Overlook Trail Map (click to enlarge)

Length: 1.5 miles, one way (3 miles round trip)
Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

With the Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek being out in the middle of nowhere, there doesn’t appear to be much effort in directing hikers to the start of the Overlook Trail. In fact, there are no signs identifying the trailhead—or the trail at any point, for that matter—though there is a wayside exhibit with a trail map next to the Knob Creek Tavern Visitor Center. What you need to do is walk to the large field behind the Visitor Center and adjacent log cabin and head towards the tree line on the right side. This field was farmed by the Lincolns from 1811 to 1816. The small mountain—some would call it a large hill—on the left side of the field is the one that you are eventually going to climb.

Overlook Trail starts on the right side of the field farmed by the Lincolns from 1811 to 1816, Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

If you look even farther to your right you will see another wayside exhibit and a well-worn path that leads down to Knob Creek. This is not the Overlook Trail, but you might as well make the side trip to see the creek before setting out on the hike—it is less than 100 feet away.

Path to Knob Creek at the Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

Knob Creek in Hodgenville, Kentucky

To find the Overlook Trail, all you have to do is follow the tree line to the far end of the field. In fact, you could march right down the middle of the field to the back left corner where the trail begins its climb up the mountain, but the grass may be tall and you are certain to pick up ticks. The National Park Service mows a path along the tree line, which is why you want to use that route.

Follow the tree line to the far end of the field to access the Overlook Trail at the Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

When you reach the far end of the field you have an option to cross a creek and continue straight ahead or curve around to the left towards the mountain. Since the whole point of the hike is to get to the top of the mountain, head to the left.

View of Knob Creek from the Overlook Trail at the Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

You will come upon a wayside exhibit that details how the Boy Scouts used to camp in this field when hiking the 33-mile Lincoln Trail, but ultimately you’ll be looking for a storage shed. The trail continues behind it.

Overlook Trail continues behind the storage shed, Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

It is .4 mile to the shed, and the terrain is perfectly flat. However, once you start up the mountain, the trail is not only steep, but the uphill climb is also long. If you hiked any of the trails back at the Lincoln Birthplace unit of the park, you know that there are some steep hills, but it takes about fifteen seconds to reach the top. Not here. It’s nearly a half mile to the point where the terrain finally levels out.

Hike up the mountain on the Overlook Trail at the Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

Once at the top, you still have another .6 mile to the overlook, and it’s one of those hikes that seems to go on forever. There are a few small hills, but after the hike up, most people would consider these to be flat. There are also a lot of briers on the trail, so I suggest wearing long pants on this hike.

Terrain at the top of the mountain on the Overlook Trail at the Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

Just before reaching the end of the trail is a small pond. This is supposedly a good place to see birds, frogs, snakes, and other amphibians.

The Overlook Trail passes a pond at the top of the mountain, Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

The end of the trail is just a few minutes past the pond. Trees have grown up over the years, so you don’t get much of a view, but you can see the valley below where Highway 31 now winds its way through the hills. I believe the view is looking back towards the Lincoln Boyhood Home at Knob Creek, but at the opposite side of the road. You cannot see the parking area because it is recessed in a small cove.

Wayside exhibit at the end of the Overlook Trail, Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

View of the Knob Creek valley from the end of the Overlook Trail at the Knob Creek Unit of Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park

The Overlook Trail is an out-and-back trail, so once done taking a look, turn around a head back down. Overall, since the view is not that great anymore, unless you just want some exercise I suggest spending your hiking time elsewhere.

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