Gunpowder Creek Nature Park

I almost didn't want to write this review ... because this truly is a hidden gem and I don't want it to get too crowded! But, I think I've kept this awesome Burlington trail a secret for long enough. Let me start by saying that there is a park area with a playground and covered shelter and grill that looks nice and clean! On our most recent visit, there was a big cookout going on, and all of the parking spaces in the small lot were full. Don't be concerned if that's the case when you arrive ... there's plenty of street parking available in the surrounding neighborhood. And - even if the play area is full of people, we've never seen another person on the actual trail beneath the park. This trail is not for hiking amateurs. You can except a VERY steep climb back uphill at the end of your visit. There is a side path that's a little less steep - but it's very rocky with lots of switchbacks. I definitely recommend this trail for more experienced hikers. If you are a beginner and still want to check it out, just be sure you know what you're getting into. It's definitely worth the climb!My husband and I often bring our dogs for a quick spin around this trail, on both weekday and weekend mornings. When you get down to the actual river, there's plenty of wildlife to check out. Most recently, we enjoyed the blooming Honeysuckle plants, but steered clear of a few snakes in the water. Be sure to watch where you step.Check out Gunpowder Creek the next time you're looking for a unique nature hike with a bit of a challenge. You won't be disappointed.

Very Nice and peaceful, cute play area, great place for Pets or a afternoon nature hike. Will return

Little play area for kiddos. By the restrooms. Water fountain. About 9 big picnic tables under shelter. Big grill. This would be nice for a private kid's bday party. Walking trails. Amphitheater. Streams at the bottom.

This is my favorite park that no one knows about.Stuck back in what you might think was the middle of a pleasant subdivision, Sperti Park -now renamed into the more prestigious-sounding "Gunpowder Creek Nature Park"- is a Boone County Treasure.To quote from the website, "Gunpowder Park has 122 wooded acres. It features an unpaved upgraded 1800's logging trail that travels from an elevation of 830 feet to 620 feet and ends near Gunpowder Creek at a stone seating area. The park also has a stand of mature oaks on the northern hillside that is one of the best remaining undisturbed areas of woodland in the region." Allow me to translate. From the small parking lot (adjacent to a very pleasant playground) the entrance to the park proper is one godawful, monumental hill equivalent to a twenty-story staircase. It's not so bad going down, but it's sheer bloody murder going back up. If, however, you are prepared to brave the monster of the path to the parking lot, Sperti Park is a slice of Bluegrass Paradise. The gravel hiking trails pass through a beautiful maturing forest sprinkled liberally with existing old-growth trees, and parallels the amazing Gunpowder Creek. "Creeks" in this area of the country are really more like what Europeans would call a "Torrent" -a seasonal river. Visit Sperti Park sometime in March or April and you'll see an awesome and treacherous river that regularly washes away improbably large detritus from all over the county, and uproots mature trees and tosses them into creative logjams. Visit in August and you'll see a placid, shallow stream you can skip across. No wonder they called the creek "Gunpowder".But my favorite part of the park isn't on the marked trails. If you visit when the water is down, or if you bring a horse, you can cross the creek and explore the more than 100 acres of the park that lie on the far side water! I've visited a dozen times, and I'm only beginning to become familiar with the extent of natural beauty the park truly has to offer.

Definitely loved this place! I can't believe I've grown up here & never knew this place existed! Oh, the secrets Burlington holds! There is a nice park, great views and a wonderful piece of paradise in my own backyard! In love.

Great escape and wonderful exercise. No motorized vehicles allowed means it's a quiet and relaxing walk with nature. Horses frequent the trails, so watch out for road apples. I usually spend 2-3 hours on a hike so don't forget the water and make sure to bring a camera. Lots of pretty scenery.

We just moved to the area and discovered this gem on a google search for hiking and birding locations. This is such a beautiful park. The woods and trails are full of wildflowers and of course beautiful trees! The creek is beautiful and wide. There are so many bird species in the area, as well. There are some hills, so good shoes and knees are recommended.

I love this park for it's beauty and extensiveness. Love that it takes you along Gunpowder Creek, which is one of the major Ohio River tributaries in Boone County. You can see some of the "cliffs" that line areas of Gunpowder Creek as well as crawdads, frogs and lots of other wildlife. I would advise to stay on the main trails. My kids and I took a part of a trail which ended up being a deer path instead. We ended up in the backwoods and had to trek our way through sticker bushes, brambles, etc. We found remnants of someone camping back there with an old tarp and also a car hood held down by cinder blocks. We were a little freaked out by that, but it was an old dugout well with about a 10-12ft drop. Hard to judge though. Glad we had our German Shepherd with us! The point is be safe and use the main trails.