Find the top rated hiking trails in Madisonville, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Went on this trail one sunny afternoon for two miles and found no shade. We just drove 30 miles south to Greenville and found a great paved 6 mile, shaded trail.
On the Fenton side of the Island, the west side, the paved part of the trail extends west from the Fenton TH over the bridge and ends at approximately 1.3 miles. From the Fenton Trail Head to the Sunset Trail Head is not paved. From Fenton to Sunset is not paved, 8.2 miles. From Sunset Trail Head headed east over the east bridge is approximately 3.3 miles. From that point, east is approximately 6 paved miles.
We hiked from the Fenton side to the Golden Pond Visitors Center, which is 4.2 miles, round trip 8.4 miles. We rode our bikes on the east and west paved sides but did not ride on the paved area on the east side of the east bridge that is on the north side of the highway.
We loved the hiking and biking on this trail. You can bike the unpaved trail, but you need to be skilled enough to do that. We are in our 70s and tried to bike the first mile on the west side headed east but turned back. We give this trail both paved and gravel a 5. It is a very good trail to hike. We cannot comment on the North-South Trail.
We estimate the total length of this trail with the approximate 6 miles on the east side to of the east bridge ar around 16 miles plus.
Typical city trail. Dead straight. Lots of street crossings. All at traffic lights or stop signs so low danger. Crossing at Walnut and 41 has a light, but it’s a 6 lane road so pretty busy. Trail was clean and well marked. Nice solar powered lights. Didn’t see any designated parking areas. Bike rack and repair stand at U-Haul at Riverside Dr so maybe can park there. I parked in a doctor’s office lot at Lincoln and S Keith. Empty at 5PM......bikin-mike Mar 2021
P.s. For a nicer ride, head about 15 minutes west to the USI-Burdette Trail. Not a rail trail so not on Traillink. 3 gorgeous miles of paved twisties and hills through woods, fields and ravines. Well worth the trip.
I usually don’t expect much from city trails. Too many streets. This one was a pleasant surprise. Parked at Gavin Park and headed south. Some of the trail on the levee, some on creek side, some on city side. Some nice easy curves and hills over levee and under underpasses. Trail does go around some scrapyards. Some minor trash around the skatepark. Had about 3 miles without streets. Last couple miles downtown along river are next to street, but nice wide promenade separated by planters. Just have to watch out for all the walkers and the scooters. Lots of nice signs about the history of Evansville. I really enjoyed this ride. Probably the best city ride I’ve ever done. Thanks Evansville.....bikin-mike Mar 2021
I usually don’t expect much from city trails. Too many streets. This one was a pleasant surprise. Parked at Gavin Park and headed south. Some of the trail on the levee, some on creek side, some on city side. Some nice easy curves and hills over levee and under underpasses. Trail does go around some scrapyards. Some minor trash around the skatepark. Had about 3 miles without streets. Last couple miles downtown along river are next to street, but nice wide promenade separated by planters. Just have to watch out for all the walkers and the scooters. Lots of nice signs about the history of Evansville. I really enjoyed this ride. Probably the best city ride I’ve ever done. Thanks Evansville.....bikin-mike Mar 2021
After a barge knocked this bridge down at Lake Barkley and Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky they rebuilt it with a gorgeous new bridge with a dedicated bike path. The scenery is gorgeous, as is the lake. There is currently construction underway to expand it quite a bit. Worth the trip
Rode this starting at Sunset Park, very scenic at the beginning. Nice the rest of the way. Garvin Park is very pretty, not many places for bathroom stops.
Started at Sunset Park, very nice trail and perfect weather today.
Nice ride, well kept up trail, but greenville start point is not where trail map shows, it is on the right fork, not greener dr
this trail is one of my new favorites. i started on the east end and traveled west. the off-road trail signage is a little lacking, but you never really get too far going the wrong way before you figure out you've turned wrong. the off-road part between the bridges is very fun. lots of gravel and dirt trail. i saw no washed out parts. they have grating installed to prevent washout in at least one spot. i didn't look at the map closely enough before going. the majority of this trail is off road trail! and it is very fun! nothing too steep or sharp on the hills or curves. just fun riding.
saw some wild turkeys, beavers, an oriole, and other wildlife. pavement in great shape. nice and wide to accommodate walkers/joggers/cyclists. the maintenance crew was out cutting the grass today too, keeping it well kept up. nice little trail. wish we had more like it around south central KY.
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