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Trail Day Essentials
Kentucky is better known for horses and bourbon than bikes, but it has a lot more riding than most people expect. Louisville is building a paved loop around the whole city, Lexington has a greenway out to the Kentucky Horse Park, old coal railroads in the eastern mountains have become long rail-trails, and Mammoth Cave and Land Between the Lakes both have purpose-built singletrack.
We’ve grouped the trails below into four regions: Louisville and Northern Kentucky, Lexington and Eastern Kentucky, Mammoth Cave and South Central Kentucky, and Western Kentucky and the Lakes. Each card lists the trail’s surface, length and type, with a link to the map, directions and the official trail page, so you can pick a ride that fits your bike and your legs.
Kentucky Bike Trails Map
All 14 Kentucky Bike Trails at a Glance
Sort by any column or search by trail name, county or region. Lengths are in miles; click a trail name to jump to its details.
| Trail | Region | Counties | Length (mi) | Surface | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville Loop | Louisville & Northern Kentucky | Jefferson County | 50.4 | Asphalt, Concrete | Greenway |
| Big Four Bridge | Louisville & Northern Kentucky | Jefferson County | 0.5 | Concrete | Rail-Trail |
| Waverly Park | Louisville & Northern Kentucky | Jefferson County | 8 | Dirt, Roots | Mountain Bike |
| Devou Park | Louisville & Northern Kentucky | Kenton County | 15 | Dirt | Mountain Bike |
| Legacy Trail | Lexington & Eastern Kentucky | Fayette County | 11 | Asphalt | Greenway |
| Veterans Park | Lexington & Eastern Kentucky | Fayette County | 5 | Dirt | Mountain Bike |
| Dawkins Line Rail Trail | Lexington & Eastern Kentucky | Johnson, Magoffin & Breathitt Counties | 35.3 | Crushed Stone, Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail | Lexington & Eastern Kentucky | Floyd County | 8.6 | Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
| Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail | Mammoth Cave & South Central Kentucky | Barren & Edmonson Counties | 9 | Gravel | Rail-Trail |
| Big Hollow Trail | Mammoth Cave & South Central Kentucky | Edmonson County | 9 | Dirt | Mountain Bike |
| Canal Loop Trail | Western Kentucky & the Lakes | Lyon County | 11 | Dirt, Rock | Mountain Bike |
| Paducah Greenway | Western Kentucky & the Lakes | McCracken County | 4.5 | Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt | Greenway |
| Hopkinsville Rail Trail | Western Kentucky & the Lakes | Christian County | 4.76 | Concrete | Rail-Trail |
| Muhlenberg County Rail-Trail | Western Kentucky & the Lakes | Muhlenberg County | 6 | Asphalt | Rail-Trail |
Louisville & Northern Kentucky
A paved loop around Louisville, a car-free bridge across the Ohio River to Indiana and two urban mountain bike parks with real singletrack. 4 trails.
Louisville Loop
The Louisville Loop is a planned 100+ mile paved trail around the city, and about 50.4 miles are already open. The best-known stretch follows the Ohio River from Waterfront Park along the RiverWalk and Levee Trail, while another long section runs through The Parklands of Floyds Fork on the east side.
Most of the open trail is wide, paved and car-free, so it’s easy riding for families and road bikes alike. Start at Waterfront Park downtown and you can link the Loop with the Big Four Bridge for a ride over the river to Indiana.
Trail facts
- Asphalt, Concrete
- 50.4 miles
- Greenway
- Jefferson County
- Cycling
Big Four Bridge
The Big Four Bridge is an old railroad bridge over the Ohio River that reopened in 2013 as a half-mile walking and biking bridge between Louisville’s Waterfront Park and Jeffersonville, Indiana.
It’s short, but it’s one of the best rides in the state: big river views, a spiral ramp on the Kentucky side and lighted handrails that make it a great evening ride. Jeffersonville’s restaurants and ice cream shops are right at the Indiana end.
Trail facts
- Concrete
- 0.5 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Jefferson County
- Cycling
Waverly Park
Waverly Park, on the south side of Louisville, has about 8 miles of intermediate singletrack mixed in with older doubletrack, making it one of the city’s go-to places for mountain biking.
The trails are a bit technical, with lots of short climbs, tight sections and a few fast descents, including one known as the Luge. There’s no single set route, so riders mix and match loops; clockwise is the most common direction.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Roots
- About 8 miles of singletrack
- Mountain Bike
- Jefferson County
- Mountain biking
Devou Park
Devou Park in Covington, across the river from Cincinnati, has grown into one of the region’s best urban trail networks, with about 15 miles of trails shared by mountain bikers, hikers and runners.
The singletrack is flowy and pumpy, with jumps on trails like Sleepy Hollow and tighter, twisty sections such as the Goat Path, plus easy options like the Playground Loop. Park at the gravel lot off Sleepy Hollow Road, or start from the Overlook for big views over the Cincinnati skyline.
Trail facts
- Dirt
- About 15 miles of trails
- Mountain Bike
- Kenton County
- Mountain biking
Lexington & Eastern Kentucky
A horse-country greenway in Lexington, a beginner-friendly bike park and two Appalachian rail-trails with old trestles, tunnels and a covered bridge made from a school bus. 4 trails.
Legacy Trail
The Legacy Trail is a paved greenway that runs about 11 miles from the north side of downtown Lexington out to the Kentucky Horse Park, through the rolling pastures of horse country.
Public art and interpretive signs about Lexington’s history line the route, and the northern half crosses open farmland with classic Bluegrass views. It’s a great out-and-back ride that ends at the Horse Park.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 11 miles
- Greenway
- Fayette County
- Cycling
Veterans Park
Veterans Park in south Lexington was home to the city’s first mountain bike trail, and today it has about 5 miles of singletrack with a beginner loop and a more technical intermediate loop.
The trails flow well without big climbs, which makes them a good place for new riders and kids, and the harder loop adds small jumps and rock and log features. The park also has a pump track.
Trail facts
- Dirt
- About 5 miles of singletrack
- Mountain Bike
- Fayette County
- Mountain biking
Dawkins Line Rail Trail
The Dawkins Line Rail Trail is Kentucky’s longest rail-trail, running 35.3 miles through the hills of eastern Kentucky from Hagerhill, near Paintsville, west toward Evanston in Breathitt County.
It crosses more than 20 old railroad trestles and runs through the Gun Creek Tunnel, nearly 700 feet long. The Tip Top Tunnel isn’t open yet, which splits the trail into two sections, so plan your ride around it.
Trail facts
- Crushed Stone, Asphalt
- 35.3 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Johnson, Magoffin & Breathitt Counties
- Cycling
Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail
The Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail is an 8.6-mile paved rail-trail on a former CSX line, running from West Prestonsburg to David and passing through the Middle Creek National Battlefield.
It’s flat and mostly shaded, with six restored bridges, including a one-of-a-kind covered bridge made from an old school bus. The main trailhead is at Archer Park in Prestonsburg.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 8.6 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Floyd County
- Cycling
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More Bike Trail Guides
Mammoth Cave & South Central Kentucky
A historic railroad route and a dedicated singletrack system inside Mammoth Cave National Park. 2 trails.
Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail
The Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail follows part of the old Mammoth Cave Railroad for about 9 miles, from Park City to the national park’s visitor center. From 1886 to 1931, the railroad carried tourists to the cave.
It’s a gravel trail through the woods with some steep hills and a few potholes, so a hybrid or mountain bike is a better choice than a road bike. Ride it to the visitor center and you can join a cave tour before heading back.
Trail facts
- Gravel
- 9 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Barren & Edmonson Counties
- Cycling
Big Hollow Trail
The Big Hollow Trail is Mammoth Cave National Park’s purpose-built mountain bike trail, with stacked North (4.8 miles) and South (2.5 miles) loops plus connectors on the north side of the Green River, about 9 miles in all.
It’s rated intermediate, with smooth, flowing singletrack through the hardwood forest and only gentle climbing. The trailhead is near the Maple Springs area, a short drive and ferry crossing from the main visitor center.
Trail facts
- Dirt
- About 9 miles of singletrack
- Mountain Bike
- Edmonson County
- Mountain biking
Western Kentucky & the Lakes
Lakeside singletrack at Land Between the Lakes and easy, mostly flat paths in Paducah, Hopkinsville and Muhlenberg County. 4 trails.
Canal Loop Trail
The Canal Loop Trail at the north end of Land Between the Lakes is an 11-mile singletrack loop between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley, with four connector trails that let you cut it into shorter loops.
The first few miles along the lakeshore are fast and flowy, while the western half adds more roots, rocks and climbs. The descent from the radio tower is the highlight. Start at the North Welcome Station, and expect company on weekends.
Trail facts
- Dirt, Rock
- About 11-mile loop
- Mountain Bike
- Lyon County
- Mountain biking
Paducah Greenway
The Paducah Greenway is a 4.5-mile trail that links neighborhoods, city parks and the Perkins Creek Nature Preserve in Paducah, near where the Tennessee River meets the Ohio.
It’s an easy, mostly flat ride on a mix of concrete and crushed stone, and a good way to get around town before or after a visit to Paducah’s riverfront.
Trail facts
- Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt
- 4.5 miles
- Greenway
- McCracken County
- Cycling
Hopkinsville Rail Trail
The Hopkinsville Rail Trail is a 4.76-mile concrete rail-trail on an old Fort Campbell railroad spur, running across Hopkinsville from North Drive to Foston Chapel Road.
It’s flat and well shaded, follows the Little River for part of the way and crosses it on a 130-foot bridge that leads into Westside Park, with picnic tables and a playground.
Trail facts
- Concrete
- 4.76 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Christian County
- Cycling
Muhlenberg County Rail-Trail
The Muhlenberg County Rail-Trail is a 6-mile paved rail-trail between Central City and Greenville on a former Illinois Central line, passing through the small town of Powderly.
It’s mostly flat, with old signal towers, trestles and mile markers along the way, a marsh with a viewing platform for birding and an antique caboose museum at the Central City trailhead.
Trail facts
- Asphalt
- 6 miles
- Rail-Trail
- Muhlenberg County
- Cycling
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Gear For The Long Miles
Looking For New Trails To Conquer?
Explore our state-by-state trail guides – distances, surfaces, maps and directions for paved rail-trails and dirt singletrack alike.
