Find the top rated walking trails in Shelbyville, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
_166282_st.jpg)
_155683_st.jpg)
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
_166282_sc.jpg)
The Legacy Trail runs north-south through Lexington among green spaces, neighborhoods and parks. Two highlights of the popular pathway are the Lexington YMCA and Kentucky Horse Park, which features a...
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...
The Clarksville Heritage Trail links the residential heart of Clarksville, Indiana, with its growing trail system and two local parks. The trail, which occupies an abandoned Dinky Line railroad...
The Heritage Trail of Madison connects the downtown of Madison, Indiana, with its steep hilltop section. Begin your journey at the intersection of Vaughn Drive and Vernon Street along the Ohio River....
The Ohio River Greenway (formerly known as the Clarksville Levee Trail) winds through Clarksville, Indiana, on top of the levees designed to hold back the Ohio River in the event of rising water....
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...
_155683_sc.jpg)
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...
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...
The Legacy Trail runs north-south through Lexington among green spaces, neighborhoods and parks. Two highlights of the popular pathway are the Lexington YMCA and Kentucky Horse Park, which features a...
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...
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...
The Ohio River Greenway (formerly known as the Clarksville Levee Trail) winds through Clarksville, Indiana, on top of the levees designed to hold back the Ohio River in the event of rising water....
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...
The Heritage Trail of Madison connects the downtown of Madison, Indiana, with its steep hilltop section. Begin your journey at the intersection of Vaughn Drive and Vernon Street along the Ohio River....
The Clarksville Heritage Trail links the residential heart of Clarksville, Indiana, with its growing trail system and two local parks. The trail, which occupies an abandoned Dinky Line railroad...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
The Heritage Trail of Madison connects the downtown of Madison, Indiana, with its steep hilltop section. Begin your journey at the intersection of Vaughn Drive and Vernon Street along the Ohio River....
The Clarksville Heritage Trail links the residential heart of Clarksville, Indiana, with its growing trail system and two local parks. The trail, which occupies an abandoned Dinky Line railroad...
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...
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...
The Ohio River Greenway (formerly known as the Clarksville Levee Trail) winds through Clarksville, Indiana, on top of the levees designed to hold back the Ohio River in the event of rising water....
The Legacy Trail runs north-south through Lexington among green spaces, neighborhoods and parks. Two highlights of the popular pathway are the Lexington YMCA and Kentucky Horse Park, which features a...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
L&C Bridge is a tremendous addition to the recreation opportunities in the area. Included in the initial bridge design, this is a beautiful and scenic river crossing. On my crossing I saw cyclist, walkers and a runner. Since it has yet to meet up with the much anticipated Loop and stops abruptly 1 mile inland on the Indiana side, this trail is a reminder “if you build it, they will come.” Best accessed at this time from River Rd, Louisville.
L&C Bridge is a tremendous addition to the recreation opportunities in the area. Included in the initial design, this is a beautiful and scenic river crossing. On my crossing I saw several bicycles, walkers and a runner. Since it has yet to meet up with the Loop on the south side and just stops a mile inland on the Indiana side, this trail is a reminder “If you build it, they will come.” Easy access off River Road in Louisville.
My wife and I rode our tandem, starting from the trailhead at the William Miles Community Garden off Rt-60, to the Circle K convenience store at Taylorsville Rd just south of the Pope Lick Trestle. The trail is well maintained and is paved with concrete and asphalt. This section has two hilly areas and the trail is a bit curvy there. The few tight turns were wide enough for us to negotiate the tandem through slowly. We rode on a Saturday morning and the trail was busy with other riders, runners, and pedestrians. Overall, a good experience; but I would try to use it on a weekday - when most others would be at work.
Like most other reviewers, we biked the Parklands/Floyd's Fork section of the trail. It is one of the better-maintained trails that we have ridden on. This trail contains a mix of open-meadow/sunny and shaded areas as well as some flat and some very hilly areas. There are sections that are definitely more challenging for leisurely riders, but it is well worth the ride for the beautiful scenery along the way.
I believe the Levee Trail, Heritage Trail, and the newer section combined is now called The Ohio River Greenway, and it goes all the way to downtown New Albany from Clarksville. It is a very nice asphalt trail most of the 8 or so miles with very little climbing. Put together with other trails in the Louisville Metro Area it makes for a nice long weekend cycling getaway. Be sure to visit the Big Four walking (and cycling) bridge across the Ohio River, and the Louisville Loop —especially the section in the Parklands of Floyd’s Fork (20 minutes east) while you are in the area.
The amazing 19.5 mile stretch of the Louisville Loop located within The Parkland’s of Floyd’s Fork is the most amazing trail I’ve ever had the opportunity to visit. It includes some moderately hilly stretches through the woods and many miles of fairly flat cycling along the creek from which the park system gets its name. There are plenty of strategically placed parking areas / trailheads with very nicely maintained restrooms and water fountains. Information and trail maps are available at the trailheads. The trail is wide enough in many places to ride two abreast, however; one should be courteous at all times and form up single file for oncoming traffic. I noticed that other reviewers have commented about the “bumps” that result from joints in the concrete surface. To the best of my knowledge none of the joints have ever been filled with anything, nor do they need to be. I would estimate that about half of the length is concrete and the other half asphalt. Concrete is used in areas with frequent flooding, because it holds up much better under such conditions, with the result being that the trail can be restored to very good condition within a few hours after flood waters recede. There is a wide variety of wildlife to be seen along the trail on quieter days, and a beautiful and ongoing display of wildflowers for most of the year. New garden areas and new trees, plants, and trails are ongoing in the park with a beautiful new “park within the park” trail in the Broad Run section. It’s an approximate mile long display of outdoor “rooms” where you are welcome to come and relax. Bikes are not permitted in this area. If you want to sample all that the park has to offer you will need at least 3 days. There is an outfitter in the Pope Lick section for kayak and bicycle rentals, a mountain biking park in Turkey Run, and numerous soft surface, multi-use trails throughout the park. The Parklands of Floyd’s Fork is a donor supported public park. They do not charge admission, so, please enjoy your visit, and also consider visiting their website to make a donation.
We rode the Parklands section of this trail only. It is one of the most amazing trails I have ever ridden. While riding this part of the trail you don't feel like you are near the city. This is not a straight flat rail-trail. This is a purpose built trail that has sections with challenging hills, sharp curves, switchbacks and river bottoms. The scenery is beautiful and varied. There are rest stops and water at frequent intervals. The restrooms were clean and well kept. The trail links a series of parks. There is a little more congestion at the parks but people seemed courteous. The trail surface alternates between cement and asphalt sections. The cement parts are like giant sidewalks and are wide and smooth. The sections that go through hilly areas are mostly asphalt and also smooth and wide with the exception of a couple of small bridges that had large bumps at either end. The majority of road crossings are bridges or tunnels. A handful were on lightly traveled roads with part of those being at 4-way stops. All along the trail are separate hiking trails if you want to get off the bike for awhile. There are also areas to access the river for canoes and kayaks. Both the trail and river have mile markers. There are bike and boat rentals available at one of the parks. We ended up riding this trail end to end for several days straight because we enjoyed it so much. It is definitely a destination trail and worth a couple hours drive. When riding this trail you get the feeling that it is cared for by people who know they have a jewel and want to keep it that way.
A day after riding the Ohio River Valley segment, we rode the Parklands out and back, starting at the north end. What a contrast! The Parklands is all perfect concrete, wide enough in most places to ride 3 abreast. Signage is frequent and at all turns. The trail covers both flat meadows and has some climbs, including a few hairpin turns. We saw a muskrat, juvenile bald eagle, red-tailed hawk and woodcock. Bathrooms and drinking fountains are frequent. So are signs about the area’s history and plant life. The organizations that designed and maintain the Parklands do a great job. We really enjoyed the ride. The Circle K gas station about 4 miles south of the start was the only place we saw by the trail for snacks and beverages.
A friend and I rode most of the Ohio River Valley segment on a cool, sunny day in March. We parked by Eva Bardman and rode west and south, out and back. Pro’s: - historical signs downtown and in Shawnee and Chickasaw Parks - the parks themselves - riding past older houses in Shawnee and Chickasaw neighborhoods - great view up and down the River from the Big Four bridge Con’s: - lack of signage on the route, which goes from trail to road to trail .... Frequently you come to a turn or a T-intersection and have no idea which way to turn. Example: no sign to go north on Lee Lane. - downtown the trail winds around concrete pillars supporting the expressway. Hard to see (dim) and unmarked. - very few places to eat or get coffee close to the trail.
I 'm not really sure that this this should be listed as a trail in its own right. This is really just an extension of the existing Legacy Trail. The signage along the trail actually designates it as the Legacy Trail. However, that should not be taken as a complaint. This portion represents another step toward bringing the Legacy Trail into downtown Lexington. I am hopeful that the other extensions will be coming soon.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Map Search
