Five-Star Trails: Louisville and Southern Indiana. Valerie Askren

      GPS TRAILHEAD COORDINATES

      As noted in “Trail Maps,” I used a handheld GPS unit to obtain geographic data and sent the information to the cartographers at Menasha Ridge. In the opener for each hike profile, the coordinates—the intersection of latitude (north) and longitude (west)—will orient you from the trailhead. In some cases, you can drive within viewing distance of a trailhead. Other hiking routes require a short walk to the trailhead from a parking area.

      This guidebook uses the degree–decimal minute format for expressing GPS coordinates. The latitude–longitude grid system is likely quite familiar to you, but here’s a refresher, pertinent to visualizing the coordinates:

      Imaginary lines of latitude—called parallels and approximately 69 miles apart from each other—run horizontally around the globe. The equator is established to be 0°, and each parallel is indicated by degrees from the equator: up to 90°N at the North Pole and down to 90°S at the South Pole.

      Imaginary lines of longitude—called meridians—run perpendicular to lines of latitude and are likewise indicated by degrees. Starting from 0° at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England, they continue to the east and west until they meet 180° later at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. At the equator, longitude lines also are approximately 69 miles apart, but that distance narrows as the meridians converge toward the North and South Poles.

      To convert GPS coordinates given in degrees, minutes, and seconds to degrees–decimal minutes, the seconds are divided by 60. For more on GPS technology, visit usgs.gov.

      DISTANCE & CONFIGURATION

      Distance indicates the length of the hike from start to finish, either round-trip or one-way depending on the trail configuration. If the hike description includes options to shorten or extend the hike, those distances will also be factored here. Configuration defines the type of route—for example, an out-and-back (which takes you in and out the same way), a point-to-point (or one-way route), a loop, a figure-eight, or a balloon.

      HIKING TIME

      Two to three miles per hour is a general rule of thumb for hiking the trails in this book, depending on the terrain and whether you have children with you. That pace typically allows time for taking photos, for dawdling and admiring views, and for alternating stretches of hills and descents. When deciding whether or not to follow a particular trail in this guidebook, consider your own pace, the weather, your general physical condition, and your energy level on a given day.

      HIGHLIGHTS

      This section lists features that draw hikers to the trail: waterfalls, historic sites, and the like.

      ELEVATION

      In each hikes’s key information, you will see the elevation (in feet) at the trailhead and another figure for the peak height you will reach on the trail. For routes that involve significant ascents and descents, the hike profile also includes an elevation diagram.

      ACCESS

      Fees or permits required to hike the trail are detailed here—and noted if there are none. Trail-access hours are also listed here.

      MAPS

      Resources for maps, in addition to those in this guidebook, are listed here. As noted earlier, we recommend that you carry more than one map—and that you consult those maps before heading out on the trail in order to resolve any confusion or discrepancy.

      FACILITIES

      Includes restrooms, phones, water, picnic tables, and other basics at or near the trailhead.

      WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

      Notes paved sections or other areas where persons with disabilities can safely use a wheelchair.

      COMMENTS

      Here you’ll find assorted nuggets of information, such as whether or not dogs are allowed on the trails.

      CONTACTS

      Listed here are phone numbers and websites for checking trail conditions and gleaning other day-to-day information.

      Overview, Route Details, Nearby Attractions, & Directions

      These four elements compose the heart of the hike. “Overview” gives you a quick summary of what to expect on that trail; the “Route Details” guide you on the hike, from start to finish; and “Nearby Attractions” suggests appealing adjacent sites, such as restaurants, museums, and other trails (note that not every hike profile has these). “Directions” will get you to the trailhead from a well-known road or highway.

      Weather

      As a river city, Louisville can get quite hot and humid during the summer. For that reason alone, hiking during June, July, and August can be less than ideal. During this time of year, you may want to consider a shorter trail or one with a reprieve from the heat, such as a nature center. Fall and spring are by far the most popular times of the year for hiking. Colorful leaf and wildflower displays always draw crowds. During these months, try to avoid hiking the more popular spots on holidays and beautiful weekends. If possible, hike during the week, after work when the days get longer, or on a less-well-known trail.

      For many hikers, wintertime presents an excellent opportunity to get out on the trails. Crowds (and bugs) disappear, cliffs and rocky outcroppings are easier to see, and the contours of the earth become more apparent. And if we get a good snow, animal tracks along the trails, birds at their feeders, and ice formations on the waterways make for wonderful sights along the way.

      The following chart provides a month-by-month snapshot of the weather in the Louisville area. For each month, “Hi Temp” shows the average daytime high, “Lo Temp” gives the average nighttime low, and “Rain” lists the average precipitation.