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Scenic Running Trails in Kentucky
Kentucky has 168 trails with scenic views in this directory, across 55 cities and towns — Louisville, Lexington, Frankfort, Elizabethtown and 51 more. Waterfronts, overlooks and river loops: the trails that get you out of the door.
Every one in Kentucky
Use the filters to narrow these by surface, loop, distance, shade, lighting, restrooms, water and parking.
Bernheim Forest and Arboretum
4.8 ★★★★★ 6,574 reviews
Natural woodland habitat featuring native trees & wildlife plus groomed trails, gardens & fields.
Iroquois Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 4,789 reviews
Wooded park offering an amphitheater, sports courts, trails, disc golf, a spray pad & scenic vistas.
Smothers Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,733 reviews
Park with a water-play area & a playground, plus 3 signature fountains with a show every 15 minutes.
Devou Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 3,184 reviews
Massive park with an amphitheater, a golf course, a lake & a museum, plus sports fields & trails.
Beckley Creek Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 3,035 reviews
Placid, sprawling park featuring various trails, picnic areas, a sprayground & other options.
E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,630 reviews
Activity-filled, 550-acre urban park with trails, birding, a pool, an archery range & more.
Central Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 2,213 reviews
Time-tested community space flanked by mature trees, with a dog park, ball fields & exercise paths.
Jeffersontown Veterans Memorial Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,749 reviews
Children's park featuring playgrounds, swings, slides and a birthday celebration area.
Jefferson Memorial Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,631 reviews
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
This 734-acre woodland preserve has 10 mi. of marked hiking trails, plus streams & wildlife.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,608 reviews
170,000 acres between the Kentucky & Barkley lakes for camping, hiking & water activities.
McNeely Lake Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 1,738 reviews
Park with sports areas, trails, grills & a model-airplane field, plus a lake for fishing & boating.
McConnell Springs Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,546 reviews
Site of the first Lexington settlement hosting events, educational programs & natural springs.
Cove Spring Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,536 reviews
Large area of wetlands, streams & forest with hiking trails, picnic facilities & an archery range.
Bob Noble Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,448 reviews
135-acre park featuring a lake with fishing piers, a swimming pool, play areas & sports facilities.
Waverly Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 1,431 reviews
Large wooded park featuring winding trails, a playground, a lake and a pond for fishing.
Scenic Overlook at Devou Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,337 reviews
City-view bench-strewn park with hiking trails and disc golf set above the skyline.
Salato Wildlife Education Center
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,333 reviews
Seasonal venue hosting indoor & outdoor natural history exhibits & programs, plus fishing & hiking.
Brown Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,342 reviews
Dog-friendly grass-covered park featuring a creek and playground with picnic shelters.
Cherokee Park - Big Rock
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,317 reviews
Clean park featuring a creek for swimming and a playground for children.
Saunders Springs Nature Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,234 reviews
Wooded nature preserve with 3 rustic cabins from the 1800s, hiking trails & picnic/BBQ pavilions.
George Rogers Clark Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,176 reviews
Benches and picnic areas in a landscaped garden featuring waterfall sights and river views.
Tower Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,168 reviews
Clean park featuring a baseball field and tennis and basketball courts.
Boone County Arboretum
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,020 reviews
121-acre botanical garden with classes & exhibits, trails & kids' area, plus 12 athletic fields.
Joe Creason Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 972 reviews
Large city-run green area with hiking & running trails, tennis courts, sports fields & picnic spots.
Veterans Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 946 reviews
Relaxed park area featuring a Gold Star veteran's monument, a tank, stream & picnic area.
England Idlewild Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 803 reviews
Open-space park with a dog park with a fenced-in area and biking and walking trails for sports, fishing and hiking.
Pope Lick Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 784 reviews
Vast, sprawling park, with paved and off-road trails for hiking, biking and kayaking, plus water features.
Seneca Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 776 reviews
Sports courts & fields, playgrounds, trails (including horseback riding) & an 18-hole golf course.
South Fork Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 750 reviews
Community park offering a kids' playground, basketball/volleyball courts & a creekside trail.
Tioga Falls Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 735 reviews
Short, easy trail featuring a 3-tier waterfall and picnic tables plus views of the Ohio River.
Creation Falls
4.8 ★★★★★ 699 reviews
Waterfalls and creek views from an easy hike into a rock gorge.
Long Run Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 742 reviews
Clean park featuring a playground, a water area and picnic spaces.
Audubon Mill Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 708 reviews
Historic riverfront park featuring fountains, shaded picnic areas and a playground for kids.
The Parklands of Floyds Fork
4.8 ★★★★★ 672 reviews
String of green spaces along Floyds Fork stream with lawns, playgrounds, canoeing & forest trails.
Pioneer Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 727 reviews
Recreational area featuring a creek, playground and baseball field.
River View Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 690 reviews
Community park featuring a walking trail with historic sites, a riverfront picnic area & a monument.
Lake Mingo Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 727 reviews
Pond-side park with a disc golf area, a skateboard area and a playground.
Josephine Sculpture Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 596 reviews
Park and sculpture garden showcasing more than 70 works of art by regional artists.
Skyview Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 605 reviews
Recreational park offering baseball/softball fields, a splash pad, playground & walking trail.
Lakeview Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 603 reviews
Large green space with 7 soccer fields, 4 softball fields, a skate park, golf course & amphitheater.
Auxier Ridge Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 534 reviews
Hiking loop trail on a ridge system featuring rock formations such as Double Arch.
Elizabethtown Nature Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 526 reviews
104-acre public pastureland nature preserve featuring a creek & a gravel walking trail.
RiverWalk at Mitch McConnell Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 605 reviews
Popular multi-use path along the river with trees, a scenic bridge, benches & parking.
Broad Run Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 512 reviews
Park featuring paved and unpaved paths, plus a playground and a spray area, along with a creek.
Presidents Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 533 reviews
Park with a tennis court and picnic areas, plus baseball and volleyball facilities, and a playground.
Franklin Simpson Park & Rec
4.5 ★★★★★ 494 reviews
Sizable park featuring playgrounds, grass fields and a creek.
Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 413 reviews
Wooded space featuring playground equipment plus native gardens, dog-friendly trails and picnic spots.
Battlefield Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 429 reviews
Prominent Civil War battlefield with walking trails, historic buildings & a visitor center.
Scott County Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 417 reviews
Recreation site on 67 acres with fields for basketball & soccer, plus picnic areas & walking trails.
Harrods Creek Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 397 reviews
Park, creek, and waterfall trail featuring woods, picnic benches and swings.
Weldon Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 423 reviews
Family-friendly park featuring a dog park and playground, as well as a trail.
Atkinson Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 402 reviews
Waterfront green space with baseball fields & skate ramps, plus play equipment & picnic tables.
Lou Hartfiel Memorial Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 384 reviews
Clean park with playgrounds, a basketball court and nature trails.
Cardinal Run Park South
4.6 ★★★★★ 381 reviews
Green suburban park with footpaths, a playground & softball & baseball facilities.
Capitol View Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 370 reviews
Expansive 150-acre park with scenic views of the Kentucky River & numerous lighted fields.
Gunpowder Creek Nature Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 348 reviews
Hikers come to this relaxed park, with shaded trails leading to a creek.
Jessamine Creek Gorge
4.5 ★★★★★ 342 reviews
Wooded area featuring hiking trails with creek views, a waterfall, and picnic spots.
Armco Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 327 reviews
Scenic site with playgrounds and disc golf, plus sheltered picnic tables.
St. Matthews Community Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 323 reviews
Wooded park, with baseball fields, paved trails and a playground that kids enjoy.
Thurman-Hutchins Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 331 reviews
Peaceful park with a fishing pond, playground, picnic tables, grills, and trails.
Mahr Park Arboretum
4.8 ★★★★★ 294 reviews
Well-maintained park featuring playgrounds, disc golf and picnic pavilions alongside lakes and ponds.
Red Orchard Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 299 reviews
Park with hiking & equestrian trails plus a playground, horse ring & rentable barn for events.
Legacy Grove Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 288 reviews
Community park offering an adventure play area, walking trails, and picnic lawns, plus dog parks.
Wilborn Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 298 reviews
Quiet park featuring ponds, a playground, a pavilion and picnic areas.
E. C. Million Memorial Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 309 reviews
City park with 2 tennis courts & 2 soccer fields, as well as a children's playground.
Big Rock
4.6 ★★★★★ 266 reviews
Rock-lined hiking area featuring a rope swing over the creek and picnic tables.
Hartland Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 266 reviews
Neighborhood park featuring grassy areas with shade trees, a walking trail & a playground.
Ben Hawes Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 262 reviews
Park featuring a playground, picnic tables, a basketball court, and a golf course.
Gainesway Park
4.1 ★★★★☆ 261 reviews
Green space with a playground, a pond and walking trails and benches.
Briar Hill Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 237 reviews
Neighborhood green space with tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, as well as playgrounds and picnic areas.
Weldon Peete Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 239 reviews
Home to a mountain bike trail, this park also offers walking trails, boat ramps & picnic shelters.
Limestone Gorge Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 217 reviews
Trail through the park, crossing seasonal streams and including waterfalls.
Doe Run Lake
4.5 ★★★★★ 229 reviews
Lake and park with trails for hiking and fishing, plus a boat launch.
Middle Creek Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 222 reviews
Wooded park with a creek featuring several hiking trails and paths for horseback riding.
Audubon Park Trailheads
4.8 ★★★★★ 208 reviews
Hilly hiking area featuring trails along with a lake and a visitors center.
Lincoln Ridge Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 206 reviews
Scenic park featuring a baseball field, two playgrounds, hiking trails and a disc golf course.
Basil Griffin Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 202 reviews
Sprawling park with baseball and football fields, a pond for fishing and disc golf.
Jeffers Bend Recreation Area
4.3 ★★★★☆ 208 reviews
Public park across 40 acres with lots of plant variety, walking trails & a city events calendar.
Knobs State Forest and WMA
4.3 ★★★★☆ 186 reviews
Hiking, hunting, and other outdoor activities are available in this raw natural area.
Belleau Woods Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 181 reviews
Quiet, clean, grassy park offering picnic areas and a playground, plus hiking trails.
Seaton Valley Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 162 reviews
Park featuring a network of paved trails for walking, biking, and taking in scenic views.
Arthur K Draut Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 172 reviews
Small park featuring figure-8 paths, bridges, and creeks, plus a variety of wildlife.
Cross Keys Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 172 reviews
Pretty, peaceful park featuring picnic tables, a small pond and ducks.
Gardenside Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 168 reviews
Family-friendly green area with playgrounds, trails and picnic tables.
Tom Dorman State Nature Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 165 reviews
Forest reserve with riverside trails featuring scenic views of the river and cliffs.
Pilot Knob
4.8 ★★★★★ 146 reviews
Hiking area offering a challenging trail with sweeping views.
Fairmount Falls Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 158 reviews
Small, hidden park featuring a waterfall and hiking trails where you need a code to get in.
Anchorage Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 142 reviews
Flat, tree-lined hiking trail, with bridges, a swing and a pond, frequented by dog walkers.
Wild Hyacinth Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 137 reviews
Nature trail for hiking and fishing featuring streams and waterfalls.
Madisonville City Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 132 reviews
Park with a lake for fishing, mini-golf, disc golf, swimming, and a playground, plus picnic tables.
Buffalo Lake Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 134 reviews
Park featuring trails for mountain biking and hiking, plus a creek.
Raven Run Nature Center
4.7 ★★★★★ 126 reviews
Hiking area with well-marked trails, some featuring waterfalls, and wildlife sightings.
East Pinnacle & Indian Point
4.9 ★★★★★ 119 reviews
Popular hiking spot offering scenic vistas, plus picnic tables and restrooms.
Westside Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 131 reviews
Park featuring a playground and picnic areas, plus trails for walking and biking.
Boone County Cliffs State Nature Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 119 reviews
Nature preserve with kid-friendly hiking trails, and an overlook.
Wendell Moore Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 111 reviews
Green space featuring a lake and playground, plus tennis and basketball courts.
Fort Thomas Landmark Tree Trail
4.5 ★★★★★ 113 reviews
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
Clean, tranquil park featuring many trails for hiking, biking, mountain biking and other uses.
Royal Spring Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 117 reviews
Relaxed park with a playground, picnic tables, and a public restroom, plus a creek.
Mount Washington City Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 106 reviews
Family-friendly park featuring a playground, tennis courts, baseball fields and picnic tables.
Morgan Conservation Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 105 reviews
Sprawling outdoor area offering dog-friendly hiking trails with waterfalls, a creek and a meadow.
Lansdowne Merrick Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 107 reviews
Park with walking trails (plus tennis, picnic and BBQ areas) for all ages.
North Legacy Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 99 reviews
Large place for walking and running trails, as well as paved bike paths.
Freeman Lake Running Trails
4.7 ★★★★★ 100 reviews
Site featuring a paved trail around a lake, plus a dog park, wildlife, and picnic areas.
Cap Gardner Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 105 reviews
Charming park boasting an array of plants, trees & flowers spread over 1.6-acres.
Williams Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 92 reviews
Well-maintained destination featuring a pond, a fountain and picnic tables.
Wolsing Woods Trails
4.2 ★★★★☆ 105 reviews
Relaxed hiking area for families with tree-lined trails, a man-made wetland, and a creek.
Pine Creek Nature Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 98 reviews
Nature preserve with a trail running alongside a creek.
Buckley Wildlife Sanctuary
3.9 ★★★★☆ 112 reviews
Quiet, scenic space featuring hiking trails, a bird blind and picnic areas.
Joe Ford Nature Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 99 reviews
Picturesque parkland offering wooded trails, a playground, picnic areas & sports facilities.
Berea Forest Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 92 reviews
Varying distances of trails with scenic views for hiking and dog-walking.
Scotts Gap Section - Jefferson Memorial Forest
4.7 ★★★★★ 91 reviews
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
National forest area offering an 11-mi. loop trail popular for mountain biking, with lake views.
Floracliff Nature Sanctuary
4.3 ★★★★☆ 91 reviews
Educational nature preserve known for its waterfalls, birdwatching and hiking trails.
Audubon Wetlands Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 85 reviews
Boardwalk strolls through tranquil woodlands and wetlands amid birds and other wildlife.
Devou Park Hiking/Biking Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 79 reviews
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
Hilly open space with paved paths, dirt trails and a scenic loop for hiking, biking and wildlife sightings.
Riddleview Park
4.2 ★★★★☆ 85 reviews
Quaint green space with a playground and swings, plus a basketball court and baseball field.
Hopkinsville Greenway System - North Dr Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 75 reviews
Scenic walking paths and benches scattered throughout this urban park.
Broad Run Valley Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 71 reviews
Kid-friendly hiking area known for biking.
Karst Climb Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 71 reviews
Hiking area featuring kid-friendly trails and a waterfall.
Lower Howard’s Creek Nature and Heritage Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 75 reviews
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
Scenic, 225-acre park featuring trails for hiking and walking, plus a pond for fishing.
Yewells-Heritage Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 68 reviews
This 44-acre site with a stocked fishing lake is a popular place for walking & offers restrooms.
Sally Brown Nature Preserve
4.4 ★★★★☆ 64 reviews
Nature preserve offering hiking trails and opportunities for bird watching and photography.
Coppiced Woods Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 58 reviews
Forested park with walking trails, as well as a paved route and fishing spots.
Tebb's Bend Battlefield Park
4.4 ★★★★☆ 63 reviews
Park offering trails and a picnic area, plus historical elements and an overlook.
Dupree Nature Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 58 reviews
Nature preserve providing hiking trails and an overlook of the Kentucky River.
Great Crossing Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 58 reviews
Park with baseball fields and a children's playground, plus picnic tables.
Big Beech Woods
4.8 ★★★★★ 55 reviews
Beech trees 200 to 300 years old fill this part of Pope Lick Park, which features a 1.57-mile trail.
River Walk and Bike Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 54 reviews
Downtown-area park featuring waterfront views and paths built for walking and biking.
Boone Bottoms Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 52 reviews
Hiking area with kid-friendly options featuring trails along a creek.
Vernon Douglas State Nature Preserve
4.7 ★★★★★ 52 reviews
Recreational area featuring kid-friendly hiking trails.
Jim Beam Nature Preserve
4.3 ★★★★☆ 54 reviews
Loop trail winding through a quiet nature preserve, with views of the Kentucky River.
Taylor Fork Ecological Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 49 reviews
Park with hiking trails, wildflowers and a path to an old farmhouse.
Charles and Betty Russell Park Trailhead
4.4 ★★★★☆ 52 reviews
Recreational park featuring shaded hiking trails with some steep inclines.
John Holder Trail
3.6 ★★★★☆ 61 reviews
Hiking area featuring a creek and swimming, plus easy trails that are suitable for children.
Brigadoon State Nature Preserve
4.5 ★★★★★ 48 reviews
Nature preserve for hiking through forests on kid-friendly trails.
Clay Hill Memorial Forest
4.6 ★★★★★ 42 reviews
Nature preserve with kid-friendly hiking trails.
Sandy Lee Watkins Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 38 reviews
Big park featuring playgrounds and trails for walking and biking, plus picnic areas.
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Every running trail in the town, not just the ones with scenic views.
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- Crestwood
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- Fox Chase
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- Goshen
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- Lawrenceburg
- Ludlow
- Lyndon
- Mt Washington
- Newport
- Parksville
- Prospect
- Radcliff
- Shelbyville
- Shepherdsville
- Stanton
- Union
- West Point
See scenic running trails across the whole country, or every running trail in Kentucky. You can also browse the other features or start from surface.