Kentucky Hiking Trails and Maps

220 Reviews

Looking for the best Hiking trails around Kentucky?

Find the top rated hiking trails in Kentucky, 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.

City Trails and Maps in Kentucky

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Activities
Length
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Type
29 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Adkisson Greenbelt

14.8 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Aero Parkway Bicycle Trail

2.3 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Barren River Lake State Resort Park

2.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Benham Rail Trail

2.25 mi
State: KY
Crushed Stone

Big Four Bridge

0.5 mi
State: IN, KY
Concrete

Blackford Pedestrian Bridge

0.9 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Brighton East Rail Trail

2 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Cadiz Railroad Trail

2.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Cathy Crockett Memorial Trail

2 mi
State: KY
Ballast, Gravel

Coolavin Rail Trail

0.6 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

36 mi
State: KY
Asphalt, Crushed Stone

Hope Center Trail

0.3 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Hopkinsville Rail Trail

3.1 mi
State: KY
Concrete

Kentucky Lake Dam Trail

1.4 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Lake Barkley Bridge Multiuse Path

8.5 mi
State: KY
Concrete

Legacy Trail (KY)

12 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Lewis and Clark Bridge Trail

2.5 mi
State: IN, KY
Asphalt

Liberty Park Trail

1.4 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Louisville Loop

50.51 mi
State: KY
Asphalt, Concrete
Accordion

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

South Elkhorn Trail

0.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Squires Road Trail

1.3 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Town Branch Trail (KY)

2.2 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

Wetherington Boulevard Trail

1.4 mi
State: KY
Asphalt

White Plains Trail

1.5 mi
State: KY
Asphalt
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
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
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
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
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 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
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 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 Cathy Crocket Memorial Trail occupies the former railroad right-of-way of the Cincinnati–Southern Railway that was relocated in the 1950s when Lake Cumberland was formed. The trail begins along US...
KY 2 mi Ballast, Gravel
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, Crushed Stone
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
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 3.1 mi Concrete
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
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 8.5 mi Concrete
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...
KY 12 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
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
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
Accordion
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
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
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
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 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
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

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Recent Trail Reviews

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

Dogs, dogs, dogs

May, 2022 by jtd335

My wife and I planned to cycle approximately 30mi on the Dawkins Line. We started at the Jane Beshears Trailhead and headed toward the Tip Top Tunnel. The trail surface was poor with a mixture of crush run and loose gravel. In the first two miles we were chased by ten different dogs. Between the surface and the dogs we decided to return to the vehicle and were chased by the same ten dogs again. The trail manager needs to address these issues before I'd recommend this trail to anyone.

Paducah Greenway

A Flat, Smooth Ride with Great Vistas of the Ohio River

March, 2022 by mosesmapmaker

The trail is a nice five-mile ride. I went on the second day of spring, but it must look even better when there is more foliage along the path. Unless it's unusually busy, I recommend parking by the riverfront mural wall downtown just off Broadway. The mural in the tunnel is a nice touch. As an extra excursion, you can take an extra loop in Noble Park or the County Park, where there is a mountain bike course. Noble Park gets busy on balmy weekends and holidays, so look out for traffic. There is talk of extending the trail southward from the west endpoint of the trail, so don't think that you've necessarily done the whole trail if you happen to return in a few years. If you happen to stop in Noble Park, be sure to bring discs if you want to play some frisbee golf on the 18-hole course. Also, a walk on the brick-surfaced sidewalks on Broadway downtown offers some breathtaking historical scenery.

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

Enjoyable Ride

March, 2022 by rigajohn

We left the Jane Beshear tailhead. Tried to use the restroom facilities before we left, however the doors were locked. Hope they can remedy that. Going north, the trail was crushed rock for about 2 miles. The path was smooth and easy to ride for the first 0.5 miles. From that point forward, there was a lot of evidence of ATV use on the trail. The tread marks left grooves which made the ride more bumpy. We also ran into a patch where the gravel was very loose and it actually made it hard to drive through. About 2 miles in, we hit asphalt and the rest of the ride was very smooth. We also a couple of close calls with dogs chasing us and we drove up the trail. It got scary once as a pit bull approached. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience and I would go again.

Accordion

Liberty Park Trail

Excellent connector to Brighton East Rail Trail. Limited parking at the school or on the road. Some parking on the Brighton East Trail end point at Walnut Grove Road.

March, 2022 by kyroadcyclist

Excellent connector to Brighton East Rail Trail. Limited parking at the school or on the road. Some parking on the Brighton East Trail end point at Walnut Grove Road.

Brighton East Rail Trail

Short trail that gives access to the surrounding neighborhoods. Connects to The Liberty Trail at the Man O War end & Walnut Grove Road at the other. Walnut Grove offers access to some nice country road riding

March, 2022 by kyroadcyclist

Short trail that gives access to the surrounding neighborhoods. Connects to The Liberty Trail at the Man O War end & Walnut Grove Road at the other. Walnut Grove offers access to some nice country road riding

Louisville Loop

A great trail that offers everything for the cyclist. Rolling hills, switchbacks, bridges over water & ravines, pallisades + lots of maintained trail heads.

March, 2022 by kyroadcyclist

A great trail that offers everything for the cyclist. Rolling hills, switchbacks, bridges over water & ravines, pallisades + lots of maintained trail heads.

Legacy Trail (KY)

One of the best bikeways in the state. Rolling hills to the West, city access to the East.

March, 2022 by kyroadcyclist

One of the best bikeways in the state. Rolling hills to the West, city access to the East.

Brighton East Rail Trail

Great for kids

February, 2022 by jonsmack220

Flat grade, wide path, and shade. Wonderful park about midway with restroom facilities. Amazing overpass to MOW. Exits to restaurants and ice-cream.

Legacy Trail (KY)

Pretty and easy tour through horse country, ag fields & college town

February, 2022 by bikeridesandbreweries

We started at the northern trailhead in an RV park next to the Kentucky Horse Park on I-75, a major thoroughfare. There’s a parking lot across the highway, but the actual start of the trail is marked by an obelisk within the RV park. We headed on a paved path toward the beautiful fields and paddocks of the Horse Park, only to have it end abruptly two miles later. Oops. Start in the parking lot across the highway. Or start in town so your round trip will end at one of the town's most popular taprooms.

Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail

My wife and I broke down in October to ride this trail it was a beautiful trail was definitely go back it was very much worth the drive from Hamlin West Virginia

November, 2021 by meburdchc

My wife and I broke down in October to ride this trail it was a beautiful trail was definitely go back it was very much worth the drive from Hamlin West Virginia

Louisville Loop

Grade A+

November, 2021 by bjwana_tl

Rode out & back from Fisherville Paddling Access, through Pope Lick Park, to Seatonville Road. Excellent facilities and great trail surface. What more could you ask for?

Dawkins Line Rail Trail

Great Trail

October, 2021 by dstinson3

We started at the Jenny's Creek Trailhead and went for about 8 miles. The highlights are the fantastic trailheads (Jenny's Creek had a toilet and plenty of parking) and Griffith Family Farm market at Swamp Branch Trailhead (don't miss the opportunity to stop here for the baked treats and sandwiches). The detractor is the loose gravel in sections of the trail that tired us out very quickly. The owner of Griffith Family Farm market told us the section of trail up to Swamp Branch is scheduled for paving and the rest of the trail will remain crushed stone for horse riding.

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