Mullins Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

Overview. Wildlife Management Areas are great hikes that usually have some unruly sections, and Mullins is no exception. Much of the hike is on double track grass (loads of ticks) with a short portion in the woods on single track trail. What you give up in comfort, you gain in wildness. We enjoyed our time here and didn’t encounter another soul. Also, there is a unique area on the loop that has a stand of dead trees and abundant fungus growth.

Route Type | Out and Back with a Loop
Total Distance | 2.9 miles
Overall Difficulty | Moderate
Map of Mullins WMA

Trailhead. The north trailhead is just off Courtney Road where parking is available for up to maybe 6 vehicles. Do not block the gate in the event emergency vehicles need to access the area. [map]

Trail navigation. From the north trailhead, follow the double track trail through the grass fields and descend until reaching Bullock Pen Creek. Spend some time here along the creek and continue on to another stream crossing. This second stream crossing is a great place to sit for a spell and enjoy. Continue up to the south trailhead and retrace your steps to find the south end of the loop. You’ll see a grass trail on your right near the top of the hill. Continue out if it’s not too terribly overgrown in the open field until eventually reaching the woods near I-75. Turn left to follow the trail and move across a drainage. From here, you have the option to continue the official loop up into the next open meadow or you can take the user trail that moves parallel to the field, but without all the tall grasses and stickers. We chose this option to finish the loop. Turn right when you rejoin the main trail and continue back to the parking lot.

NO FACILITIES. Use the restroom before you arrive, as there are no facilities in the area.

CAUTION - Unmarked Trails. These trails are unmarked and numerous user trails exist. This is a good thing for experienced hikers familiar with backcountry navigation, but novice hikers can easily get lost. For newer hikers, stick to the main double track trail and skip the loop section.

CAUTION - Abundant Ticks. There is a very healthy tick population here which is true of most tall grass hikes. Be sure to check for ticks and monitor for signs of Lyme Disease. It helps to wear light colored clothing to more easily spot them.

CAUTION - Active Hunting Area. Be sure to check Kentucky Fish & Wildlife’s website for hunting seasons and yield the area to hunters during these times. It is always a good idea to wear bright colors in WMAs.