The Knobs;of Kentucky is a narrow, arc-shaped region consisting of hundreds of isolated hills. The region wraps around the southern and eastern parts of the Bluegrass in the north central to northeastern part of the state. The western end of the Knobs region begins near Louisville, KY and continues southeastward through Bullitt,Hardin,Nelson,Larue, Marion,Taylor,Boyle,Casey and Lincoln counties before turning northeast and running along the Pottsville Escarpment and the Appalachian Plateau. The Knob arc has a length of 230 miles (370 km).
Many of the hills are conical and up to several hundred feet high, some with capstones that form cliffs. The monadnocks formed from the eroding margins of the Pennyroyal Plasteau to the south and the Cumberland Plateau to the east.Pilot Knob is located in Powell County .
Pilot Knob Trail features a brisk climb and spectacular views that can reach all the way to Lexington on a clear day.
Legend has it that Daniel Boone saw the Bluegrass region of Kentucky from the summit of this hike for the very first time in 1796. From this panoramic view it’s possible to see the Blue Grass region, the Knobs region, and the Cumberland Plateau regions, though it may be hard to tell which is which. Plant your feet on the sandstone outcrop at the southeast end on the knob. While walking on this part of the trail you will notice a change in the texture of the soil as you reach near the summit on this trail. Pay attention to the texture of the soil and the conglomerates that are formed at the higher elevation near the sandstone Cliffs.
Conglomerates is strongly related to sandstone. It is actually a type of sandstone, although it may not be technically correct to say so. Conglomerate is composed of clasts larger than 2 mm sand is composed of grains smaller than 2 mm.
Sandy soil absorbs more than two inches of water per hour. It is very porous, with large spaces between soil particles. Little water is retained and the sandy soil dries out quickly. Loam soil absorbs from .25 inches to 2 inches per hour. The soil is loose and porous and holds water quite well. Clay soil absorbs less than .25 inches of water per hour. Clay soil is dense with few air spaces between particles and holds water so tightly that little water is available for plants.
Characteristics of Different Soil Types
Three major categories of soil dominate our area. These are:
Sandy soil
Loam soil
Clay soil
To figure out what type of soil you have, squeeze a moist, but not muddy, one inch ball of soil in your hand. Then rub the soil between your fingers. Sandy soil feels gritty and loose. It won't form a ball and falls apart when rubbed between your fingers. Loam soil is smooth, slick, partially gritty and sticky and forms a ball that crumbles easily. It is a combination of sand and clay particles. Clay soil is smooth, sticky and somewhat plastic feeling. It forms ribbons when pressed between fingers. Clay soil requires more pressure to form a ball than loam soil, but does not crumble apart as easily.
At the listed waypoint and until you reach the summit you will notice more erosion that has has taken place on the Cliff it self this is Honeycomb weathering. This is a common surface phenomenon affecting a variety of rocks in a range of environments. It develops on building stones and it shapes cliffs and rocks in a variety of different landscapes. Honeycomb weathering on sandstone is caused by erosional forces such as wind/water exposure and salt crystallization. Because sandstone is a porous rock with many microscopic holes and fissures, this aids in the honeycombing process. Wind promotes evaporative salt growth between grains on a stone surface, resulting in the development of small, randomly distributed cavities. A reduction in air pressure within the cavities results in increased wind speed and rapid evaporation. A high evaporation rate and evaporative cooling of the saline solution in the cavity leads to more rapid and greater granular disintegration than in the surrounding areas. The area also has a rich history in millstone making and there is a quarry site, with several unfinished millstones on the preserve.
Two words can sum up the main reason to hike the Pilot Knob Trail: spectacular views. As one of the highest points in Powell County. And on a clear day it’s possible to see all the way to the Lexington Financial Center, known locally as the “fifth third”—the tallest building outside of Louisville.
Winding up through the second growth forest of oak-hickory, take a break from the steady upward climb to listen to the variety of songbirds flitting through the trees while catching a breath. Continuing on up, note how the landscape changes the closer to the top the trail goes. The trees become more stunted, mostly blackjack oak and Virginia pine, which are better adapted to harsh conditions.
Geology buffs get a treat as the summit draws near. There is an outcrop of rock that is Pennsylvanian sandstone, approximately 280 million years old, and is a sedimentary rock made up of a mixture of sands and gravels deposited by an ancient stream. It is this type of rock that the area is famous for, and that the millstones are made from that can been seen elsewhere in the preserve.
Sandstone is a very common mineral and can be found all over the world. There are large deposits found in through out United States.
This trail gets a strenuous rating as there is a steady climb, and decent elevation gain , but it’s short enough that most hikers with some fitness can make it with few issues if they take their time.
Time to Complete: About two hours round-trip, for a moderate fitness level and depending on how long you spend at the overlook.
Distance: 1.25 miles to the summit point. After taking a few photos from the overlook, many people enjoy returning via the Sage Point Loop trail. For a bit more mileage, add the Millstone Quarry Trail, a one mile round-trip from the parking area.
Seasonality: (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
As with just about any trail in Kentucky, it can be a bit muddy in the spring and fall and summer brings out the songbirds. But what makes this hike really shine is that it’s a great winter or early spring trail. It’s particularly gorgeous after an ice storm, however crampons or cleats are recommended.
GPS Coordinates: 37.912063°,-83.944960 Permission granted by Kyle Napier KY Nature Preserves Reviewer
1.Explain how the honeycombing formed on the rock features on the trail starting at the Ref point here and how you believe it was formed.
2.Describe the erosional honeycombing at this location.Size ,color.
3.Along the trail near the summit what is the size of the pebbles /rocks along the trail.
4. Desrcibe the texture of the soil at the Parking coordinates and also on the trail near the Ref point and nearer the summitt ?
5.What is the elevation gain from the parking to the summitt ?