Find the top rated birding trails in Kentucky, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
_157313_st.jpg)
_156802_st.jpg)
_155683_st.jpg)
Trail is definitely not for a road bike. From Cumberland to Benham it is nice crushed gravel. As you get closer to Lynch it becomes a little less traveled and larger rocks and puddles. This will be a very nice trail once the planned updates are complete.
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.
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.
A friend and I rode the trail west to east and back on a cool, sunny March day. The trail is 100% paved. Newer sections are very smooth and wide enough to ride two abreast. Older sections have occasional abrupt tree root bumps and are narrower. Parts of the trail reminded us of the Pumpkinvine Trail in Indiana, which has frequent 90 degree turns. Other sections of the trail are long straightaways. The latter had no shelter, so you definitely feel the wind. Portions of the trail are rural; others go through parks and by residences. We enjoyed the mix of bird calls, forsythia in bloom and early spring flowers in parks and yards. The east end of the trail is at Millers Mill Road. We rode north 2 blocks and west 1 block to a welcome cup of coffee and scone at Great Harvest Bread Company. An earlier review mentions two places where trail signage is misleading or missing. It was helpful to have downloaded the map.
The parking area was very hard to find! Because there is no sign by hwy. 27 informing you where the parking area for the Rails to Trails Cathy Crockett Memorial Trail or the trailhead is located. If you're looking for it, it's just south of Dixie Bend Rd. on the west side of hwy. 27. After looking at Google maps and finally locating it, it was a enjoyable walk with my mom and her 2 dogs. There was signs designating the trailhead. The first section of the trail was nicely maintained. But after we reached the gravel road there was no signs informing us that the trail is the gravel road until the gravel road makes a left curve, then the trail leaves the gravel road continues straight ahead. Once the trail leaves the gravel road at this point it hasn't been maintained much if any at all. We had to maneuver around briars and step over logs that was across the trail. We walked the trail until we reached the concrete abutment of the old tressel that used to span across Minton Hollow in Sloans Valley. This trail definitely needs some maintenance and signs placed to better inform people about the trail and ect.
I rode the trail 12/06/18 and it’s a great ride even at 40 degree temperatures.
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
