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

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary - Not something you typically see in a nature reserve - probably grandfathered in. May be a reason to return around Halloween. - Hiking Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I love the fact that there were so many different trails with different features. I am not sure if raven 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. read more

This place has been on my list since undergrad but I never had the chance to go. It's a bit of a drive from downtown Lexington but totally worth a visit! Seems a bit underrated. We came around 10 on a Saturday morning and it wasn't busy quite yet, but there were a handful of cars. There are restrooms in one of the centers before the entrance to the trails. They likely do events and weddings here. Take a picture of the map! We got lost trying to find a view of the Kentucky river. Turned out one of the trails was closed and we had no idea. My friends and I did most of the trails. We spent about 3 hours climbing up hills and stairs of rocks. Some parts were muddy. There are some Serene creeks around here. Folks also come to do geocaching. The view of the river is the thing to see. Very beautiful and green and not polluted. I'm not a huge hiker. I can do about 3 miles. We were able to do almost 5 miles here! If you're an avid hiker, this won't be much. But for folks like me, it's not a light hike. You'd best get hiking boots. My body was aching later that day and the day after. I also saw people carrying walking sticks. In fact, many people had them! It's a difficult walk if you're not hoping to lose your balance a bit. read more

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary - View of the Kentucky river - Hiking Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Probably the biggest park of this sort in the greater Lexington area, it took me a while to try it mainly because they close rather early. Signs say the trails close at 6:30 (at present the sun sets at 9), and a loudspeaker blared this announcement through the park an hour before that. Having been there, I could see a case for early closing though, as the trails were quite muddy and were on inclines. I could imagine things going badly at dusk and it probably gets dark there well before the sun sets. While it had rained some in the preceding week, it was by no means flood season, and the mud was quite difficult in spots. I definitely suggest staying on high ground. The aesthetic is one of limestone-lined streams, and you get a variety of ecosystems in the park. The overlook of the Kentucky River was pretty minimal, and when I got there a number of people were just hanging out having conversation on the rock with no seeming intent of leaving. I thought the rest of the trails were more worthwhile anyway. While there are abundant trees, there is enough of a meadow without tree cover that sun protection would be wise. The Freedom Trail is a paved hilly path next to the parking lot that was somewhat worn down and not overly impressive; I'd head to the visitor center and do the main trails. You can certainly spend several hours doing that, and while I might have hoped for a slightly easier time on the trails, it was a nice dose of nature. read more

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Very pleasant hike with lots of trees and shade. The view of the Kentucky River after a two mile one-way hike was spectacular. Going back from the river is almost entirely uphill. Nothing too strenuous, just note that it's a dirt tail. read more

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A nice mostly quiet place for a hike. The paths range from a short leisurely stroll with the family to a real workout getting ready for an Iron Man Marathon. And a good assortment in between. I've seen lots of wild critters on these walks. The park used to host learning to camp outings. I don't know if they started them again since covid. If you're interested, especially for the youngsters, ask. They used to host nature walks. The spring flowers were a big hit. The staff and exhibits are great. This is a great asset for the area. Enjoy it. read more

Very nicely kept trails and super easy to find your way around. Most trails are hilly and only a few offer shade so I wouldn't recommend these trails to runners. read more

Right now, due to covid, you need to make a reservation a day in advance. Go to ravens run website and the link to make a reservation will be there. You can choose a scheduled time of 9-11a, 11:30-1:30a, and 2-4p. When you pull up, they'll give you a car pass and check you in. They're incredibly nice. This place is a beautiful place to hike while staying close in Lexington. They have paved trails, too, that we do if my niece and nephew are here, and also have off road trails for more scenic and rough type trails. Great place to exercise and meet with a friend while social distancing! read more

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Fun place to get out in nature. Close to the city. Well marked trails. Easy trails. A couple good overlooks/views.

This is our escape. We don't live far from here, so we go to hike and destress. The landscape is beautiful this time of year.

Lexington's Leslie Knope should be very, very proud of herself. I'm not sure that Yelp is the place for this comment but Yelp is where I leave the comments: marking your trails by color only (yes, Dave, they were marked by color only) it is limiting to colorblind people - one in twelve men - and had I not been with someone who could see color it would have been a frustrating and limiting visit. If you could see color the trails were frequently, and clearly, marked. For a place that featured a full (and free!) parking lot, we didn't see a lot of people on the trail, unlike when I've been to the more popular hiking spots in the Commonwealth, like Natural Bridge, where it's been packed and you moved about like people in Disneyland queues. There were parts where the trail was narrow and making way for other nature enthusiasts was awkward but it was otherwise an experience where it felt like we were alone-ish in the woods. There were other people, you'd see or hear them (but not often). Everyone was really polite - so polite you'd think you weren't in the South at all but a place where people had manners. This is also a marvelous place to level up your hiking skill. On a scale of one to ten, I would have put myself at an eight when I was in Phoenix and now I'm a comfortable five. I want to be a Gretchen Dumas solid ten. This would be a great park to get my feet back under me. The park features a nature center, clean bathrooms, a nifty system to naturally provide water to the toilets, decently-marked paths, and beautiful scenery. If I lived closer this would be a frequent part of my life. Now, this isn't Estes National Park or the Grand Canyon but if you can set aside in your mind that there are "better" parks available and grade this against other small city parks and rec department you'd give this park an "A." read more

Very nice trails and beautiful scenery. We did the red trail and it was a decent length with great views.

Nice morning walk! Be sure you make a reservation at least a day in advance, and even though the nature center is closed, the restrooms were open. Even in late September the wildflowers were in bloom. read more

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Easy hiking, various trails, lots of shade if needed, ample parking, no dogs. Also includes an education center and there is a super easy hiking trail that's paved for strollers and young walkers. read more

Raven Run is a great place to hike that's about 20 minutes from town and has some beautiful views! The "red loop" takes about 2-3 hours to complete, so it's a great trail to take if you want to go for a hike but don't want to make it a whole-day-trip. A popular spot in the warmer months, expect the parking lot to be pretty full- you can park on the road outside the park if so. read more

I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit Raven Run a few times. And I have to say, my only complaint is that I don't live closer to it! After driving a twisty-turny road, you arrive at Raven Run. There is an ample parking lot, with more spaces painted in to some of the grassy area around the sign. On my most recent visit, we arrived to a very full parking lot. I was a little nervous that the trails would be crowded and my escape from the city would be ever so slightly marred by too many people. Gratefully, though, there are enough trails to occupy many people of many different ability levels. And while we certainly saw some people on our hike...we weren't part of a swarm! Both times that I have visited, I have opted to take the Red Trail. The trails are differentiated by color as their names and then marked on signs with a dot of their color. The trails are well-marked, well-maintained, and easy to follow. The Red Trail is about 4 miles, and circles most of the nature sanctuary. It is moderately difficult, but with enough time, most hikers can complete the trail. Most of the other trails appear to branch off or connect to the Red Trail at some point. If nothing else, while you are at Raven Run, you should find yourself at the Overlook at some point. It is a lovely view of the Kentucky River and a nice place to take a break, have a sit-down, eat a picnic. It makes the visit and the hike worth it. There is also an off-shoot from the Red Trail to a creek and waterfall (a short waterfall...nothing crazy tall) that, though slightly more difficult to get to, is a peaceful and beautiful thing to see and sit at while there. Some random final thoughts: -I saw some really weird and interesting wildlife, which delighted me to no end. -There are a LOT of trail runners at Raven Run...and as a non-runner I should note, these are the most polite and conscientious trail runners I have ever encountered. -Clean, flush-y toilets available in the nature center! And running water to rinse your face off after a hike! -The nature center is set back a short walk from the parking lot and is not visible from your car. But it is a gorgeous looking, new and beautiful facility! I haven't been inside (aside from the restrooms) but it leaves an impression. Raven Run is certainly worth a visit! And should you desire a reward after you are done with your hike, there are a couple small and charming wineries very close by (if you are of age). read more

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I ended up here after plans for Mammoth Cave(the trails) fell through because of Mother Nature and the water that she throws at us! The trails are okay here, but honestly this is a fitness park. If you're looking for any type of adventure... go ahead and travel further east to Red River Gorge or south for the Cumberland/Daniel Boone Forest area. It's a nice park. The park is kept clean and if you get lost... then hiking shouldn't be in your list of activities. They do have a nature center with facts. There are facts in the men's bathroom too... about SCAT! The map is lacking. You don't need a map here, but the map that is here could use some work. It's odd and hard to follow at times. If you're going to visit this place I suggest waiting until Autumn. I could see this place being beautiful when the leaves start to change. I'd also suggest this place if you're a beginner or just need to take a trail run. There is a cool overlook, but it's not anything spectacular. The only animals I came across were birds. They cackled at us the entire time. The plants here will also pollenate you. I expected a ton of squirrels or maybe deer, but nope. I saw plenty of mammals of the human-flesh type. Other notes: -- Free parking. -- Park is open until 5ish(You must be out of the park and off the trails by close) -- You must sign in and out -- If you live close then workout here -- If you have to travel a few hours then go on to RRG -- Restrooms at the entrance read more

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Nice easy trails but was hoping to have trails down by the water way to get a better view of the waterfall. The map situation is a little bit confusing because they have them color coded but then have the print outs black and white and the printer they used made it really grainy. No dogs a loud which I wasn't sure why because these trails would be really easy for a furry friend to walk. Maybe they don't want to put in the waste stations? All and all a pretty hike read more

What a great place, love the scenery of the river. Just have to be careful. Seen turkeys with babies and butterflies

What a great walking area. Great scenery of the river. Need to go back soon or spring

Beautiful hiking trails! This place has a lot of activities for children as well! It's very well took end care of is it's a perfect spot if you have never hiked and want to start. Many options to walk as far as you want or don't want to. I used all trails app to help me find my way, but it's very well marked. read more

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This is a very nice park. Beautiful scenery of horse farms and rolling Kentucky hills on the drive out. Nice trails and one of them ends at the Kentucky river. Trails are easy or hard nice places to walk with entire family. read more

I really love this place. Its my little get away on the outskirts of lexington. Lots of wild life and native growth all around. I especially love to meditate by the waterfall! I've seen many birds and buttwrflies deer, wild coons, turkey, and coyotes but no worries, they're much much more afraid of you than they. They just scurry off leaving you in aw. There's even a paved path with wheel chair pull offs. You gotta go and hike all the trails! read more

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary - Hiking Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This was a fun and beautiful place to go hiking. I don't advise hiking by yourself, I did today and I felt safe hiking by myself there They had staff onsite and the staff was very helpful. There isn't a lot of parking space so try to get there early and also there are no pets allowed. This will probably be one of my go to hiking place. read more

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Beautiful trails, clean bathrooms, a stunning nature preserve building. This place is wonderful stunning hikes. The rangers are very friendly and the maps and trail markers are clear and very easy to navigate. You can't get lost! Definitely give this place a go! Sad you can't have dogs there, but I understand it's for the nature preserve. read more

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary - Overlook - Hiking Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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It's nice because it's still in Lexington but I wish they allowed dogs. I have hiked behind it on my friends property with my dog.

This is a great moderately easy hike. I did the overlook trail and the view at the end is amazing. I felt like it got my heart rate up a little bit but wasn't really challenging. Great for an everyday hike or just a casual stroll with friends. It's a beautiful getaway from the city. read more

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A hike at Raven Run is always a great way to spend your day. The guide who led our group was friendly and knowledgeable. I will certainly be back. I do wish there were more signs to help you find your way coming from town. read more

Very disappointed. We drove out here after looking on google maps for hiking trails. 30 minutes out just to see it didn't allow dogs. Just don't understand why you can't hike a nature trail with a dog, if you're worried about animal poop, it's a nature trail...with animals. Just dumb and waste of gas. My fault for not looking more into it but what kind of NATURE TRAIL with 10 miles of trails doesn't allow leashed dogs? Weird. Just heads up for those traveling with your pup. read more

Great walking paths & beautiful scenery. Well mapped out trails and if you're into bird watching they have frequent events you can join in on. Wish they allowed dogs was all. read more

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary - Hiking Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

It's an awesome hiking spot if you don't want to go far and live near by. Not my favorite place only because the view isn't as nice as some of the other hiking spots I've been to. Not nearly as many beautiful flowers or plants or even trees. Also, they don't allow pets and I love hiking with my dog. So they definitely lose a star because of that sole reason. But in reference to the view, Maybe I should come back in the fall when the trees should be filled with their beautiful leaves versus the bare trees now. Overall it's a nicely kept nature sanctuary. Just make sure you get a map from the visitors center or you may get lost like I did haha. 2 hours later...I made it out fine ;) read more

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The Good: easy walking trails, beautiful scenery, great tree coverage for shade, flat grassy areas for picnics, it's free, event hosting. The Bad: not really much in the way of difficult trails. The Rundown: this place is great! It is beautiful and there are multiple intersecting trails you can do on. The trails there do vary in difficulty though none of them are very challenging. You can hear woodpeckers and several other birds on the trails and of course you have to go to the overlook of the river. The Impression: a nice place to go to when you are wanting to get out in nature and don't want to go all the way to pinnicals or the natural bridge. If you want more challenging I would go to one of the two I just listed, but if you want a nice easy trail walk, this is the place to go. read more

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Love getting away to Raven Run to spend time outside while not having to make the long trek to Red River Gorge. Peaceful, never usually too busy and very family friendly. Only reason I go 4 stars is because you have to leave your fur babies at home :( I really do hate leaving my pets at home when I'm exploring outdoors so the no pets rule at RR really stinks. Other than that, always a good hike and always good company! Such a wonderful place kept up by Lexington Parks & Rec! So grateful! The red loop will take you all the way to an overlook of the Kentucky River which is beautiful! There are plenty of other trails including the Freedom Trail, which is paved and easily walkable for those of older/younger age or who need extra accommodation! read more

Raven Run Nature Sanctuary - Hiking Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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After having stayed in lexington for 2 years this is the first time that hubby and I visited this place , and I am so glad that we visited It's about 20 mins drive from our home (the approach road is very beautiful, you can see lots of horse farms and winery ) we reached at 9.45 am on a Sunday morning. There was ample of parking space when we reached. After parking we got the trail map from the visitors center which is about 5 mins walking distance from the parking area. We wanted to cover most of the park so opted for the red trail, it's the longest (around 4 miles ) and was easy for us to walk but narrow in certain parts of the trail . The trails are well marked with colored dots. We went to see the overlook first which is along the red trail. Overlook is the part of trail where you get beautiful view of kentucky river. We didn't get to wait there as some college students were sitting there and won't move ! Anyway after that we continued along the red trail, the white trails are small trails along the red and the Evans mills waterfall is of the white trail. It was so peaceful to sit there, it's almost like meditation with birds chirping in the background and soothing sound of the waterfall. After that we took the yellow trail, which again a branch out from the red and joins the red again. Yellow is supposed to be difficult but we found it was easy, it was narrow in some parts with a slope along the side and stream, but we didn't find it difficult. We rejoined the red trail and we're back to the starting point. Since it had rained the day before it was muddy at several places. By the time we were done it was 12.30pm and the parking lot was full , people had parked on the street . Also there is just 1 restroom at near the visitors center, no restaurants so pack some food and water if you plan to spend more time here. Overall it was a great experience and would love to visit again . read more

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George Eliot would say, "Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." This is one of Lexington's hidden gems, it took me over a year to finally to get here regardless there are directions to this place from downtown. Raven Run is a unique, 734-acre nature sanctuary dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the Kentucky River Palisades and early Kentucky history. This is the BEST place to "lose yourself" in nature, they have several hiking trails.... if I recall correctly, about five or six. The red trail takes you all around the park, but it is quite long hike (~3-4 miles long), but it will allow you to see some beautiful sights in the Sanctuary like the Overlook, Grist Mill Dam, etc. However, the exercise will be rigorous. Here is a trail map to give you some idea: http://www.lexingtonky.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=15670 I have been here about three or four times and I split up the park into segments to visit. I focused on the popular Westbound route (Overlook route), then center of the park and then the east side. I highly recommend you bring a hiking pole especially some segments of the sanctuary especially the south parts has rocky trails. You will definitely get a GREAT workout regardless, which area you pick. My personal favorites would be the Kentucky River Overlook on the Red Trail, Grist Mill Dam on the Eastside near the park border on the red trail, etc. The Green Trail takes you over the meadows, which is easy to walk on and manageable. I have not gone on the Yellow/Orange trails yet, but it is on my list of trails to see next though winter is coming our way soon. I have heard that the yellow trail is a difficult trail, but gorgeous during springtime. I will save that for the spring. The sanctuary is home to several mammals, fortunately mostly are nocturnals so you should not worry about being attacked by bobcats, coyotes, etc. Unless you are a regular hiker, I do not recommend doing the entire sanctuary at once. Do it in bits and pieces. I would start Westbound first then head Eastbound second then the center of the park third. Most people really enjoy seeing the Kentucky River Overlook, which is quite stunning. Tips- GO TO THE RESTROOMS at the nature center before you hit up the trails, there are NONE throughout the sanctuary. The only downside I can think of is that the hours of the park is very limited, it closes at 4:30pm. I think it would be reasonable to open it later during the summer. I guess funding makes it challenging to maintain it, or they are trying to protect us from the wild animals :) Do not forget your hiking poles. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if you want to lose yourself somewhere and still be in Lexington. My 100th review on Yelp! Dedicated to the wildlife of our precious planet, Earth! Elite approved! read more

Beautiful and serene! What a wonderful getaway to nature away from the hustle and bustle of traffic and asphalt. Lexington is lucky to have such a sweet spot. read more

You don't have to go far for a great hiking experience in Lexington. Hop on Tates Creek and go south for a short scenic drive to find Raven's Run. You'll find 734 acres of land that meets the Kentucky River to explore. Visit the Sanctuary Main Building to learn about events they host (like Stargazing, discovery hikes and programs for schools, Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts). For those with disabilities there is a 1.5 mile paved trail that snakes down and then back up a hillside. The Sanctuary main building is also wheelchair accessible. There are 10miles of trail to hike which varies in difficulty. Even on a short stroll I would recommend taking a bottle of water and comfortable closed-toe shoes. There are points where you may not have complete shade. Wear a hat & sunscreen. Especially in the early summer months, remember to wear a tick repellant. The sanctuary has indoor restroom facilities and just before the main trail head (by the barn) you will find a Port-A-Potty. Otherwise you're at the mercy of mother nature. BRING YOUR CAMERA! There is a great chance you'll see wildlife and if you make it to the overlook there is a great photo opportunity! read more

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This is a very nice place to spend a Saturday afternoon! Several places to hike an excellent scenery. Seems like a safe place and clean restrooms are available. If your local its a nice place to get some exercise and enjoy nature. read more

Best hiking in town. Lexington did a great job with this park. If you want somewhere just to kick back and hike while getting some amazing views. The reason I give this place 4 stars because one, the trails close so early. You can only enjoy them till 5pm which is weird. But okay. The nature center seems kinda pointless when the people inside seem not to care about their job. But the over look of the Kentucky river is so beautiful. The old mill by the creek has some amazing views too. I will say I plan on coming here a lot now. It's so worth it. read more

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Some friends and I ended up here hoping to avoid the rain in Louisville for some hiking. After driving all the weird back roads to get here, I was really excited to start hiking. From looking at the map there are 7 trails that link up with each other so you could spend a whole day here and still probably not see it all! There are geocaches to look for as well if that is your thing! Our plan was for a full afternoon of hiking and finding a few geocaches. We went on the trail to the overlook, but less than an 45 minutes into the hike, it started pouring before we got to the overlook. It was still beautiful, even with the rain. We hiked back to the visitors center, and it stopped raining on the way, but the already muddy and wet trails (from all the rain from the week) were now all puddles and we were slipping all over the place. You can see all kinds of wildlife (saw some deer and wild turkeys). I will 100% be back here to check out more of the trails! read more

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