As the hikers arrive at Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, they’ll be welcomed with a time-honored tradition—the Passing of the Ax Ceremony. This symbolic gesture honors the legacy of those who forged paths through Kentucky’s untamed wilderness. As the ax is passed from hand to hand, it carries the spirit of connection, resilience, and a shared duty to preserve the stories etched into the Boone Trace Trail.

From there, we’ll gather beneath the shelters across from the Mountain Life Museum & Gift Shop, where Ron Nicholas—the park’s guide, history enthusiast, and the operator of both the museum and McHargue’s Mill—will bring history alive. With wit, wisdom, and a deep love for this land, Ron will share the rich tale of the park and its pivotal role in America’s early frontier days.

Once we’ve traveled through time via Ron’s storytelling, he’ll lead the group down the hill to the humming heart of the park: McHargue’s Mill. There, surrounded by the rhythm of grinding stone and flowing water, Ron will demonstrate how the mill operates and gift each hiker a complimentary bag of fresh-ground cornmeal—a wholesome token of your journey.

Come ready to connect—with the past, the land, and each other. Because every step on this trail is part of a much larger story—one we’re walking together.