HomeKentuckyLexington › Gardenside Park

Gardenside Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 168 Google reviews · Running trail in Lexington, Kentucky · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Gardenside Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyWaterQuiet

Family-friendly green area with playgrounds, trails and picnic tables.

What runners say about Gardenside Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (168 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“Beautiful, shaded with nice coy pond.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Clean, quiet and a safe place to take your kids for an afternoon of outdoor activity.”

Gardenside is just a really lovely neighborhood. The park has a creek with a nice bridge. The walking path has exercise equipment. They took out the playground during covid. The neighborhood organization volunteers and maintains flowers and cleans the creek together.

★★★★★ — Shylo , Aug 2021

Wonderful, private gem of a park. It's fenced in and attracts Canadian geese, Mallard ducks, and on occasion, a few Herons. It's tucked away from the hustle and bustle of 'City life'. It's a great place for families(babies to seniors).

★★★★★ — Tanya , Apr 2018

This is one of the 'hidden treasure' parks in Lexington nestled between Garden Springs and Gardenside, and honestly one of my favorite parks! It has a basketball court, tennis court, walking trail with workoutand stretching equipment scattered along the path, and also a gorgeous stream with the "Silly Walk" Bridge…

★★★★★ — Will , May 2021

Beautiful, shaded with nice coy pond. Several benches along the way. Cuttings of specific flowers is welcomed and request that you leave $.50 per stem in a mailbox. Easy to find. It sits actually on a small retirement community. It also includes compost barrel.

★★★★☆ — Paula , Jul 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 168 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 5 mentions

“Beautiful, shaded with nice coy pond.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 3 mentions

“I have been to this park numerous times with my other dog.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Clean, quiet and a safe place to take your kids for an afternoon of outdoor activity.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Gardenside Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadwater — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitelexingtonky.gov
  • Phone+1 859-288-2900

Hours

Monday 8 am–8 pm
Tuesday 8 am–8 pm
Wednesday 8 am–8 pm
Thursday 8 am–8 pm
Friday 8 am–8 pm
Saturday 8 am–8 pm
Sunday 8 am–8 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Gardenside Park

1835 Yorktown Rd, Lexington, KY 40504

Get directions

Running trails near Lexington

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Garden Springs Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 108 reviews

Lexington, KY

Dog-friendly

Green space with basketball courts, picnic tables, a playground and a walking path, plus trees.

under a mile away

Cross Keys Park

4.4 ★★★★☆ 172 reviews

Lexington, KY

ScenicDog-friendly

Pretty, peaceful park featuring picnic tables, a small pond and ducks.

under a mile away

Cardinal Run Park South

4.6 ★★★★★ 381 reviews

Lexington, KY

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Green suburban park with footpaths, a playground & softball & baseball facilities.

1.4 miles away

McConnell Springs Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,546 reviews

Lexington, KY

MixedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Site of the first Lexington settlement hosting events, educational programs & natural springs.

1.6 miles away

Harrods Hill Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 229 reviews

Lexington, KY

PavedShaded

12.5-acre park with a playground & hiking/biking paths, plus athletic fields/courts & picnic tables.

1.7 miles away

Shillito Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,481 reviews

Lexington, KY

PavedDog-friendly

Sports & recreation park on 176 acres with athletic fields & courts plus a swimming pool.

3.0 miles away

All running trails in Lexington, KY →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.