

About 30 minutes south of Downtown Louisville,Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont serves as a living legacy of philanthropist and visionary Isaac W. Bernheim, who turned 90 in 2019.

Mr. Bernheim found success in the Bluegrass with a distilling company and bourbon brand, and he was eventually able to purchase and endow the land that Kentuckians know and love today as Bernheim Forest. After absorbing additional acreage in recent years, the forest is a massive 16,140 acres and boasts more than 40 miles of hiking ground, plus many family-friendly attractions.

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“To see all of it,” says director of communications Amy Joseph Landon, “it [would probably take] two or three days.” But with a little bit of planning — and a mere $10 donation per car — visitors can hit up a few favored sights during a day trip. Here are a handful of Amy’s top picks:

Visitor’s Center

More than a place to gather information or sign up for a membership, Bernheim’s visitor center also features a selection of gifts created by Kentucky artisans. “You can see all kinds of sustainable building features,” Amy says, adding that it’s LEED Platinum certified and was the first place in the region to receive that designation. “There’s a green roof on the building, [and] it was made out of recycled wood from Heinz pickle vats. It’s a really neat building — just [to] see how it was constructed in the landscape.”

Meditation Trail

The Meditation Trail, which recently opened in spring 2022, was created in memory of Lily Banerjee. Her family chose to honor her with a donation to Bernheim for the installation of the trail. “There are some little spurs off of the Bent Twig Trail, where we [offer] prompts to encourage meditation and mindfulness,” Amy explains. Each of the prompts is based on a positive attribute of a nearby tree, and the trail is sprinkled with handmade wooden benches and decks — crafted by Bernheim staff — to serve as resting places to pause and contemplate.

Canopy Tree Walk

Set 75 feet above the forest floor, this short boardwalk extends into the forest canopy, allowing guests to hang out in the treetops. “[It’s] always really popular with visitors,” Amy says, “and you [can] get some magnificent vista views.”

Sensory Garden

Designed in collaboration with partners, including Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) and Kentucky School for the Blind Foundation, the newly renovated sensory garden opened in June 2022. “We have beds dedicated to each of the five senses as well as a quiet space for people with sensory challenges,” Amy says. The garden also features interpretive signage, including pictograph and Braille components to describe each sensory landscape bed, the quiet space, and the overall purpose of the area.

Forest Giants

In celebration of the Forest’s 90th anniversary in 2020, Bernheim welcomed Danish artist Thomas Dambo to construct three giant sculptures out of recycled wood from the area. The giants — Mama Loumari, her children Little Nis and Little Elina, as well as the third baby giant, who is currently in Mama Loumari’s belly — are spread throughout the arboretum. All three can be viewed in a roughly two-mile roundtrip loop.

Spirit Nest

More than just an art installation, Bernheim’s 25-foot-tall Spirit Nest was created by internationally renowned California artist Jayson Fann. “[It] opened last summer and is also made of repurposed and recycled wood,” Amy says. “[He used] primarily eucalyptus wood from California … and we also plugged in some driftwood from the Falls of the Ohio. There are two levels, so you can actually climb up some stairs to get to the top of it, giving you some great views of Bernheim.” The interactive installation encourages free play and doubles as an outdoor education space for storytelling and more.

Isaac’s Café

Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Isaac’s Café gives visitors a place to enjoy salads, sandwiches, soups, and desserts made with ingredients grown right at Bernheim. “All the menu items there are made using produce from our edible garden, which is right across the street,” Amy explains. “A lot of our produce is from literally 200 steps away.” She adds that even during non-harvest months, the staff will dry herbs and freeze certain items to ensure the café can offer garden goodies all year.

Edible Garden

After grabbing a bite to eat, see where your food came from! Crafted as a living classroom, Bernheim’s four-acre edible garden is chemical free and features everything from cauliflower and cabbage to bush beans and Bok choy. Connecting guests to gardening and ecology, it was designed to integrate horticulture, natural areas, research, art, education, and experience in one place. The space also follows the principles of Regenerative Design, meeting the world’s most rigorous green design standards. “It uses all of its own water [and] it creates all of its own energy,” Amy says. “Nothing is taken from outside of that garden area to help grow [it].”

Playcosystem

“Our biggest new thing is called Playcosystem,” Amy says. “[It is] a play area right across from the Visitor’s Center … We really encourage free play [and] natural play … rather than a structured playground.” She adds that the space is void of slides, swings, and things of that nature. The area instead focuses on loose parts, so kiddos are free to set their own rules. “[They] can use their imaginations, and just get out outside and play,” she adds.

Whether you have a single afternoon for your Bernheim visit or can swing by for a few days, Amy recommends coming prepared — especially if you plan to head over on a hot summer day. “A lot of it is not in the shade,” she says. “Come prepared with water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Be prepared for the elements and wear good shoes. It takes a little bit of time to explore!”

For more information on Bernheim Forest, visitbernheim.org. All photography courtesy of Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest.

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