HomeKentuckyRichmond › Taylor Fork Ecological Area

Taylor Fork Ecological Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 49 Google reviews · Running trail in Richmond, Kentucky · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Crushed gravel
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Taylor Fork Ecological Area'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.

Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parkingQuiet

Park with hiking trails, wildflowers and a path to an old farmhouse.

What runners say about Taylor Fork Ecological Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (49 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 7 mentions

“😋 If you park in the lot, there is also a path that goes to the right and there is an old farmhouse that is pretty beautiful.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“So few go here, it's peaceful”

👟 good for all levels 2 mentions

“Some paths are a bit on a horizontal slope so ankle boots would have been better but other than that it's easy walking.”

Nice wide trails, hilly, there is google maps on the trails to help with all the loops, it was muddy today n very not scooter or stroller friendly. As a flip flop advocate I was happy I left them in the car n brought sneakers.

★★★★☆ — Cheshire , Apr 2023

I visited in the end of May.2025. There is a parking space about 10 cars at the end of unpaved road, the unpaved road is about 1 mile. It’s enough for a car but may be difficult for opposing car pass. The trail is clear and easy to walk, takes about half an hour.

★★★★★ — Ko , Jun 2025

Lots of different trails to explore in all different directions. I would say that it is pretty hilly in some areas and it's not very flat. I ate some wild berries that were on the trail. So delicious!

★★★★★ — Rochelle , Aug 2023

Beautiful trails here. We really enjoyed our family hike, the RED trail is wide enough for lots of people, like a family hike, the smaller trails are more one at a time. But they have all types of trails here and it's very hilly in some spots which made it even more fun!

★★★★★ — Amber , Jul 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 49 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 7 mentions

“😋 If you park in the lot, there is also a path that goes to the right and there is an old farmhouse that is pretty beautiful.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 4 mentions

“Nice wide trails, hilly, there is google maps on the trails to help with all the loops, it was muddy today n very not scooter or stroller friendly.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“So few go here, it's peaceful”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Also: from the main entrance off the street it is about a mile to the parking at the dead end right b4 you walk into the wooded area.”

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🪨 Crushed gravel / limestone 2 mentions

“Not the easiest place to get to considering you have to go a mile down gravel roads and through a cow pasture to get to it, but it's a nice place to go hiking on the EKU campus”

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🐕 Dog-friendly

“Perfect also to bring the dog.”

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Plan your run at Taylor Fork Ecological Area

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceCrushed gravel — the rail-trail classic: softer than asphalt, still smooth enough for tempo work
  • 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 trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitenaturalareas.eku.edu
  • Phone+1 859-622-1476
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday Closed
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

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 Taylor Fork Ecological Area

1 Hancock Taylor Ln, Richmond, KY 40475

Get directions

Running trails near Richmond

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

Million Memorial Park by RPR

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E. C. Million Memorial Park

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PavedScenicDog-friendly

City park with 2 tennis courts & 2 soccer fields, as well as a children's playground.

2.3 miles away

Lake Reba Shelter C

4.9 ★★★★★ 38 reviews

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Battlefield Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 429 reviews

Richmond, KY

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Prominent Civil War battlefield with walking trails, historic buildings & a visitor center.

4.4 miles away

7.7 miles away

Artisan Center Nature Trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 14 reviews

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8.4 miles away

All running trails in Richmond, 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.