Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve |
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Bad Branch Falls
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 Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve
Location in Kentucky
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| Location | Letcher County, Kentucky, United States |
| Nearest city | Cumberland, Kentucky |
| Area | 2,639 acres (1,068 ha) |
| Established | September 26, 1985 |
| Official website: http://naturepreserves.ky.gov/naturepreserves/Pages/badbranch.aspx | |
The Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve is a special forest area in Letcher County, Kentucky. It covers a huge 2,639 acres (about 10.68 square kilometers) near Whitesburg. This preserve is a deep, narrow valley, also called a gorge, carved into the side of Pine Mountain.
Imagine towering sandstone cliffs and big boulders! These features offer amazing views of the Appalachia region. The preserve is also home to beautiful streams, rivers, and a stunning 60-foot waterfall. Because of its many different types of environments, Bad Branch Falls is a safe home for many unique plants and animals. Some of these species are so rare, they are not found in many other places!
Protecting Bad Branch Falls
The story of Bad Branch Falls becoming a protected area began in 1985. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) sold 435 acres of the gorge to the Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission (KSNPC). This agreement made them partners in protecting this special place.
On September 26, 1985, this area, including the amazing 60-foot waterfall, was officially named a nature preserve. A year later, in 1986, Bad Branch was also recognized as part of the Kentucky State Wild River System. This means its rivers are kept wild and natural.
Over the years, more land was added to the preserve. In 1900, TNC bought another 1,031 acres, thanks to a generous donation from Mary and Barry Bingham Sr. Fund. Then, in 1997, KSNPC acquired an additional 820 acres. Other nearby lands, about 900 acres in total, have also been protected through agreements with landowners. Today, the preserve protects a large part of Pine Mountain and its important waterways.
Amazing Plants and Animals
Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve is like a treasure chest for nature lovers! It protects one of the largest groups of rare plants and animals in all of Kentucky. There are more than 30 different rare species living here.
One of the coolest facts is that the preserve is home to the only known nesting pair of common ravens in Kentucky. These smart birds, called Corvus corax, have made their home here.
When you visit, the trails lead you through a beautiful forest. You'll see tall hemlock trees mixed with other trees like tulip poplar, sweet birch, and American beech. Below these big trees, you might spot umbrella magnolia and flowering dogwood.
Protecting this forest is a big job. Organizations like The Nature Conservancy and the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves are working with others to fight a tiny bug called the hemlock wooly adelgid. This bug is not from around here and can harm the hemlock trees.
The gorge's shaded and moist conditions are perfect for many rare species. Look out for plants like small enchanter's nightshade and painted trillium. You might also find the longtail shrew or the federally rare blackside dace fish. Even larger animals like black bears can sometimes be seen passing through the preserve!
Exploring the Preserve
Get ready for an adventure at Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve! It has about 7 miles of hiking trails and foot bridges. The terrain can be challenging, with steep hills, but the views are worth it.
A popular trail is a moderate 1.8-mile loop that takes you to the 60-foot waterfall. This trail starts from a small parking lot. For more experienced hikers, an upper trail goes about 3 miles one-way to High Rock and Ran Polly Gap.
At the end of a 6-mile trail loop, you can connect to the much longer 42-mile Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail. The Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves has maps you can download from their website to help you plan your hike.
The trails are well-kept, thanks to many volunteers. In 2020, volunteers even built new foot bridges to make the preserve easier to explore. However, hikers should still be careful because of the steep slopes. These slopes were formed by a geological feature called a thrust-fault, which means parts of the earth's crust were pushed over others.
