Jefferson Memorial Forest
Managed by Louisville Parks and Recreation
5,700 acres20.9 mi of trail
Siltstone TrailScott's Gap TrailCoral Ridge TrailPurple Heart Trail+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
United States Marine Hospital of Louisville · Photo: Censusdata at en.wikipedia · Public domainB+Outdoors
Outdoors in Louisville
8% of Louisville’s land is conserved: 19,931 acres
The biggest trail networks: Jefferson Memorial Forest (20.9 mi), Waverly Park (9 mi), Cherokee Park (7.8 mi). 17,150 acres are parks and preserves, 22 per 1,000 residents. 182 miles of mapped trail cross Louisville, 0.5 per square mile of land.
Ahead of 69% of U.S. towns · #24 of 142 in Kentucky. What drives it
Conserved land
8%
19,931 acres · of 380.8 sq mi of land
Trails
182 mi
0.5 per sq mi of land
Park land
17,150 ac
22 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
60%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
254 mi
76 mi lanes · 96 mi paths
Highest peak
856 ft
Jefferson Hill
Lakes & rivers
39
1 beach · 14 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Louisville?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Louisville have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Louisville is ahead of 69% of U.S. towns, #24 of 142 in Kentucky. Conserved land holds the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
B+
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Louisville’s overall grade.
Conserved land8% of the land · typical KY town 2% · U.S. 4%B+Trails0.5 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (182 mi) · KY 0.3 · U.S. 0.4BPark land22 acres of park per 1,000 residents (17,150 acres) · KY 8 · U.S. 13B+Parks close to home60% of residents within a half mile of a park · KY 59% · U.S. 72%B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 69%
LessMore
Kentucky towns of 2,500+ (142)Ahead of 84%
Among the 400 U.S. cities of 100,000 or more, Louisville ranks #273 on Outdoors.
Few Kentucky towns conserve much land (a typical one, 2%; the U.S., 4%), so Louisville’s 8% is ahead of 91% of Kentucky towns, while its trails per square mile lead 70% of them.
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B to B+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Jefferson Memorial Forest, with 20.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Waverly Park
Managed by Louisville Parks and Recreation
203 acres9 mi of trail
Fresh Air LoopClinic LoopTwisted Bends LoopPlayground Loop+1
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Cherokee Park
Park
306 acres7.8 mi of trail
Cherokee LoopHogan Fountain TrailWildflower Woods TrailBonnycastle Hill Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
Managed by Kentucky Department of Parks
524 acres6 mi of trail
Vernal Pond Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
South Park Country Club
Park
177 acres5.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Shawnee Park
Managed by Louisville Parks and Recreation
437 acres4.8 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Turkey Run Park
Park
860 acres3.8 mi of trail
Wild Hyacinth TrailBoone Bottoms Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Horine Reservation
Managed by Louisville Parks and Recreation
296 acres3.8 mi of trail
Mitchell Hill Lake TrailYost Ridge TrailRed TrailOrange Trail
Dogs on leash
Directionsto the trailhead
All 135 parks & preserves
Jefferson Memorial Forest5,700 acres · 20.9 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsWaverly Park203 acres · 9 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsCherokee Park306 acres · 7.8 mi of trail
DirectionsE.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park524 acres · 6 mi of trail · Kentucky Department of Parks
DirectionsSouth Park Country Club177 acres · 5.1 mi of trail
DirectionsShawnee Park437 acres · 4.8 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsTurkey Run Park860 acres · 3.8 mi of trail
DirectionsHorine Reservation296 acres · 3.8 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsSeneca Park115 acres · 3.3 mi of trail
DirectionsLouisville Zoo99 acres · 3.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBeckley Creek Park719 acres · 2.7 mi of trail
DirectionsBroad Run Park818 acres · 2.4 mi of trail
DirectionsBig Beech Woods294 acres · 2.2 mi of trail
Waterfront Park155 acres · 2 mi of trail
DirectionsBrown Park26 acres · 1.4 mi of trail
DirectionsThurman Hutchins Park66 acres · 1.3 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsIroquois Park618 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMcNeely Lake Park455 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsHumana Grand Allee - Beckley Creek Park48 acres · 1.2 mi of trail
DirectionsA.B. Sawyer Park36 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsSt. Matthews Community Park42 acres · 1 mi of trail
DirectionsJeffersontown Veterans Memorial Park32 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsRobsion Park24 acres · 0.8 mi of trail
DirectionsHays Kennedy Park64 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
The Belvedere8 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsHighview Park34 acres · 0.6 mi of trail
DirectionsCaperton Swamp30 acres · 0.6 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsPope Lick Park230 acres · 0.5 mi of trail
DirectionsFisherman's Park56 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
DirectionsCarrie Gaulbert Cox Park54 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsKulmer Beach Reserve28 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Central Park20 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsOval Park8 acres · 0.4 mi of trail
DirectionsLouisville Champions Park189 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsJoe Creason Park77 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsBerrytown Park24 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsMcNeely Lake Park South18 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsRiverview Park14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsWatterson Lake Park14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsDouglas Hills Park14 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsKlondike Park10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Louisville Metro Parks
DirectionsStansbury Park6 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsLong Run Park167 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsChickasaw Park62 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsSouth Central Park10 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Big Rock Park8 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsCalifornia Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBingham Park6 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsHardy Brinly Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
Toonerville Trolley Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsBen Washer Park4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsPee Wee Park2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Metro Parks
DirectionsBelknap Plaza2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsJefferson Square2 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsCharlie Vettner Park105 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsSun Valley Park36 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Wyandotte Park24 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsArthur K. Draut Park24 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsShively Park22 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsSky View Park22 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPetersburg Park18 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPapa John's Park8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsDouglass Park6 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsAlberta O. Jones Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsDavid Armstrong Extreme Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Story Avenue Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsBallard Park2 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
The Strand405 acres
Broad Run Valley Conservation area131 acres
Mary's Island71 acres
George Rogers Clark Park46 acres · Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
DirectionsTwin Park44 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBeargrass Creek Greenway36 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsHounz Lane Park32 acres
DirectionsPortland Wharf Park30 acres
DirectionsFern Creek Park28 acres · Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
DirectionsEva Bandman Park & Cyclocross Venue28 acres · Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
DirectionsForest Green Greenway28 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Des Pres Park26 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBlue Lick Park26 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsLannan Park24 acres
DirectionsRussell Lee Park22 acres
DirectionsCrosby Park20 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBuechel Park18 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsCane Run Park16 acres
DirectionsFairmount Falls Park16 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Black Mudd Park14 acres
DirectionsAlgonquin Park14 acres
DirectionsShelby Park14 acres
DirectionsJohn Floyd Fields14 acres
DirectionsOkolona Park14 acres
DirectionsBeechmont Park12 acres
DirectionsNelson Hornbeck Park12 acres
DirectionsTyler Park12 acres
DirectionsRiverside Gardens Park12 acres
DirectionsCamp Taylor Memorial Park10 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsSpringdale Park8 acres
DirectionsE. Leland Taylor Park8 acres
DirectionsCyril Allgeier Park6 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsClifton Heights Bradley Greenway6 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Pope Lick Park Fisherville Canoe Dock6 acres
Victory Park6 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Wetherby Park6 acres
DirectionsAuburndale Park6 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBreslin Park4 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsFarnsley Park4 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsPortland Park4 acres
Boone Square4 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Norfolk Acres Park4 acres
William Harrison Park4 acres
DirectionsBellevue Park4 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Farman Park2 acres · Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
DirectionsBaxter Square2 acres
Elliott Square Park2 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsMedora Park2 acres
Parkway Field2 acres
DirectionsHardesty Park2 acres · City of Blue Ridge Manor
DirectionsMcDonald's Field2 acres
DirectionsLaPorte Park2 acres · Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Huston Quin Park2 acres
Butchertown Greenway2 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Westonia Park2 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Emerson Park2 acres · Louisville Metro Parks and Recreation
Rubel Park2 acres
Willow Park2 acres
Test Park2 acres
William F. Miles Gardens2 acres
DirectionsG.G. Moore Park2 acres
DirectionsMemorial Park2 acres
DirectionsAegon Plaza2 acres
DirectionsBradley Park2 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Cross Bill2 acres · Audubon Park
Wren2 acres
DirectionsShawnee Playground2 acres
Directions35th Street Park2 acres · Louisville Parks and Recreation
Who protects it
19,931 conserved acres
8% of Louisville’s land. Who manages Louisville’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city10,885 ac
Private owners5,267 ac
Joint4,397 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits3,553 ac
State conservation1,106 ac
State parks538 ac
Other state land187 ac
Local Park · 19,214 acPrivate Recreation or Education · 2,649 acConservation Easement · 1,297 acAgricultural Easement · 639 acState Park · 538 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 1,080 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Memorial Forest Local Park | Town or city | 5,479 | Open |
| The Parklands of Floyds Fork Local Park | Private owners | 4,790 | Restricted |
| Future Fund Park Conservation District Private Recreation or Education | Land trusts & nonprofits | 2,649 | Closed |
| Turkey Run Local Park | Joint | 1,172 | Open |
| Broad Run Local Park | Joint | 788 | Open |
| McNeely Lake Park Local Park | Town or city | 735 | Open |
| Iroquois Park Local Park | Town or city | 701 | Open |
| E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park State Park | State parks | 538 | Open |
| Shawnee Park Local Park | Town or city | 443 | Open |
| Wolf Pen Branch Mill Farm Private Conservation | Private owners | 411 | Closed |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
441 places to go in Louisville
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Louisville
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Public pools in Louisville
Adult Pool
DirectionsBergamot Pool
DirectionsBig Surf
DirectionsDiving Pool
DirectionsDouglas Hills PoolIn Douglas Hills Park
DirectionsFamily Wave Lagoon
DirectionsForest Springs Swim Club
DirectionsJimson Square Pool
Directions9 more public pools
Lake Forest Country Club Baby Pool
DirectionsLake Forest Country Club Pool
DirectionsLakeside
DirectionsMain Pool
DirectionsShadow Ridge Apartments Pool
DirectionsSouth Park Swimming PoolIn South Park Country Club
DirectionsSpringhurst pool
DirectionsWade Pool
DirectionsWading Pool
DirectionsPlus 1 public pool without a name on the map.
Playgrounds in Louisville
Adventure PlaygroundIn Waterfront Park
DirectionsBeechmont Tot Lot
DirectionsDon Fightmaster Playground for Exceptional Children
DirectionsGreenwood Recreation CenterIn Riverview Park
DirectionsKerricky Elementary Playground
DirectionsMarshall Playground and SpraygroundIn Beckley Creek Park
DirectionsPauls fish market
DirectionsPlayPort
Directions5 more playgrounds
Playground (south)In Louisville Zoo
DirectionsPope Lick Park PlaygroundIn Pope Lick Park
DirectionsSpraygroundIn G.G. Moore Park
DirectionsSt. Albert Playground
DirectionsSwingsIn Cherokee Park
Directions335 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Louisville
BarklandsIn Beckley Creek Park
DirectionsChampions Dog RunIn Louisville Champions Park
DirectionsCochran Hill Dog RunIn Cherokee Park
DirectionsPG&J's Dog Park Bar
DirectionsSawyer Dog ParkIn E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park
DirectionsThe Barklands - Beckley Creek ParkIn Beckley Creek Park
DirectionsPlus 8 dog parks without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Louisville
CanoeIn Broad Run Valley Conservation area
DirectionsGreenwood Boat Ramp
DirectionsPaddling Access
DirectionsPope Lick Park Fisherville Canoe DockIn Pope Lick Park Fisherville Canoe Dock
Directionsboat rampIn Long Run Park
DirectionsPlus 9 boat launches without a name on the map.
Fishing spots in Louisville
10 fishing spots without a name on the map.
Waterfalls in Louisville
Fairmont Falls
DirectionsScenic views in Louisville
Big Vista OverlookIn Broad Run Park
DirectionsGarden Gateway Overlook - Beckley Creek ParkIn Beckley Creek Park
DirectionsNorth Scenic OverlookIn Iroquois Park
DirectionsSouth Scenic OverlookIn Iroquois Park
DirectionsPlus 8 scenic views without a name on the map.
Peaks in Louisville
Jefferson Hill856 ft elevation
DirectionsMitchell Hill856 ft elevation
DirectionsHolsclaw Hill817 ft elevation · In Jefferson Memorial Forest
DirectionsMoremans Hill810 ft elevation · In Jefferson Memorial Forest
DirectionsDodge Hill804 ft elevation · In Jefferson Memorial Forest
DirectionsMiller Hill778 ft elevation · In Jefferson Memorial Forest
DirectionsKenwood Hill755 ft elevation
DirectionsPotato Knob745 ft elevation
Directions8 more peaks
Finley Hill696 ft elevation
DirectionsRed Stone Hill659 ft elevation
DirectionsCrescent Hill495 ft elevation
DirectionsEvergreen Hill
DirectionsLong Run Hill
DirectionsPleasant Hill
DirectionsRound Knob
DirectionsTinker Hill
DirectionsPicnic areas in Louisville
Picnic Area
DirectionsPicnic Area
DirectionsPicnic Area
DirectionsPicnic-in-the-Park Pavilions
DirectionsRedbud ShelterIn Broad Run Park
DirectionsThe Woodland PavillionIn Broad Run Park
DirectionsPlus 8 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Louisville
Horine Reservation CampgroundFee · In Horine Reservation · Louisville Parks and Recreation
DirectionsDisc golf in Louisville
2 disc golf without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Louisville
Norton Commons Community Garden
DirectionsPlus 2 community gardens without a name on the map.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 39 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 20.8 miHorses · 7.6 miUnpaved · 54.4 mi
Siltstone Trail6.6 mi
Cherokee Loop3.3 mi
Scott's Gap Trail3.1 mi
Harrods Creek Park Trail3.1 mi
Fresh Air Loop3.0 mi
Clinic Loop2.4 mi
Coral Ridge Trail2.3 mi
Twisted Bends Loop2.2 mi
Yost Ridge Trail2.1 mi
Purple Heart Trail1.8 mi
15 more trails
Black Willow Trail
1.6 miMitchell Hill Lake Trail
1.5 miAnchorage Trail
1.5 miBig Beach Trail
1.5 miButton Mold View Loop Trail
1.4 miWilderness Loop '22 Reroute
1.4 miWild Hyacinth Trail
1.3 miLimestone Gorge Trail
1.3 miWhite Oak Nature Trail
1.3 miBoone Bottoms Trail
1.1 miPrairie Preserve Trail
1.0 miPaul Yost West Connector
1.0 miRed Trail
0.9 miHolsclaw Hill Loop
0.9 miWaking Trails at Hay Kennedy Park
0.8 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Beargrass CreekBig Horn LakereservoirBoulder PondpondCrescent Hill ReservoirreservoirDreamland LakereservoirDuck PondpondHudson LakelakeIroquois PondpondJefferson Mall PondpondMcNeely LakereservoirMiddle Fork PondpondMirror LakesreservoirMitchell Hill LakelakeMonkeysPond 1pondPutney PondpondQuarry LakelakeRandom ReservoirRieber LakereservoirRiggs LakeShannon's PondpondSouth Fork Beargrass CreekThe Pond at Norton CommonspondTom Wallace LakelakeWaggners LakereservoirWaverly LakelakeWillow LakelakeWillow PondpondBack RunBroad RunCane RunCedar CreekChenoweth RunFloyd's ForkFloyds ForkHarrods CreekMill CreekOhio RiverTurkey Run
Biking & sports
254 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
76 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
96 mi
off-road bike paths
82 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
355Tennis
211Baseball
120Soccer
106Basketball
68Pickleball
30Football
13Beach volleyball
11Volleyball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →513 places on the National Register, 8 of them National Historic Landmarks
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 38 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
★
Louisville Water Company Pumping StationNational Historic Landmark · Building · listed 1971
About it★
United States Marine Hospital of LouisvilleNational Historic Landmark · Building · listed 1997
About itJefferson County CourthouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itFarmingtonBuilding · listed 1972
About itSt. James-Belgravia Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1972
About itTrade Mart BuildingBuilding · listed 1973
About it501 more on the History page.
When to get out
The walking year in Louisville
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.8 | 10.7 | 11.8 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 14.6 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 10.0 | 9.5 |
| High (°F) | 42 | 47 | 57 | 69 | 77 | 85 | 88 | 87 | 81 | 70 | 57 | 46 |
| Rain (in) | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 4.2 |
January is the driest month (3.4 in) and July the warmest (highs of 88 °F). 5.3 inches fall in May, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 88 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Louisville →
Next door
Louisville and its neighbors
Louisville has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Louisville182 miJeffersonville23 miJeffersonville Township22 miUtica Township13 miClarksville11 miNew Albany Township9.3 miNew Albany6.9 miTaylor Township5.5 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | 8% | 0.5 | 22 | 60% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Louisville
Where can I hike in Louisville?
The longest trail networks: Jefferson Memorial Forest, 20.9 miles; Waverly Park, 9 miles; Cherokee Park, 7.8 miles; E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park, 6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Louisville is conserved land?
8% of its land, against a typical 2% for a Kentucky town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Louisville’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Jefferson Memorial Forest (on leash), Waverly Park (on leash), E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park and Horine Reservation (on leash). For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Louisville?
254 miles of bike routes are on the map: 76 of painted or protected lanes, 96 of off-road paths and 82 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Louisville?
33,061 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Louisville or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 17,450 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Louisville have?
Ahead of 69% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #24 of 142 in Kentucky. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Louisville neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →