The Forest's Must Sees

This bold, new initiative annually celebrates innovative design concepts for immersive outdoor installations on a grand scale that will spark imaginations, conversations, and a deeper appreciation of the natural world.

Hang out in the tree-tops in our Canopy Tree Walk. This short boardwalk extends into the forest canopy, suspending visitors an astonishing 75 feet above the forest floor, offering breathtaking views of the gorgeous knobs that make up our 16,000+ acres and that inspired our new logo!

Free, wild, and adventurous play in nature ignites imaginations at Playcosystem, a new 17-acre natural playground. Designed in harmony with nature, Playcosystem provides children with open-ended, physically challenging, and unstructured play opportunities that support healthy development.

Led by Children at Play Network, a Bernheim initiative, we’ll complete the nation’s largest natural playground in 2025. Watch for amazing new features and adventures!

Designed in harmony with nature to illustrate the scale of wonder for both children and adults alike! Completed in 2019, Thomas Dambo’s Forest Giants in a Giant Forest installation at Bernheim consists of three sculptures that spark the imagination and by using repurposed and natural materials, Dambo hopes to inspire people to have fun and think of trash as a resource. 

A place of inclusion where everyone feels accepted, supported, and in harmony with nature! The garden features five beds, each dedicated to one of the senses, plus a quiet space for those who need a calming environment.

Art was an essential component of our founder, Isaac Wolfe Bernheim’s original vision for Bernheim. For over 40 years, we’ve been incorporating art into our natural landscapes and featuring local, regional, national, and international artists!

Experience Bernheim from atop our oldest structure, the historic Fire Tower! When open, a volunteer naturalists will guide you up the 961-foot climb for one of the best views in the state, offering stunning sights of the surrounding knobby landscape that are sure to dazzle and delight.

Weather permitting, the Fire Tower is typically open on Saturday and Sunday from April through October, between 1 – 3:30 p.m. Please call (502) 215-7155 or check at the Visitor Center to confirm that it’s open.

Explore our one-of-a-kind Edible Garden – a four-acre site just across from Bernheim’s Visitor Center that serves as a gateway to connect people with nature via the country’s most popular pastime – gardening. Learn how the garden makes the environment healthier by meeting the most rigorous green design standards in the world.  

Come by Kentucky’s first LEED® platinum building for information to help plan your visit and discover our forest! Take a minute to relax, explore our gift shop, grab a bite at Isaac’s café, and learn about sustainable design. 

With 3,845 accessioned plant records and counting, there is never a shortage of plants to discover at Bernheim.

Take a stroll or even just a moment to immerse in the sounds and wonders of nature on our Meditation Trail. This tranquil trail is near the Sensory Garden and off of the Bent Twig Trail.