By John Pollpeter, Lead Naturalist, Woodlands Nature Station
Honker Lake Trail
Autumn brings some of the best hiking opportunities at Land Between the Lakes. The changing colors and mild temperatures chase away the feelings of heat and humidity of late summer.
Honker Lake Trail checks off all the major components for a great fall day hike – and more!
My favorite, Honker Trail is located near our Woodlands Nature Station. You can easily come visit our back yard with our natural gardens, bat boxes, and rescued native animals before or after your hike.
The trail loops around Honker Lake for 4.5 miles and is part of the 8,500-acre Nature Watch Area managed for wildlife view ability.
The bottomland forest offers a wide array of trees allowing for the most dramatic vistas of crimson reds, vibrant oranges, and deep yellows.
The lake has served as a wildlife refuge since its inception. Thousands of migrating waterfowl and songbirds take advantage of its safe harbor.
Wintering bald eagles often hunt the shorelines looking for easy prey; making our National Bird easier to spot while flying around.
Restrooms, picnic tables, and grills are available to add to your day.
All you’ll need for this hike are comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, and a pair of binoculars. You probably want to take your camera too!
Take a look at the wildlife commonly seen during a fall day hike on Honker Lake Trail.
Beavers are active at dusk, Photo by Melodie CunninghamBeaver lodges can be seen along the lake shore, Photo by Kelly Sellers, Beaver Lodge on Honker LakeHonker Lake was named for the number of Giant and Interior Canada Geese it attracts, Photo by Melodie CunninghamThese boisterous and colorful Red-headed Woodpeckers winter in Land Between The Lakes due to our mild temperatures and abundant acorn crop, Photo by Melodie CunninghamLargest of the woodpeckers, you’ll most likely see the Pileated Woodpecker in the forests along our trails, Photo by Melodie CunninghamLargest bird in Kentucky, American White Pelicans feed in huge flocks around Honker Bay and Bobcat Point, Photo by Melodie CunninghamLook for Double-crested Cormorants, a close cousin to the pelican, on the large electric towers that cross the lakes, Photo by Melodie CunninghamThe small, colorful Wood Duck gathers in large flocks in fall and migrates further south for winter, Photo by Melodie Cunningham, Honker LakeAmerican Coots are not ducks, but rails. They gather in large “rafts” in the middle of the lake. Coots Are popular food for Bald Eagles, Photo by Melodie CunninghamReintroduced into Land Between The Lakes in 1983, Bald Eagles nest and winter around Honker Lake. January serves as the best viewing month for our National Bird, by Ron Kruger“Hoodies,” as birders may call Hooded Mergansers, are also a year round resident and can often be heard making a slow snoring sound as they dive among the waves, Photo by Melodie CunninghamGreen-winged Teals are the smallest waterfowl in Land Between The Lakes and often appear early fall, Photo by Melodie CunninghamA non-native deer from England, fallow deer were introduced to the Honker Lake area in 1918. A herd of 40 to 50 still roams the woods. They can be seen in the early morning around the Nature Station, Photo by Ron Kruger, Fallow Deer Grazing in Woodlands Nature Watch AreaCoyotes migrated to Kentucky and now dominate the top of the food chain. During fall and winter, you will find coyotes searching the shoreline for food during the day, Photo by Melodie CunninghamThe White-tails coats change to a stone gray color as they head into the peak of rut in November, Photo by Ron KrugerThese noisy Gray Squirrels become even more noisy as they search high and low for acorns and hickory nuts. Trying hard to defend their cache against rivals, Photo by Ron KrugerProbably the most recognizable duck, these year round Mallard ducks gather in giant flocks on Honker Lake filling the air with loud volumes of quaking laughter, Photo by Melodie CunninghamBarred Owl says, “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you alllll!” Visit Barred Owl at Nature Station daily. Photo by Melodie CunninghamPied-billed Grebe, Photo by Melodie Cunningham
