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Hilly Trails & Hill Workouts in Kentucky

Kentucky has 47 trails with hills and elevation in this directory, across 30 cities and towns — Louisville, Lexington, Ashland, Burlington and 26 more. Climbing and vert — hill repeats, and the strength flat running never builds.

Labels come from each trail's own listing, its website and runners' reviews. Conditions change with the weather and the season, and gates and lights follow the park's own hours, so check a recent review before you drive out.

Every one in Kentucky

Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.

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Devou Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 3,184 reviews

Covington, KY

MixedShadedScenic

Massive park with an amphitheater, a golf course, a lake & a museum, plus sports fields & trails.

Jefferson Memorial Forest

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,631 reviews

Fairdale, KY

PavedScenic

Nature preserve comprised of 6,500 acres of forest for hiking, camping & fishing in a stocked lake.

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,622 reviews

Lexington, KY

PavedScenic

This 734-acre woodland preserve has 10 mi. of marked hiking trails, plus streams & wildlife.

Cove Spring Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,536 reviews

Frankfort, KY

MixedScenic

Large area of wetlands, streams & forest with hiking trails, picnic facilities & an archery range.

Saunders Springs Nature Preserve

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,234 reviews

Radcliff, KY

ShadedScenic

Wooded nature preserve with 3 rustic cabins from the 1800s, hiking trails & picnic/BBQ pavilions.

Tower Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,168 reviews

Fort Thomas, KY

ShadedScenicDog-friendly

Clean park featuring a baseball field and tennis and basketball courts.

Joe Creason Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 972 reviews

Louisville, KY

ShadedScenic

Large city-run green area with hiking & running trails, tennis courts, sports fields & picnic spots.

Veterans Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 946 reviews

Lexington, KY

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Relaxed park area featuring a Gold Star veteran's monument, a tank, stream & picnic area.

Tioga Falls Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 735 reviews

West Point, KY

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Short, easy trail featuring a 3-tier waterfall and picnic tables plus views of the Ohio River.

Creation Falls

4.8 ★★★★★ 699 reviews

Campton, KY

1.5 miLoopScenicDog-friendly

Waterfalls and creek views from an easy hike into a rock gorge.

Auxier Ridge Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 534 reviews

Stanton, KY

25 miLoopScenic

Hiking loop trail on a ridge system featuring rock formations such as Double Arch.

The Maples Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 413 reviews

Crestwood, KY

MixedLit

Harrods Creek Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 397 reviews

Prospect, KY

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Park, creek, and waterfall trail featuring woods, picnic benches and swings.

Chautauqua Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 414 reviews

Owensboro, KY

Shaded

This 31-acre park includes a popular skate park, ball fields & a seasonal public swimming pool.

Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 384 reviews

Crescent Springs, KY

MixedScenicDog-friendly

Clean park with playgrounds, a basketball court and nature trails.

Capitol View Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 370 reviews

Frankfort, KY

Natural surfaceLitScenicDog-friendly

Expansive 150-acre park with scenic views of the Kentucky River & numerous lighted fields.

Gunpowder Creek Nature Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 348 reviews

Burlington, KY

Crushed gravelScenic

Hikers come to this relaxed park, with shaded trails leading to a creek.

Jessamine Creek Gorge

4.5 ★★★★★ 342 reviews

Nicholasville, KY

Natural surfaceScenic

Wooded area featuring hiking trails with creek views, a waterfall, and picnic spots.

Armco Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 327 reviews

Ashland, KY

Scenic

Scenic site with playgrounds and disc golf, plus sheltered picnic tables.

E. C. Million Memorial Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 309 reviews

Richmond, KY

PavedScenicDog-friendly

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

Limestone Gorge Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 217 reviews

Louisville, KY

LoopPavedScenic

Trail through the park, crossing seasonal streams and including waterfalls.

Doe Run Lake

4.5 ★★★★★ 229 reviews

Covington, KY

3 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Lake and park with trails for hiking and fishing, plus a boat launch.

Middle Creek Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 222 reviews

Burlington, KY

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Wooded park with a creek featuring several hiking trails and paths for horseback riding.

Audubon Park Trailheads

4.8 ★★★★★ 208 reviews

Henderson, KY

Scenic

Hilly hiking area featuring trails along with a lake and a visitors center.

Lincoln Ridge Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 206 reviews

Independence, KY

LoopShadedScenic

Scenic park featuring a baseball field, two playgrounds, hiking trails and a disc golf course.

Seaton Valley Trailhead

4.9 ★★★★★ 162 reviews

Louisville, KY

1.8 miLoopMixedShaded

Park featuring a network of paved trails for walking, biking, and taking in scenic views.

Tom Dorman State Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 165 reviews

Lancaster, KY

1 miLoopNatural surfaceScenic

Forest reserve with riverside trails featuring scenic views of the river and cliffs.

Pilot Knob

4.8 ★★★★★ 146 reviews

Clay City, KY

1.5 miScenic

Hiking area offering a challenging trail with sweeping views.

Wendell Moore Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 111 reviews

La Grange, KY

Scenic

Green space featuring a lake and playground, plus tennis and basketball courts.

Fort Thomas Landmark Tree Trail

4.5 ★★★★★ 113 reviews

Fort Thomas, KY

LoopLitScenicDog-friendly

Picnic area offering a loop trail for hiking as well as trees that are labeled, plus picnic tables.

Turkey Run Park Entrance

4.7 ★★★★★ 107 reviews

Louisville, KY

17 miLoopScenic

Clean, tranquil park featuring many trails for hiking, biking, mountain biking and other uses.

Morgan Conservation Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 105 reviews

La Grange, KY

LoopMixedScenicDog-friendly

Sprawling outdoor area offering dog-friendly hiking trails with waterfalls, a creek and a meadow.

North Legacy Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 99 reviews

Lexington, KY

PavedScenic

Large place for walking and running trails, as well as paved bike paths.

Scotts Gap Section - Jefferson Memorial Forest

4.7 ★★★★★ 91 reviews

Louisville, KY

3.5 miLoopScenic

Wooded route passing through the Scott's Gap area and featuring kid-friendly hikes plus scenic hilltops.

Canal Loop Trailhead at Kentucky Lake Scenic Drive

4.6 ★★★★★ 92 reviews

Grand Rivers, KY

LoopNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

National forest area offering an 11-mi. loop trail popular for mountain biking, with lake views.

Devou Park Hiking/Biking Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 79 reviews

Ludlow, KY

Scenic

Climbing and hiking trails and mountain-biking paths that offer downhill jumps, challenging hills and city views.

Cherokee Park Scenic Loop

4.9 ★★★★★ 74 reviews

Louisville, KY

LoopPavedScenic

Hilly open space with paved paths, dirt trails and a scenic loop for hiking, biking and wildlife sightings.

Riddleview Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 85 reviews

Newport, KY

ScenicDog-friendly

Quaint green space with a playground and swings, plus a basketball court and baseball field.

Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve

4.3 ★★★★☆ 75 reviews

Winchester, KY

1.4 miNatural surfaceScenicDog-friendly

Nature preserve featuring kid-friendly hiking trails, creeks, and woods, plus opportunities for swimming.

Fox Run Park - New Kenton County Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 68 reviews

Independence, KY

1.5 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

Scenic, 225-acre park featuring trails for hiking and walking, plus a pond for fishing.

Dupree Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 58 reviews

Lancaster, KY

Natural surfaceShadedScenic

Nature preserve providing hiking trails and an overlook of the Kentucky River.

Boone Bottoms Trail

4.7 ★★★★★ 52 reviews

Louisville, KY

Scenic

Hiking area with kid-friendly options featuring trails along a creek.

Vernon Douglas State Nature Preserve

4.7 ★★★★★ 52 reviews

Elizabethtown, KY

LoopNatural surfaceScenic

Recreational area featuring kid-friendly hiking trails.

Taylor Fork Ecological Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 49 reviews

Richmond, KY

Crushed gravelScenicDog-friendly

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

Charles and Betty Russell Park Trailhead

4.4 ★★★★☆ 52 reviews

Ashland, KY

PavedShadedScenicDog-friendly

Recreational park featuring shaded hiking trails with some steep inclines.

Brigadoon State Nature Preserve

4.5 ★★★★★ 48 reviews

Glasgow, KY

1.5 miLoopScenic

Nature preserve for hiking through forests on kid-friendly trails.

Highland Heights Nature Trail

4.1 ★★★★☆ 18 reviews

Cold Spring, KY

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