Kentucky Trails and Maps

268 Reviews

Looking for the best trails around Kentucky?

Explore the best rated trails in Kentucky, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail and Legacy Trail (KY). With more than 28 trails covering 183 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

City Trails and Maps in Kentucky

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Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type
28 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Benham Rail Trail

2.25 mi
State: KY
Crushed Stone

Big Four Bridge

0.5 mi
State: IN, KY
Concrete

Brighton East Rail Trail

2.4 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Coolavin Rail Trail

0.6 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

36 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Hopkinsville Rail Trail

4.76 mi
State: KY
Concrete

Lake Barkley Bridge Multiuse Path

11 mi
State: KY
Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel

Legacy Trail (KY)

11 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Lewis and Clark Bridge Trail

2.5 mi
State: IN, KY
Asphalt

Louisville Loop

50.51 mi
State: KY
Asphalt, Concrete

Muhlenberg County Rail-Trail

6 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Paducah Greenway

4.5 mi
State: KY
Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt

Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail

8.6 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Adkisson Greenbelt

14.8 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Barren River Lake State Resort Park

2.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Hope Center Trail

0.3 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Liberty Park Trail

1.4 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Squires Road Trail

1.3 mi
State: KY
Asphalt
Accordion

White Plains Trail

1.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Cadiz Railroad Trail

2.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

South Elkhorn Trail

0.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Town Branch Trail (KY)

2.2 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Aero Parkway Bicycle Trail

2.3 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Blackford Pedestrian Bridge

0.9 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Kentucky Lake Dam Trail

1.4 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Wetherington Boulevard Trail

1.4 mi
State: KY
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
The Benham Rail Trail—also known as the Benham Walking Trail and Coal Miners Walking Trail—runs east to west across the small town of Benham on a former railroad corridor. The line, which was...
KY 2.25 mi Crushed Stone
The Big Four Bridge links Louisville, Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana, over the majestic Ohio River, once described by Thomas Jefferson as “the most beautiful river on Earth.” The bridge’s...
IN, KY 0.5 mi Concrete
The Brighton East Rail Trail was Fayette County's first, opening in 2007. The original 1-mile trail through recent residential development between Bryant Road and Pleasant Ridge Park proved...
KY 2.4 mi Asphalt
The Coolavin Rail Trail runs for a half mile in northern Lexington's Smithtown neighborhood. The paved pathway begins on a quiet street adjacent to the Transylvania University Athletics Complex and...
KY 0.6 mi Asphalt
The Dawkins Line Rail Trail is the longest rail-trail in Kentucky, spanning 36 miles from Hagerhill to Evanston in the eastern part of the state. The rail-trail accommodates horseback riders,...
KY 36 mi Asphalt
Hopkinsville Rail Trail, sometimes referred to as the Pennyrile Rail Trail, will one day be more than 7 miles long along the former Fort Campbell railroad spur once used by the U.S....
KY 4.76 mi Concrete
The Lake Barkley Bridge connecting Canton to the Land between the Lakes National Recreation Area was opened in Fall 2019. The bridge features four traffic lanes and a 10-foot wide, protected bike-ped...
KY 11 mi Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel
Overview    The Legacy Trail treks an 11-mile paved path through northern areas of Lexington, Kentucky. Running north-to-south, between the Kentucky Horse Park and Northside Lexington, this...
KY 11 mi Asphalt
This multipurpose trail provides a safe, non-motorized alternative to cross the Ohio River between Jeffersonville, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky. The two-lane paved trail actually starts 1.4 miles...
IN, KY 2.5 mi Asphalt
In the 1890s, pre-eminent landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. envisioned large community parks connected to the neighborhoods of Louisville via “ribbons of green.” His tree-lined parkways...
KY 50.51 mi Asphalt, Concrete
At the northern end of the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail is the impressive Mammoth Cave. With 390 miles of passages, it's the world's longest cave, more than double the length of its closest...
KY 9 mi Gravel
The Muhlenberg County Rail-Trail in rural southwestern Kentucky connects the community of Central City, Muhlenberg County's largest city, to Powderly and Greenville to the south. As Kentucky's most...
KY 6 mi Asphalt
The Newport Southbank Bridge, commonly known as the Purple People Bridge due to its unique paint scheme, links the large Ohio city of Cincinnati with Newport, Kentucky, a medium-sized city rapidly...
KY, OH 0.5 mi Concrete
The Paducah Greenway (simply, The Greenway to locals, and officially, the Clyde F. Boyles Greenway Trail) is a 4.5-mile non-motorized pathway that links Paducah’s neighborhoods, parks and natural...
KY 4.5 mi Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt
Opened in August 2020, Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail represents more than just a recreation facility. As a worthy recipient of an Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Pilot Program grant, the trail stands as...
KY 8.6 mi Asphalt
Adkinsson Greenbelt Park offers an extensive paved trail running throughout the city of Owensboro in Daviess County, Kentucky. It makes its way through many of the city's parks and to a few...
KY 14.8 mi Asphalt
Barren River Lake Trail makes a circuit around the golf course at the Barren River Lake State Resort Park. The paved trail is mostly flat with a few hills, passing through wooded meadows and stretches...
KY 2.5 mi Asphalt
Although short in length, the Hope Center Trail provides an important connection between two other trails in Lexington’s northern neighborhoods. The paved, 0.3-mile pathway gets its name from the Hope...
KY 0.3 mi Asphalt
Liberty Park heads north from the west end of the Brighton East Rail Trail in Lexington. Following Liberty Road somewhat, the trail crosses Star Shoot Parkway, where it provides access to Liberty...
KY 1.4 mi Asphalt
Squires Road Trail is a 1.3 mile multiuse trail on the southeast edge of Lexington, KY. The trail begins on Squires Road and threads through neighborhoods until its terminus at Summerhill Road....
KY 1.3 mi Asphalt
Accordion
The White Plains Trail runs for 1.5 miles through White Plains, between JP Hanks Road and just east of town, where enters a thickly forested area. The trailhead is a few blocks south of White Plains...
KY 1.5 mi Asphalt
The Cadiz Railroad Trail runs for 2.5 miles between an old railroad depot on State route 139 and Fortner Drive at the east end of town. The trail parallels Noel Drive and Lafayette Street, following...
KY 2.5 mi Asphalt
The South Elkhorn Trail is a short community path in the southern reaches of Lexington, Kentucky. The rail-with-trail skirts the edge of the new housing developments centered on Newbury Way and...
KY 0.5 mi Asphalt
Town Branch Trail in northwest Lexington currently extends between Leestown Road and Alexandria Road, following an old railroad corridor between a subdivision and cultivated fields. Plans call for...
KY 2.2 mi Asphalt
This shared use path may only be 2.3 miles long, but it is appreciated by residents in Florence as a place to exercise. It travels alongside Aero Parkway, which borders the Cincinnati/ Northern...
KY 2.3 mi Asphalt
The Blackford Pedestrian Bridge qualifies as a rail-trail because it crosses a refurbished railroad bridge over the Tradewater River, linking Blackford. in Webster County with Crittenden County. The...
KY 0.9 mi Asphalt
Not many bike trails can offer what the Kentucky Lake Dam Trail does: the paved hike-and-bike path actually travels along the crest of the Kentucky Dam wall on the Tennessee River, providing an...
KY 1.4 mi Asphalt
This smooth asphalt path on the side of Wetherington Boulevard invites residents of the nearby communities out for fitness and recreation. The trail stretches from US 42 to Mt. Zion Road and connects...
KY 1.4 mi Asphalt

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Recent Trail Reviews

Legacy Trail (KY)

Good trail, bring your own water

May, 2024 by 170uiedz

No water on trail

Louisville Loop

Simply one of the best trails

May, 2024 by robert.richter89

I rode the entirety of the Parklands of Floyds Fork section on a very sunny spring day. I have ridden trails in many states and this was one of the best trails I've ever experienced. It is very well maintained, has breathtaking scenery and has multiple trailheads many of which have some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen on a trail.

I started at the Beckley Creek trailhead which made the first few miles very hilly. As a mostly rail-trail rider this trail has many hills, curves and switchbacks. I very much enjoyed the challenge this provided but some of the hills will surprise you. I also found the trail mostly easy to navigate but the first few miles my wife and I made a few wrong turns until we found the Loop. I ended at the Broad Run Park trailhead which was much less hilly so starting there would make the beginning of your ride much easier.

After the first few miles which also seemed to be the busiest the trail starts to flatten out and become more rural. The scenery changes from playgrounds to fields of wildflowers, farms and wooded areas. There was never a dull moment in the scenery or the trail itself as it does require you to pay attention due to the hills and curves.

The trail is perfectly paved and there are trailheads every few miles. Most trailheads had shelters and bathrooms which gives plenty of options to start and end your ride. Residents of Louisville are very lucky to have this gem of a trail right outside of their city.

Newport Southbank Bridge (Purple People Bridge)

Nice experience.

May, 2024 by joenad55

I loved going over this bridge, both walking and jogging. Connects to the riverfront on both sides. Easy access to the stadiums and downtown Cincinnati. Lots of artwork on it. The bridge can actually be rented for special events!

Accordion

Legacy Trail (KY)

Legacy Trail

April, 2024 by emroth

Well paved trail. Rode from YMCA to the end and back. About 24 miles total. We had a good ride with beautiful scenery. Some hills but not too bad. We did hear the traffic noise 60-70% of the time.

Squires Road Trail

Hills...but it's Kentucky

March, 2024 by luv_mlb25

I ran this trail in March 2024. The review that has been submitted stated that the trail was short and flat. It is short, but it is not flat. The trail legend shows it's split in to three legs, but a person could absolutely do the whole stretch without any issue. There is little to no traffic and even though you do cross a couple of roads, the cars were kind enough to let me run through. There is a slow steep hill through Berry Park and then the rest of the path runs behind a neighborhood of houses. I parked in the "middle" of the three trails at the above-mentioned park and ran southwest first and this was a steady up and down path. It looks as though it has just been repaired as there were still signs of freshly planted grass and straw along the path. However, sadly, there are sinking holes already in the path and even a huge crater in part of it. I then did a loop, returning to the park and then up the northeastern part of the trail. This runs through a cul-de-sac and is an easy road run until the trail picks up again just cross Alumni Drive. The northern part of the trail is mostly shaded and wide with a nice creek running through. I felt safe and the trail seemed to be clear of trash. Not sure I would run this again if I were to return to the area just based on the hills alone. I was just in the area for an overnight stay and needed to fit in a quick 5K before a long car ride home.

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

Nice, except for dogs.

February, 2024 by patnaik_sandeep

Really beautiful trail for biking, with easy gradients. You just have to be careful with all the free roaming dogs that like to aggressively chase you. Ended up turning around half way through because dogs kept chasing me.

Louisville Loop

Louisville Loop (The Parklands of Floyds Fork)

November, 2023 by thejake91739

On a chilly morning in late October with a temperature hovering at forty degrees, I ventured out onto the Louisville Loop's Parklands of Floyds Fork portion of trails. The Parklands is made up of five sections in a rural setting, and I rode four of them out and back.

BECKLEY CREEK PARK
First of all, this section is surprisingly hilly at the start and toward the end. Even the bridges over the creek were steep! Thank goodness for my Swytch pedal assist! It's especially picturesque with beautiful creek and woodlands views. The calls of birds will accompany you throughout this section.
(Unfortunately, the connecting trail to Pope Lick Park was closed as of October 23 due to construction, so back up the trail, pack up the bike, and drive to the next trailhead.)

POPE LICK PARK & THE STRAND
If you're averse to hills, then these are the sections for you. If you're also into sensational creek views and crossing over bridges, you'll be in heaven.. These two sections also contain beautiful scenery of wooded hills, farmland with field of corn, and a few charming country homes. Keep your eyes peeled for turtles. I saw about a dozen of them sunning themselves on a log extending into the creek. Rust colored fuzzy caterpillars with a black collar and black rear tip were also all over the trail. By far, these portions of the trail were the busiest with bicyclists and walkers.

TURKEY RUN PARK
Again, if you're not into hills, this is not a good section for you. With my pedal assist it was not an issue, and it was especially fun going through the woods and seeing the multitude of squirrels with nuts in their mouths scampering across the path and up trees. Of course the silo at the top of the hill is one of the stars of this section and is most definitely worth the climb to the top. From there you can see the trail head down through Turkey Park to the north, and the trail also heading down to the south and Broad Run Park (which I didn't have time to do).

CONCLUSION
All in all, I did 31 miles in this superlative park. The trail is superb: wide, smooth, and curvy which adds to the fun and interest! The park has real restrooms that are clean and have sinks. No porta-potties for The Parklands! This park system is obviously much beloved by the community. There were many happy, friendly folks utilizing it on a weekday. It's evident that a great deal of thought and planning went into this treasure! It's a model of what a park should be. The rest of the country should come and study it. It is most certainly a destination bike ride. I came all the way from California to ride this, and I have no regrets! What a gem of a park and trail system!

(This was the 49th state I've ridden my bike in. Thanks for making it a great one, Louisville! On to Hawaii!)

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

Nice trail...But the gates are hazardous....BEWARE!!!

October, 2023 by gordorad

A very nice trail. Rode this in mid September on a Friday afternoon, on my way to see Sara Evans in the tiny little town of Clay, WV. (I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the Dawkins trail, but it is the reason I found myself in this part of the country).

I started my ride at the Jenny's Creek Trailhead, and ventured all the way to the shuttered Tip Top tunnel. The trail "ends" about 1/2 mile before the tunnel, but you can keep going to check it out. It is worth it....

The ride was pretty nice, with a great surface, and very empty. In the 45 miles or so I covered, I only encountered a few other riders.

As several others have stated, the gates are a huge problem. Not only are there too many, they are very difficult to notice. If you are accustomed to riding at a faster pace, be very careful as sometimes you can be right on top of these. The paint is faded on most of these gates, and they blend into the scenery. A couple of times I had to really stop quickly. These are in desperate need of high-visibility paint. Other than these dangerous gates, the trail is worthy of a visit.

Muhlenberg County Rail-Trail

Nice trail for a fall trip.

October, 2023 by vc2019

Trailhead in Greenville is across from Clark Tire Center and has nice picnic table nearby. The trail is in good condition, saw some birding along the way and a nice city park at Powderly. Bathrooms at the HS were closed for the season.

Legacy Trail (KY)

Safe for a Solo Ridee

September, 2023 by jfloweresq

I’m in Lexington for business - whenever I’m in a new city - I try to checkout the bike trail. The Legacy Trail did not disappoint- I’m from Central Ohio and our trails are pancake flat - the Legacy Trail has enough elevation to get the heart rate up - but nothing the novice cyclist couldn’t handle. I enjoyed taking in the history in the trail and most importantly- I felt very safe as a solo female rider from out of town. The trail was full of friendly cyclists!

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

Could be great

September, 2023 by joglazewski

25 miles of smooth, 9 ft wide pavement through eastern Ky landscape. Mostly shaded, Wildflowers, rocky bluffs, bridges, tunnels. Also has 44 3.5 foot wide vehicle gates to navigate, which ruined ride for me. Would love to see more historical markers on trail. Map shows locations but no obvious evidence when riding.

Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail

Hospitality Plus

September, 2023 by ttomondi

One of the best trail ride experiences I’ve ever had! The people were exceptionally friendly. We unknowingly went on golf cart Saturday & were a little confused as to why golf carts were allowed on the trail. The Mayor stopped us to introduce himself and inquire about us and our trikes. They allow golf carts every 3rd Saturday from 10 a - 3 p to make the trail available to everyone! The Dairy Bar was awesome, and we even got a little history lesson from the owner! Will definitely be back because it became an instant favorite! What a gem!

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