Explore the best rated trails in Franklin, KY, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Mill Creek Greenway (TN) and Cumberland River Greenway . With more than 25 trails covering 89 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.
The trail is a super easy, enjoyable walk. Not a lot to see along the way, but plenty of fresh air.
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.
We love to bike the Riverwalk. This trail is actually connected by Austin Peay Greenway on one end, and Upland trail on the other end. If you start at Austin Peay Greenway trailhead, you can walk/bike through the Riverwalk and connect to Upland trail. There are swings and picnic tables along the way, and even on a busy day you can find somewhere to stop have lunch. Last weekend we biked all three trails and I was amazed at how beautiful, accessible, and clean everything was.
We love Upland trail for our family. It is a short, easy, and secluded trail. You will see parts of the city you don’t otherwise pay attention to. Eventually this trail will be continued, and will connect to Valleybrook park. I cannot wait for that final phase to be completed! Walking takes about 30-40 minutes, and biking takes about 15.
We only did the short section due to the heat, but it was actually really pleasant underneath the green shaded path! We did run into two downed trees that required going around as they were pretty big. (There was a big storm two nights ago and lots of cleanup going on in the area.). Took a few detours to the campground and the green river ferry crossing. We also ended up on a road that was closed off to cars but a national park bus came down and dropped off some serious cavers. We watch them gear up and go down into the bowels of the earth. Not for the faint of heart! I believe it was called the wild cave tour. Total of 9.6 miles over 2 1/2 hours for a wonderful morning ride! Loved it all.
If you enjoy getting of the roads and paved trails, and ride trails through the woods, but don't like narrow, technical, dangerously unkempt trails, this is the trail for you! Nice wide, easy going in most sections, with a couple of steeper sections (which can be ridden easily on an e-bike...otherwise walked, as they recommend). Surface is hard-packed dirt, but with a layer of pretty course gravel (trap rock, etc.), so definitely best for fat tire bikes. As for the starting point, no need to start in town (not that interesting anyway, unless you need to go to a store, or something like that). As others have said, best option is to start on the southern end, if you can get one of those couple of gravel parking spaces on Zion Cemetery Road, right off of the Mammoth Cave Parkway...otherwise, you can go up the Parkway just a little ways to the paved lot near the big Mammoth Cave Park sign, where there are 4-5 spaces (but you'll miss a couple of cool sections of the trail that start on the cemetery road). Enjoy!
Lousy, traprock surface, twisty, steep hill that require walking bikes, unmarked dead end fork. Rode on hybrid with 28 mm tires. Took road back. Never again.
Drove from BG, Ky., and it's better bike ride than anything here. Wish it was longer. Gas was at least 20 cents cheaper, so the drive was worthwhile.
We rode this trail in May 2023. We accessed the northwest end of the trail via Freeland Station Road. It appears that the trail continues past this point but it is not shown on the map. We followed the trail northeast, east and southeast towards downtown Nashville. After a few miles we passed several homeless encampments in the wooded areas. When we reached the downtown area near 2nd St and Cement Plant Road we were met with construction debris. We found no clear description of where we were, where we might go and what we might see. We returned to the trailhead.
Prior to reaching the homeless encampment, the paved trail follows the curve of the river. Wildlife is visible on and along the river.
It would have been great if the trail were marked and we would have been able to ride the trail into the Broadway downtown area, Ryman Auditorium, etc.
I absolutely love this trail I ride on it and it is so beautiful and fun and it is nice to see others people on it too
Reminded me of Ohio trails I've ridden. Wish Bowling Green, Ky., had something that long. Only real suggestion is that an emergency call box or two would be nice. Saw five people total on perfect Thursday afternoon ride. You wanna be prepared
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