Barren River Loop + Peter's Creek Trail in Barren River Lake State Park

I have not been doing well with my hiking this year. With four seasons there is definitely less time to hike in good conditions compared to California. Here in Kentucky I have seen a few nice days, but typically they were pretty cold. Rainy days still prevail, I guess that is what spring is all about, but I am getting a bit sick of bad weather. 

I needed to get out today, so I chose the closest trail to my Airbnb, Barren River Loop in Barren River Lake State Park (not sure who named the park that way, river AND lake?). It was a shorter trail, but I needed to walk.

I arrived at the trailhead, but had to park in the parking lot next to the lodge as it was the nearest parking lot. I walked towards the trailhead and started the hike. The first mile was parallel to the road, so cars were passing by just a hundred feet beside me. This was not the most pleasant experience, but I continued and soon found a restroom (yes, this was the highlight of the first mile). Right before that a pasture with a few horses was to the left of me. I approached them, but they were too far away.

Horses on the pasture

The trail turned sharply left and I finally was in the woods. Interestingly enough, the trail also goes through the golf course. I wondered how safe it is during a golf season, but was not worried about it now. I found an unpaved road (the trail is paved) leading deeper into the woods, Peter's Creek Trail, and decided to take a turn here. Finally, a real hike. I soon got the lake (or maybe river?), but could not really approach it closely because of the embankment. The trail looped back after a mile and a half and connected to the original spot where I entered it. 

I continued along the paved road through the golf course in the woods (well, partially, as there were spots where the trees were completely cleared out). The birds were very alive today, and I enjoyed listening to the nature sounds as I got back to the trailhead. 

I would call it a semi-urban hike with some development, but still areas left untouched by humans. And let's be realistic, most areas that come in contact with humans somehow end up being destroyed.