New Hiking Trails in the Berea College Forest
Nestled within the rolling hills of Appalachia, Berea College’s Forest has long been a treasured resource for students, alumni, visitors, and community members alike. This fall, it’s set to become an even more immersive, educational experience that bridges history, sustainability, and public engagement.
This project was spearheaded by College Forester Clint Patterson, a long-time steward of Berea’s 9,000-acre Forest. This new 7.2-mile trail system, named the Pinnacle Knob Trails, opens on the opposite side of Highway 21 from the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center. Patterson had the idea to use the hiking trails to teach about the Berea College Forest’s history. These new trails are part of an innovative interpretive project that tells the story of forest management at Berea, one rooted in over a century of sustainable management.
Berea’s place in the history of American forestry begins with Silas Mason, Berea’s first forester, who managed the land beginning in the early 1900s. Mason’s work laid the foundation for what is now one of the oldest continuously managed forests in the United States. His legacy is deeply entwined into the trail system through interpretive signage including his views on forest management. Mason, a professor of Horticulture and Forestry at Berea College from 1897 to 1907, is considered to be one of the fathers of forestry in America. Using his own money to acquire tracts of land that would be useful to the College for its water, he eventually met future benefactor and Bostonian Sarah Fay in 1899. Together, Fay and Mason acquired nearly 5,400 acres of land by 1918.
After studying forestry in Europe between 1895 and 1896, Mason determined that forests of the United States had differing needs from other countries. By strategically adopting and combining practices he learned at Berea with his formal training in Europe, Mason renewed much of the land he and Fay acquired. What were once over-farmed, eroded, and under-utilized tracts when the forest was purchased became carefully managed, healthy land with multiple use goals in mind, such as water system management, timber production, research, and recreational use.
Crediting Mason as a foundational figure in America’s forestry history, Patterson created the concept for the new trails. Phil Vogel, another Berea College forester, executed most of the geographic information system (GIS) mapping and technical design. Signage itself was taken on by Kayla Zagray, the Forestry Outreach and Education Coordinator, and finalized with support from the College’s Marketing and Communications team.
“I thought it would be really cool if we had his picture, his photo. and some excerpts from quotes that he said in his management plan,” Patterson explained. “We pair those with contemporary insights, so visitors get a look into the past and an up-to-date outlook on current forest management practices.”
The result is a 7.2-mile-long interactive outdoor classroom that invites hikers not only to witness natural beauty, but to learn how intentional forestry can protect and enhance ecosystems over time. The new signage offers visitors a chance to see how Silas Mason’s thoughtful management eventually led to what is now a healthy, diligently tended forest of nearly twice its original size. Even further, visitors can see landscapes that have been shaped by over a century of ecological stewardship and learn from dynamic, evolving content that reflects current practices and research.
For many years now, Berea’s existing 14 miles of trails have been very popular with both the local community and hiking enthusiasts around the country. On fair-weather weekends during spring and summer, the center’s sizeable parking lot—possibly the largest trailhead parking lot in Kentucky—is often filled to capacity. Berea’s trails have even been nationally recognized, with Outdoor Magazine once naming the Pinnacles Trail the best in the state. This expansion gives visitors the chance to enjoy even more of Berea’s natural beauty, all while deepening their understanding of what makes the College Forest special.
Now opened, the new, large, figure eight-shaped system offers flexible options for all levels of hikers. Whether visitors want to walk the full 7.2 miles of rugged terrain or take on smaller loops during a shorter visit, there’s something for everyone. For those with time to venture deeper into the forest, an offshoot trail exploring an American chestnut mother orchard is sure to be a special highlight.
This trail system is not only about recreation—it’s a statement that forestry, when managed with foresight and respect, can be beautiful and sustainable. It is a tribute to Silas Mason, whose legacy is carried on through the continuous work of the College foresters, and a call to future generations to recognize the vital role of forest ecosystems and those who care for them. So, are you ready to embark on a new adventure and see the new trails?
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