Today this attraction includes a 14,000-acre nature preserve, nearly 2,000 acres of which have been carefully designed, planted and maintained for visitors. Facilities within the arboretum include a nature center, arboretum center, picnic areas, hiking trails and lakes. Bernheim Forest holds adult and children s classes on the environment, plant identification, photography, cooking with herbs and other topics. The 32-acre Lake Nevin is a good place to fish for bluegill, crappie and bass. Bernheim is open all year from 7 AM to sunset.
Admission is free during the week.
This forest covers 5,123 acres of land in southwest Jefferson County. The forest is home to 35 miles of hiking trails many of them strenuous enough for the experienced hiker, a .25-mile trail accessible to persons with physical disabilities, a fishing pier, horse trails and picnic pavilions. This recreational area keeps a remarkably low profile considering how heavily it is used by organized groups and clubs. The Horine Section also has an environmental education center, a ranger station and a leadership conference center. This section, the only part of the forest where camping is available, also rents tents, backpacks and other camping gear.