Near Perimeter Trail
Elizabethtown/Hardin County Veteran's Memorial at Elizabethtown Nature Park. Located at the trail start and finish points.
Near Perimeter Trail
Freeman Lake

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Hike Trail

Perimeter Trail

4.0 (4 Ratings)
A nice trail that crosses open fields and forests centered on the Elizabethtown Veterans Memorial.
2.4
mi
Distance
93
ft
Gain
moderate
Difficulty
BirdingFall ColorsRiver/CreekViewsWildflowersWildlife
Access Issues
Park hours are seasonal. There are usually big events on both Memorial Day and Veteran's Day weekends.

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
2.36mi
Distance
93ft
Elevation Gain
93ft
Elevation Loss
10%
Max Grade
823ft
High Point
753ft
Low Point
Path Type
Loop
Description
The trail is roughly a 2.5 mile closed loop that transits fields and forest. There are a few moderate rolling hills one can easily navigate. There are several small trail spurs that also connect to the Perimeter Trail to easily add mileage without having to out-and-back very far. Start at the Veterans Memorial at the center of the park and head either clockwise or vice versa. Both directions are enjoyable. For this write up, the narrative takes you on a clockwise loop. Once you start, the trail will take you along the east side of a little creek. About 2/10 of a mile in you'll cross the creek which is usually very low. Don't worry about getting your feet wet. There are some concrete blocks to use to cross. However, it the water is over the blocks you can do a brief detour to get around it. For the first 1/4 mile you be mostly out in the open fields that offer great views of local flora and fauna. Then you'll enter a stand of pine forest for the next 1/2 mile. During this part you'll encounter your first small hill. Upon leaving the pines, you'll have open fields to cross for the next mile while you meander up and down while seeing nice views of the memorial and old farm fields. At the 1.75 mile point, you'll enter another forested area that is mostly made up of oak and maple. At the 2 mile point, you'll come upon a pavilion where you can take a seat for a rest. In the fall and winter months you can see beyond the trees and across Ring Road to see Freeman Lake (which offers an extension to this trail too). From the pavilion, the trail goes downhill and crosses the park access road. Once at the bottom, you can finish your loop via a paved trail that will return you to the Veteran's Memorial and the parking/pavilion area.

Route Conditions

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All Clear
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Contributors
DD Avey