Audubon Wetlands Trail Guide

Have you ever hiked at the Audubon Wetlands Trail near John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky?

In this trail guide, I’ll show you everything you need to know about finding, visiting, hiking, and enjoying the Audubon Wetlands Trail, which is a remote part of the John James Audubon State Park.

If you find this guide to be helpful and you’d like to support me for creating it, please consider leaving me a small one-time donation for all my hard work.

Trail Snapshot

Important trail information that you should know:

Location: Audubon Wetlands Boardwalk Trail
Trail Length: 1.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 6 feet
Type: Loop
Average Time: 0.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Pets Allowed: Yes (Leashed)
Restrooms: None
Parking: Plenty
Road Conditions: Paved road, gravel parking lot
Best Seasons: All Seasons

PRO TIP: This is a swamp trail. During the warmer months, there will be a lot of mosquitoes and biting flies. Bring plenty of insect repellent with you and be ready to reapply the repellent when needed.

Why the Audubon Wetlands Trail is Worth Hiking

The Audubon Wetlands Trail is very worth the hike as long as you prepare for it.

It’s an easy hiking trail that is appropriate for hikers of all ages and most abilities.

It’s also one of the few trails in the John James Audubon State Park that you can hike with your dog at, just so long as the dog is on a leash.

Trail Map + Directions

The Audubon Wetlands Trail is very easy to get to.

From Shawneetown in Southern Illinois:

Take KY-56 E to US-60 BYP in Union County for 16 miles.
Take US-60 E to State Hwy 414 in Henderson County for 28 miles.
Turn right onto State Hwy 414 for 1 mile.
The Audubon Wetlands Trail will be on your left.

You can also use this Google Maps Link to reach the Audubon Wetlands Trail from Shawneetown in Southern Illinois.

All roads leading to the Audubon Wetlands Trail are paved. The parking lot for the trail is gravel and may contain potholes. There are adequate parking spaces available at the trailhead.

During the winter or during flash flooding conditions, the area may be inaccessible. Please check with the state park to ensure the trail is open before visiting.

NOTE: Getting on and off Hwy 414 can be tricky when the road is busy. Vehicles are moving fast, and there is little room to merge onto the highway. Please practice caution when traveling to and from the Audubon Wetlands Trail in Henderson, Kentucky.

What You’ll See on the Audubon Wetlands Trail

The Audubon Wetlands Trail reminds me a lot of the Heron Pond Preserve Trail here in Southern Illinois.

It consists of a beautiful and sturdy boardwalk that goes across a swamp and into a wooded area attached to the swamp. You’ll see aquatic swamp life like snakes, lizards, and birds during most of the season, aside from the very coldest months.

The hike is also a very nice walk in the woods with very low elevation gain, making it easy for almost any sort of hiker.

This trail allows pets as long as they’re on a leash.

How Difficult is the Audubon Wetlands Trail

The Audubon Wetlands Trail is very easy to hike and should be easy for all levels of hikers.

There is only around 6 feet of elevation gain. That is so little that you would likely not even feel it as you hiked up it. This is not a hilly hike at all, aside from the stairs and ramps of the boardwalk.

This trail is ADA-compliant, so people in wheelchairs, for example, may find this trail to be useful for them.

Use this AllTrails link to hike this particular trail.

Best Time to Hike the Audubon Wetlands Trail

All seasons would give you something great to look at when visiting the Audubon Wetlands Trail in Henderson, Kentucky.

In the warmer months, you can enjoy aquatic life, plants, and wildflowers along the trail. The swamp will very much be alive. However, the mosquitoes and biting flies in this area will be very thick.

In the cooler months and seasons, you can enjoy fall colors as they transition into leaf off, and then you’ll be able to see everything without biting insects getting into your way.

What to Bring on This Trail

When we visited, it was the summer. I was wearing a pair of half tight compression shorts, a t-shirt, and trail running shoes. My wife was dressed about the same. We had to drench ourselves in bug spray, and as long as we were moving, we were okay. You may want to wear more clothing than we did, especially if you stop to take a lot of photos and do a lot of nature viewing.

Any sort of outdoor shoe or boot should be adequate for this hike. If you visit after a rain, the dirt path portion of the trail could be very muddy. There were a few muddy spots we had to go around when we visited.

Make sure you bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and plenty of bug spray to keep mosquitoes and biting flies off you.

Safety Notes and Warnings

Please be sure to follow the rules when visiting the Audubon Wetlands Trail:

The trail is open from dawn until dusk.
Pets are allowed if on a leash.
Both hiking and bicycling are permitted. Horses and motor vehicles are not permitted.
Stay on the designated trail.
Do not harass the wildlife or pick plants along this trail.

As the Audubon Wetlands Trail is a swamp, you can expect swamp things to be present there. Mosquitoes and biting flies are definitely present. Use plenty of bug repellent when you visit and reapply when required.

You may encounter snakes when visiting this trail.

Poison ivy, ticks, and other hazards could be present along the trail.

Photography Tips

The Audubon Wetlands Trail is a great location for outdoor and nature photography.

I suggest bringing macro and telephoto lenses with you when visiting. There are a lot of small things to take photos of, and also faraway things. Being a swamp, there will be a lot of birding opportunities in the area during most of each season.

For the best light, choose partly cloudy days. The hours around sunrise and sunset are best for photography. They call these time periods golden hour.

Watch your gear carefully, as you don’t want to accidentally drop any of it into the swamp.

Nearby Trails to Hike

Check out the John James Audubon State Park in nearby Henderson, Kentucky, for more hiking adventures. There are miles upon miles of trails for basically all types of hikers. Keep in mind that pets are prohibited from most of the trails within the state park.

Who is the Audubon Wetlands Trail Best For?

The Audubon Wetlands Trail is best for everyone.

The trail is great for beginner hikers, children, and those with mobility issues. The trail is ADA-compliant for the most part. There is a longer loop you can do and a shorter loop if you want to make the hike smaller.

What To Do Near the Audubon Wetlands Trail

Go to John James Audubon State Park for more activities, such as visiting their world-class museum, which we found to be the best part of the park.

Henderson also provides great lodging, dining, and things to do when visiting the area.

Final Verdict for the Audubon Wetlands Trail

If you’ve never hiked the Audubon Wetlands Trail and you are looking for an easy swamp trail and boardwalk, I highly recommend hiking this trail.

It’s best to add this trail to a visit to the John James Audubon State Park.

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And until next time, I’ll see you on the trail!

Watch the videos for this trail!

Below is a recent video that we filmed while enjoying this area.

Check out the trail gallery!

Enjoy these photos taken around this area!