Within Lexington’s city limits, yet far removed from the hustle and bustle, is a 734-acre pocket of wilderness called Raven Run Nature Sanctuary. With several miles of hiking trails, streams and waterfalls, and fauna and flora, Raven Run is a destination worth checking out on a nice day. 
 
From Patti Nickell’s Horse Lover’s Guide to Kentucky:
“A 734-acre nature preserve that falls within the Lexington city limits, Raven Run backs up to the palisades of the Kentucky River, making it the embodiment of a pristine wilderness, home to wildlife (including deer), 200 species of birds, and 600 species of plants, including 56 varieties of trees. It is particularly beautiful in the spring and early summer when wildflowers blanket the ground.
Raven Run offers 10 miles of hiking trails for every level of hiker that cover meadow, forest, and streambed ecosystems. The Freedom Trail and the Green Trails are the easiest, with the Yellow Trail (also called the Flower Bowl Trail) the most difficult; an extension of this trail, Pioneer Road leading to the Kentucky River, is extremely steep. Blue Trails connect one trail to another and White Trails take hikers to points of interest such as an old grist mill on the creek bank. The four-mile Red Trail is the main trail loop and is moderately difficult; it is the most popular of the trails as it takes hikers to the Overlook, a scenic vista above the river palisades.”
 
588 Jack’s Creek Pike. Take Old Richmond Road to Jack’s Creek Pike. Follow Jack’s Creek for several miles and the entrance to Raven Run will be on the left. Open daily (except for major holidays) from 9:00 a.m.Ð5:00 p.m. All visitors must register at the Nature Center and are required to be out of the sanctuary by closing time. No alcohol, pets, or camping allowed. (859) 272-6105. 

Fun Fact: The Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is run at the Keeneland fall race meet.
 
Upcoming Horse Lover’s Events:
Keeneland 2-year-old in training preview day, Lexington: April 1
Keeneland Spring Race Meet, Lexington: April 2-23
Bluegrass Classic Arabian Show, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: April 2-4
KPHC Spring Paint-O-Rama (APHA, 4 judge), Lakeside Arena, Frankfort: 4/3-4
Horse Handling Basics, Kentucky Equine Humane Center, Nicholasville: April 3
Keeneland 2-year-old in training sale, Lexington: April 5
Showplace for Saddlebreds grand opening, American Saddlebred Museum, Lexington: April 9
Central Kentucky Reining Show, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: April 9-11
Spring Bay Horse Trials, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, April 10-11
KY Hunter/Jumper Show (KHJA); Lakeside Arena, Frankfort: April 10-11
Lloyd Kelly’s “The Equestrian Games” Exhibit at the Humana Festival of American Plays, Louisville: Now through April 11.
Spring Premier Saddlebred Show, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: April 14-16
Alysheba’s Memorial Statue Unveiling, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: April 16, 2 p.m.
John Henry Memorial Equine Adoption Fair; Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: April 17
Cigar’s 20th Birthday Celebration, Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington: April 18
Headley-Whitney Museum presents El Caballo: The Horse in Mexican Folk Art, Lexington: March 26-April 30
 

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