Daniel Boone National Forest

62.1 mi

I must write a review of the area and the beginning of the trail to alert future hikers that it is…read moretemporarily closed due to abuse, vandalism/garbage. People were loud and using the creek as a pool, spray painting and damaging the trail/trashing the area. So, if you are headed down to hike on the John Holder Trail, as we were, you will find it closed. The area itself is lovely. Hall's on the River is great (and open during Covid), you can still canoe on the river, and the fort is close by and well worth a visit.

It was too beautiful of a day in February to not try to get in a hike. Decided to head out on the…read moreJohn Holder Trail. The trails were pretty muddy after the snow melt but it was worth it. I would rate it a moderately easy there and back trail but with some beautiful views of the Lower Howard River. Total round trip is just under 3 miles. There is a point that you do cross the river so make sure you have either waterproof hiking boots or the river is low enough to get across. Please don't try to cross if it is deep or flowing fast. Nobody wants to get hurt or wet. There are some elevation changes and several historical sites. For this hike there was a lot of pretty ice hanging off the cliffs. There is a waterfall but that's off property so you shouldn't hike there. And after a day of hiking you can get soon food at Halls On The River and enjoy the scenery from there. As for parking, I usually park across the street from Halls but there is parking behind Halls too.

Hiking the John Holder Trail at Lower Howard's Creek Nature Preserve

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Lower Howard's Creek Nature Preserve

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

4.5

(51 reviews)

59.9 mi

Well worth a visit - accessible and well maintained. Trails climb to a scenic overlook of the…read moreKentucky River, with miles more to hike.

I love the fact that there were so many different trails with different features. I am not sure if…read moreraven run is pet friendly. It was so much fun looking over the Kentucky river as I got to the top. The maps provided are easy to read.

Not something you typically see in a nature reserve - probably grandfathered in. May be a reason to return around Halloween.

Trail

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Red River Gorge

4.8

(61 reviews)

67.4 mi

Everyone about this trip was amazing! The park has some of the best trails! Some are harder than…read moreothers but worth the sites! We went to a bunch of amazing restaurants and met wonderful people kind people! We will be back again and recommend it to anyone who loves the outdoors!!!

This will have been our 2nd time to Red River Gorge, except we took our fam plus some. I love…read moreviews, mountains, family, and good food! We rented out thee most cutest cabin. We took a hike one day and rested another. When we go again, the itinerary will look different, trying other places we didn't get a chance to experience.

My son climbing at Bruise Brothers in Muir Valley (thanks Bluegrass climbing guides!)

The Gorge Underground

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Muir Valley

60.4 mi

There's a $10 fee to park in the parking lot but worth it for climbers! There are very clean…read morebathrooms, lots climbing opportunities, and they have 8 stick clips available for borrow (free and honor system of returning). We climbed here for two days and will be going back. There are routes for every skill level. Climbing routes are well maintained and well marked.

10/10 would recommend hiking on these trails. Well kept area! We didn't see any trash on the…read moretrails. They were very well maintained trails. Our Airbnb host Paul recommended Muir Valley. We are not climbers but there were a ton of climbing walls that looked fun! Trails are well marked. We were super impressed and loved hiking here. Several waterfalls along the way as well. There is a "hidden" hemlock that you have to climb rebar to see. It's a little hidden but not terribly hard to find and worth the short climb!

Methuselah, the hidden hemlock in the background.

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Asbury Trails

4.7

(7 reviews)

61.5 mi

This set of trails apparently belongs to a local private college that I hadn't heard of. They are…read moreopen to the public, and it wasn't hard to drive and park here. The trails cover a wide variety of environments, reaching a meadow where the power lines through and going down into the ravine which holds the Kentucky River. Once you're down there, a long path runs under the riverside cliffs. As is often the case in this region, the scenery is pretty, but on the difficult side. Many of the trails are narrow and covered with gravel or mud, and are high enough in spots that a slip could carry some significant consequences. There were plenty of bugs as well. But I managed to get a solid two-hour workout/scenic visit in. It's free and it's not far from Lexington.

They finally opened back up and we love it here! It's beautiful. We do the easy trail to the right,…read moreso I can't speak on the other trails, but we always have so much fun enjoying nature here ‍

View of cave from the bottom

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Jim Beam Nature Preserve

(2 reviews)

55.9 mi

I have not been there to check on the hiking trail yet but the scenery looks amazing! I would love…read moreto see it in person so that I can experience and enjoy the hike and nature surrounding the mountains.

I've hiked the Jim Beam Nature Preserve at least twice, and what I love most is that people don't…read moreknow about it. However, given the current state of the world and every known trail shutting down due to overcrowding, now might be a good time to let everyone in on Jessamine County's best kept secret. According to the JCTA website, you can expect a "dirt trail with little elevation change through a wooded area. Old stone fences are visible. It has a couple of overlooks with winter views of the river." I don't understand exactly why this trail is NOT dog-friendly, but then again, I'm not an ecologist or a botanist. Approximately .8 miles will give you a decent workout considering the elevation changes, and it can get quite muddy given its dirt path construction. Unless it's winter, don't expect much of a view of the Palisades, but wildflowers are visible throughout in the fall. There are NO restroom facilities and view few parking spaces. Still, if you want to escape into nature and play explorer, this is a good place to do it.

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Legacy Trail

4.4

(8 reviews)

78.0 mi

If you're looking for a place to bike or run, walk. The legacy trail is the perfect spot. We enjoy…read morecoming to run, walk it's very peaceful and they have beautiful trees along the trail. They also have a dog park nearby if you want to take your boys out. I like how they have markers for the miles you've done it helps me stay on pace.

This greenway trail seems like what I've been looking for. Lexington is notable for having a…read morerelative lack of urban sprawl, with zoning laws ensuring that much of the city is surrounded by rolling hills covered with farms. The outskirts of the city are very pretty to drive through, but you can't really do much as the farms are privately owned and there isn't much in the way of parks or trails. Enter this paved pathway, which runs from the city proper out to the horse center. It seems geared towards bikers, which I am not, but there was certainly space for pedestrians and I saw a few others. I visited a section that ran by some university-owned test farms, and got a treat with nice views, ample songbirds, and peace and quiet. I did get mobbed by some sort of fly as it got dark; though it did not seem to be of any biting or stinging variety you definitely want to consider repellent, along with something for pollen allergies and some sunscreen. The entire length of the trail is farther than I could walk on one night, but I suspect it will be well worth exploring, as this is exactly the sort of thing Lexington needs.

So, speed in blue and elevation in grey.

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Natural Bridge State Park

This is one of my favorite state parks for a day or two of hiking. Very nice trails, some are…read morefairly rugged. I've been here several times, sometimes for just a day, and a few times camping nearby. You can take the sky lift up to the natural bridge, or you can hike up. There is a short trail (1/3 of a mile) that leads to a nice overlook where you can view the natural bridge from a distance. There are birds and wildlife to observe. And it is nice to visit in different seasons. There are good restaurants and touristy places to shop in the area too.

Well everything cause I did it ! Haha this is a self paced and self guided hike. It can be what…read moreyou make of it but the beauty is untouchable out of your control. A mix of hardwood, pine wooded and lots of sandstone /limestone rocks ! Tons of song birds and insects and forest creatures. Truly amazing day hike.

Natural bridge

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The Pinnacles

36.9 mi

Was in the area & looking for some hikes, It's not a long hike, Mostly up hill & it will push you…read more You could easily hike all day on the trails. Parking lot closes & gates lock @ sunset. If your late coming down your going to sleeping in parking lot.

My family and I went for a hike here last weekend during Labor Day weekend. We drove about an hour…read moreand a half down to the place. I've heard good things we've seen good pictures so we decided to climb up the mountain through the East pinnacle track and look over everything in the beautiful scenery. It was a pretty easy hike not too challenging I have two young kids and they made it up pretty well. However we go hiking a lot so this was not too challenging which my kids really appreciated. There's a lot of people to bring dogs we had a game to see how many dogs are passed for the bottom to the top we passed 31 dogs so it was a lot which was good because my daughters like to pet the dogs. So definitely recommend it definitely will be back a +5 stars

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Suffoletta Family Aquatic Center

3.1

(9 reviews)

82.0 mi

Visited with my niece and nephew and mother in law and had a fantastic experience!! The staff was…read moresuper helpful at check in, lifeguards were in all areas and the place was clean. There was plenty of activities for all ages and mobility levels! I enjoyed the water slide and the lazy river the best. It was very cost effective for our family to attend and enjoy a wonderful summer day! Blacktop parking made it easy to get in and out. Changing rooms were clean with showers and restrooms available. The snack shack offered fresh burgers, chili dogs and a variety of snacks making it a great place for lunch. I was highly impressed and will be back!

We had a fantastic day at Suffoletta Family Aquatic Center. It was very clean in and out of the…read morewater. There were chairs throughout the area. We enjoyed the lazy river quite a bit. The water wasn't above 4 feet anywhere so it was perfect for our 7-year old. There is a 15 minute break/adult swim time on the :45 minute mark. We took advantage of the water slide during that time with no line! Day passes were available and super reasonably priced. The snack bar had great prices and delicious food. I wish something like this was in our area.

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Raven Run Nature Sanctuary

4.5

(51 reviews)

59.9 mi

Well worth a visit - accessible and well maintained. Trails climb to a scenic overlook of the…read moreKentucky River, with miles more to hike.

I love the fact that there were so many different trails with different features. I am not sure if…read moreraven run is pet friendly. It was so much fun looking over the Kentucky river as I got to the top. The maps provided are easy to read.

Not something you typically see in a nature reserve - probably grandfathered in. May be a reason to return around Halloween.

Trail

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Lexington Ice & Recreation Center

3.5

(21 reviews)

68.1 mi

Took my kid ice skating here for her birthday and she absolutely had a blast. I did too and I…read moredidn't even fall like I expected lol It's a bit dingy both inside and outside but it's a sports center so not a big deal. The customer service was slow but they were nice. One lady was doing both sides (front where you get tickets and back where you get skate rentals) and so there was a little wait but it wasn't a big deal. They also look to offer mini golf but we only did the ice skating. We will definitely be returning. Make sure you go during open skate hours.

Great place for family to have fun. From Ice skating, mini golf, basketball, volleyball and…read morepickleball you have a many options for your family!

Ice Skating /Hockey/ Figure Skating

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Fairway To Heaven Miniature Golf 54 Holes of Outdoor Bible Themed Golf

Daniel Boone National Forest - hiking - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Daniel Boone National Forest also viewed

Natural Arch Scenic Area

4.0

(2 reviews)

A little bit off the road to get to and then a short walk down a paved stone trail to reach the…read moreviewing area, this is a lovely little park and the view here was spectacular. It is part of the Daniel Boone National Forest and this park has a picnic pavilion and some primitive restrooms. Lots of parking which requires a $5 self-paid entry fee. There are envelopes and a drop for that. Spend a few minutes checking it out or spend the whole day. At the time of year we visited, we were the only ones around. So quiet and peaceful. It was perfect. [Review 269 of 2025 - 285 in Kentucky - 23832 overall]

NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the Natural Bridge Resort near Slade KY, this Natural Arch is about 1 hour…read moreand 15 minutes SOUTH of Richmond, KY and sits off Day Ridge Road in the Stearns District of the Daniel Boone National Forest. There is ample parking, but requires a $5 fee for a single day visit or $7 for a 3-day pass. Most of the short trail leading to the loop is paved, and contains plenty of man-made steps. TRAIL DIRECTIONS: From the 2nd parking area, take the concrete path to the left of the picnic pavilion then turn onto the asphalt path leading past the Amphitheater. In just a few hundred feet you will come to a beautiful overlook of the Natural Arch where you can stop for some scenic photos of it in the distance. Continue along the 510 trail as it descends down the mountain. There are a series of stairs to help tackle the steepness of the terrain, but don't worry, it's not a long trail and you will reach the arch before you know it. After the last set of steps you will come to a fork in the road. GO RIGHT to stay on the 510 loop trail. Left at the fork will lead you down the 508 trail to Buffalo Canyon. WHAT TO EXPECT: The Natural Arch is nice, but difficult to photograph without a wide angle lens. It is over 100 feet wide and you are in very close proximity. I found the best point of view was taking the loop trail through the arch to the other side. There is a wooden boardwalk to let you know you are on the right path. You can continue around the loop or go back the way you came to reach the parking area quickly. We did not follow the loop and instead returned back to our car. All in all it took us about 25 minutes round trip to hike at a leisurely pace and about 15 minutes to explore the area around the natural arch totaling 40 minutes. It is a family friendly hike, but some of the steps can be tall, so you may have to carry really little ones back. The trail is 1 mile round trip IF you circle the entire loop. I have included some of the PDF trail maps from the USFS website to help guide you. The monument signs maps near the parking area are rather confusing. For example: the monument map states the 510 trail is "not accessible", but it is referring to wheelchairs and for some reason doesn't state it that way. There ARE restroom facilities, but my wife was unpleased with the amount of flying bugs, so we opted to drive elsewhere for bladder relief. About 20 minutes away is the fabulous Cumberland Falls if you are looking for other things to do while in the area. This was a short stop for us as we travel through the state heading to Ohio. HAPPY EXPLORING!!!

Yahoo Falls and Arch

(15 reviews)

I will have to go back again to see the gorgeous sights of the Yahoo Falls. However the sun was…read moregetting close to setting so myself and my hiking buddy (aka my dog) we went the overlook and what a gorgeous site that is to see. That overlook area is to the left of the hiking trail and just for a minute you get to take in the beauty that nature gives us and forget everything else. I hope to visit again in the spring with the pupper to see the magnificent sight of the Yahoo Falls and Arch

Very pretty dog friendly hike. Luckily it was a rainy day so the waterfall was flowing. It's the…read moretallest waterfall in Kentucky.

General Burnside Island State park

4.7

Best golf course in Kentucky! Beautiful well kept! You will love it! I love going as a couples…read moregroup. Guys love to go by themselves!

Ok, im saving one star because... When we arrived to the…read morepark no one was around to receive us, maybe because it just stopped raining... but not a single soul around, we got there driving aprox. 6 minutes from the Somerset city limits. Amazing park, pretty big and with tons of running trails. Perfect for bikes and walking, golf course seems pretty good also. Have this small office with a park ranger there where I suppose that there´s some one to give you information. Free entrance and the road is really easy to drive, no difficult to get there. I can´t tell if you can camp there, because like I said, there was no one around to ask. Anyways, was lovely to see that there are this kind of parks and really there are a lot of parks around here in KY! Safe travels!!

Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park

3.5

(12 reviews)

Have been here before and now this campground is managed by the city rather than the State…read more Was assigned to D1 but the signs are all wrong because the arrow points to C where D is D1 has the sewer in front and water and electric about 30 ft away in the back 0 stars to the planner and designer seating in an office and not knowing what camping entails. Had to disconnect water and electric to move the RV closer so my hose would reach the sewer. Not good! UPDATE: three days later and on our way back I tried dialing about 14 times while on Interstate 75 and the call wouldn't go through and not because of my phone because I had three bars most of the time so we had to keep driving because maybe they shut down

Nasty bathrooms,never open for campers and will never camp there with children..It's like it was 2…read moreyears ago,disgust,in the summer the pool always leaks and smells bad.

Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort

3.7

(25 reviews)

our early season stay at Sheltowee Adventure Resort was top notch. the facilities were warm, clean,…read moreand accommodating and the property has so much to offer. the staff were helpful and incredibly friendly the entire time, including booking a shuttle over the phone, checkin processes, and shuttle to our section hike of the Sheltowee Trace Trail. a special shout out to Dale our shuttle driver who was especially kind and personable.

Great customer service. Friendly staff. Clean bathrooms. Located near Cumberland Falls and the Big…read moreSouth Fork River.

wildcat offroad park

4.3

Stayed at Wildcat offroad park in one of their mobile homes ! Inside place very dirty . As we…read morefirst walked in the floor it didn't look like it had been mopped and cleaned in months. Floors very dusty with foot prints throughout . As I was the first to go into shower I saw a long hair on the wall of shower. Rodent droppings under sink and in small flipping cabinet at sink usually store sponges ! They charge $70.00 to your bill for a cleaning fee when you check out but I think they just pocket it! I would probably find other lodgings nearby and not stay here again .

This place is great! Today was quite dusty, compared to a day in the mud! But so much fun…read more Campground onsite for tents, campers or you can rent a cabin. The office staff is full of info and very friendly! The trails are nicely laid out. Plenty of easy or hard you can choose. We were here from 2p-1am. Night driving was awesome! Great crowd of people, a good mix of young, old, and families out riding. Bikes, ATVs, jeeps, razors, and saw a tracker. Some trails were closed or blocked off - i would assume due to danger? But there were so many you didnt miss one or two. Nice views from the wildcat dome. An old train tunnel, a lost boat, jurassic park trail... so much more.

The Farm RV Resort

(1 review)

Stopped in for an overnight stay while traveling for the holidays. This place is awesome…read more Although it was too cold for me to use the amenities, I will be back in the spring to try them out. I can't wait to catch some fish in the pond and whip some butt on the pickleball court - my family is very competitive lol. The staff were friendly and very informative. The store was stocked with goodies that we loaded up on when we checked out. Honestly, we can't wait to camp here again!

Pulaski County Park

3.6

(7 reviews)

‼PC Beach is immediately and until further notice and testing - shut down! Per the Environmental…read moreEnergy Cabinet of Kentucky and LCDHD‼ Just to update everyone. LCDHD reached out to me via email today and they had been requested by the EEC state department I was in contact with, to immediately shut the beach area down and conduct testing. We were heard. This has only been 3 days since I sent my email, after I had such an amazing and loud response. According to the email I received regarding recreational swimming areas from the state department who oversees to our HD: 902 KAR 10:120. Section 7 is the applicable portion to beaches and explains testing for E. coli. If this is indeed an area that has been sectioned off for swimming then plans need to be submitted to Public Safety Branch to start the process of getting an establishment number and routinely inspected. Why haven't we been testing this area? It was never filed. Oh and there are still people swimming all around it, but our focus was on the beach, I guess water stays in one area. Also our county told the Commonwealth Joirnal that due to stagnant water causing an overgrowth of bacteria that they were closing it. I'm not sure how I feel about that?

We found a beach area in the Burnside/Cumberland area! We were grateful to find an area to swim!…read more We had a lot of fun here & the puppy just loved it! Pet & people friendly. Nice place. I gave it 4 stars because I think they could improve it a little with some upkeep and maybe invest in lounge chairs or other accommodations. Overall, it was a great day at the lake! Will be back and have recommended it to others!

Cumberland Falls Horse Riding Stables

(7 reviews)

First of all, I am scared to death of horses. I had only been on one 40 years ago, which wasn't a…read moregood experience. However, my group wanted to go and encouraged me to push through my fear. I am so glad I did. The guy who was helping assured me I'd be fine and he'd watch out for me. My horse was Oreo, a beautiful black and white horse. The trail takes about 45 minutes. It was a bit muddy, which they said was unusual, so the horses had to leap around some of the mud, but it still was so much fun. I'd go again, for sure.

This was such a fun experience! Nearly an hour riding trails definately worth the $21! The staff…read morewas great: calm, cool & collected. The trail was hilly and beautiful through the lush forest. Our horses were well mannered and definitely experienced. I'd you have never rode a horse before this would be a fantastic first experience.

Whitley Branch Veterans Park