Howard: Trails, Water and Golf

Howard offers a variety of ways to spend time outdoors: hiking trails wind through the 348-acre Honey Run Highlands Park, and the Kokosing Gap Trail runs through town. There are also water destinations along Jelloway Creek and an 18-hole golf course. If you’re planning a trip with different activities, you can prioritize them according to whether hiking, cycling, nature or golf is most important to you.

Nature and Trails

Honey Run Highlands Park combines a substantial area with a special natural feature: it provides excellent habitat for state-threatened wildlife species. The park includes hiking trails, making it a destination for anyone who would like to spend some of their time in Howard on foot. Its 348 acres give the park its distinctive scale; the hiking trails are part of the grounds, but no particular length or difficulty is specified.

Another hiking idea takes you from Honey Run Waterfall to the Kokosing River. The defining feature of this outing is the connection between a waterfall and the river. If you like to incorporate a hike into your day, you can make this route a focus of your visit. Its description sets it apart from the trails at Honey Run Highlands Park and the offerings at Hellbender Preserve.

Hellbender Preserve is home to the Buckeye Grove Loop Trail. The preserve also provides access to river beaches along Jelloway Creek via a nature trail. So the highlights here are a named loop trail and a nature trail leading to a destination by the water. If you like having the choice between a hike and spending time at river beaches, these two features may appeal to you.

The Kokosing Gap Trail runs through Howard and is paved. It is intended for hiking, jogging, cycling and rollerblading. This variety of activities sets it apart from the options specifically described as hiking trails or paths. When planning your day, you can consider which activity you prefer; the trail offers several options on a paved path.

Golf and Vacation Interests

Howard is also home to Apple Valley Golf Course. The course has 18 holes, is a par-72 golf course and covers 160 acres. These details make it a clearly defined option for travelers who would like to include golf in their time in Howard. Unlike the trails and nature destinations, this one centers on a specific sport.

When choosing a vacation rental in Howard, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: hiking, trying different activities on the paved Kokosing Gap Trail, visiting the river beaches along Jelloway Creek or playing a round of golf, for example. The destinations described offer different things to do, so you can tailor your vacation rental search to the experiences that matter to your group without giving all activities equal priority.

For more destinations to consider, see Mount Vernon and Gambier.

For an overview of the wider area, see Knox County.