Hiking Trails & Parks in Kentucky
5,289 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 233 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across Kentucky. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in Kentucky
Kentucky has 5,289 mapped hiking trails and 233 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 150 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 150 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in Kentucky
A spatially-sampled view of 625 trail and park locations across Kentucky’s counties.
Kentucky Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 150 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in Kentucky
Parks & Campgrounds in Kentucky
Longest Trails in Kentucky
Curated Guides for Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Kentucky?
Yes — we have 5,289 mapped hiking and walking trails in Kentucky, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Kentucky?
Clare Road near Terrace Park is rated expert — the toughest classification among Kentucky's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in Kentucky for families?
ADT - Illinois (South) - J - Seg 2 near Goreville is one of the best family picks in Kentucky — easy difficulty and 0.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Kentucky?
Each of the 5,289 trails in Kentucky has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 233 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (33 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Kentucky?
Yes — 37 of Kentucky's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is BAILEYS POINT with 215 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for Kentucky
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in Kentucky, Ranked
Kentucky's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Sergei AkulichKentucky's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten Kentucky trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Kentucky
Ten gentle, well-marked Kentucky trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Kentucky
Kentucky's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in Kentucky
Federal parks and recreation areas in Kentucky ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Joshua EarleBest Waterfall Hikes in Kentucky: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
Kentucky's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.