LBL wildflower hike is Saturday at Hematite Lake Trail

Wildflowers are at their peak this month in Land Between the Lakes.

Land Between the Lakes will offer a guided wildflower hike around Hematite Lake at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16. It’s free to LBL visitors. 

“Wildflowers are at their peak this time of year in LBL.  … We will explore woods and marshes while discussing wildflower identification and ecology,” organizers said. 

The 2-mile hike will start at the Hematite Lake Trailhead. Participants should wear hiking boots for the two-hour excursion.

“Numerous species of wildflowers and ferns are found along this trail, including Virginia bluebells, Cardinal Flower, Trout Lily, Spider Lily, Larkspur, trilliums, and several species of violets,” states a U.S. Forest Service guide. “The trail includes a .25 mile section of boardwalk that allows hikers to enjoy the sights and sounds of a wetland and beaver marsh at the far end of the lake. Restroom and picnic tables are located at the start of the trail.”

To reach Hematite Lake, go north on The Trace Road in LBL and turn right on Silver Trail Road toward The Nature Center. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Hopkinsville. 

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.