Best Parks In Louisville, Kentucky For a Relaxing Afternoon
Kentucky isn’t what most people would consider a vacation or tourism hot spot- but we have a ton to offer besides just the Kentucky Derby. {Even though we love that too!} We’re famous for bourbon distilleries, picturesque horse farms, and massive cave systems. There really is something in Kentucky for all of your adventurous needs!
Louisville specifically is one of our favorite cities in Kentucky, which is why we live here! As locals, some of our favorite things in the city are the foodie scene, the cultural events, and the park systems. If you want to experience Louisville like a true Louisvilian – try to hit all three in a weekend!
Happy Note: All of these parks are dog-friendly!!
We fell in love while hiking through all the parks in this city and we’re so excited to share this list with you! Without further ado- here are the best parks in Louisville.
Cherokee Park
Probably the most famous park we have is Cherokee Park. It’s stunning and truly one of the best places to plop down for a picnic, read a book, or hang out in a hammock. With over 389 acres- there are a ton of trails and places to relax.
The best trail, by far, is the 2.3-mile Scenic Loop. You can walk it, drive it or bike it – but we highly recommend walking the loop if you haven’t done it before! To see this massive park tucked into the city’s center is pretty amazing. Not to mention that it also encompasses the smaller, but just as beautiful, Seneca Park. Seneca Park is where the Cherokee Triangle Art Fair takes place every year – and it’s a personal favorite for us! We’ve gone every year that we’ve lived here!
Bonus points to Gryffindor if you walk the park, visit the Cherokee Triangle Art Fair, and get something to eat at a food truck!!
Cherokee Park is also amazing because it’s very dog-friendly. After you’re done walking- you can let your pooch off the leash to run out the crazy a little.
I took Thunder there all the time as a puppy and I feel like it was the best thing for him to become socialized? If it’s the middle of the summer – you can also walk all the way down the hill and let your pups play in the creek! Thunder loves to swim so taking him to the creek after playing with the other dogs, and then coming back up the hill really wears him out for the night!
Visit the Cochran Hill Dog Park for more information!
Beckley Creek: The Parkland’s of Floyd’s Fork
Beckley Creek is right up the road from us and it’s the one we go to most often. There are so many incredible trails, paved and unpaved for those looking for more of a challenge.
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It’s truly one of Louisville’s best parks because it’s so quiet. For one of the best-paved trails: we recommend doing the Humana Grand Allee Trail. Thunder or your doggo can swim here and not bother anyone except a few ducks – but this trail is also just beautiful!
Click here to see all sections of the Parklands of Floyds Fork
Iroquois Park
It’s easy to forget that Kentucky is a mountain state when you’re in Louisville. The skyscrapers and big city vibes can sometimes eclipse some of the natural beauty that makes Kentucky home. Hiking to the top of Iroquois Park definitely puts it at the top of the list for the best Louisville parks. You can see all of Louisville from the viewing area at the top!
Open to pedestrians and cyclists year-round and only open to motorists from April through November, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. If you’re visiting for the Derby, it’s a great way to cap off your trip to drive to the top and see the city!
For more information and maps of Iroquois Park click here.
Waterfront Park
This park will forever be one of the best parks in Louisville to us because we got engaged here! Sushi and a walk with the backdrop of the city skyline was a perfect way to be proposed to!
There are multiple bridges that span the river away from Louisville into Indiana that you can see from this park, and they make for great photos! This includes the walking bridge that goes from Louisville over to New Albany, Indiana. This is probably one of my favorite parts of the Waterfront Park! There is a ton of fun stuff in New Albany and when you walk the bridge in the evenings you can see the lights change all different colors!
One of the other cool things about Waterfront Park is that there are a ton of music festivals that happen here! Our favorite is Forecastle Fest – we got to see Chris Stapleton there a couple of years ago and it was an awesome concert. We also found another great more local artist that has really grown – a testament to how amazing Louisville really is? And it all starts by having space at some of the best public parks in the city.
Another awesome cultural event in Louisville is Waterfront Wednesdays. There are food trucks and local artists playing while people spread out on blankets and genuinely enjoying the waterfront! This is typically the highlight of a Louisvillian summer!
Click here for more info including festivals, park maps and events.
Evergreen Trail
Anchorage is one of the most beautiful and historic neighborhoods in Louisville. The quiet tree-lined streets have a colonial-era vibe that screams the need for a pretty park – and it delivered! Tucked away off of Evergreen Road, this 2.1-mile trail is truly such a gem.
Some of the trail’s main features include big gardens, wooden paths over a marsh area, and a huge docile deer population. We’ve walked so many times with Thunder (our giant German Shepherd) and the deer never budge. This park also has a small dog park that you’ll notice off the main trail!
This bridge on Anchorage Trail crosses a picturesque creek and makes a perfect spot for pictures! We’ve seen so many families and couples doing portraits here and they’re always so beautiful.
See the trail map here.
Tom Sawyer Park
One of the best things about Tom Sawyer Park and lands it a spot on the best parks in Louisville – the awesome dog park. There is a walking path in the dog park that allows you to get exercise and play with your dog off-leash.
The other thing to note about Tom Sawyer is that it’s a huge park! 550 acres and tons of trails. The top trails of Tom Sawyer Park are:
Another interesting thing about Tom Sawyer Park is that it hosts a BMX tournament every year. Kind of a cool thing to watch if you’re in the area? Not many cities have a BMX tournament so it’s just another fun event to watch if you’re in town on Labor Day!
Treat yourself to Cane’s when you’re done because it’s arguably one of the best chicken places in Lousiville!
See Tom Sawyer park information here.
More About Kentucky
Jefferson Memorial Forest
Jefferson Memorial Forest is one of the best parks in Louisville for true hiking enthusiasts. With over 50 miles of trails – we’re so happy to be sharing this park. So many people don’t know about it but there are some seriously gorgeous trails in Jefferson Memorial Forest.
They’re also all dog-friendly! Here are our favorite trails from Jefferson Memorial:
- Siltstone Trail – it’s hard but worth it! 12.1 miles and a real glute burner!
- Scotts Gap Loop Trail– 3.3 miles with a very steep incline near the end – but this is the most trafficked trail in the park because of the views!
- Yost Ridge, Coral Ridge, and Holsclaw Hill Loop – This is a 10.6-mile trail. Not an easy trail by any means but you’re rewarded with an awesome view of Louisville!
Tioga Falls
We really love this one but you have to go there on a sunny weekday early! Because it’s a huge waterfall within city limits – it gets a ton of visitors.
No explanation really needed here! You can’t miss it and there are signs everywhere.
Fairmont Falls
Fairmont Falls is the most hidden of gems in Louisville, which arguably also makes it one of the best parks in Louisville. Only 3 cars are allowed per day! This means you need to call ahead and be on it because they only allow reservations 76 hours in advance.
This trail is only a 1.0-mile round trip and considered easy so great for families looking for a semi-private hike! If you’re wondering why there are only three cars allowed a day – you only have to look at Tioga Falls. It’s open to a ton of people and the ecosystem around it is easily destroyed by trash and people just walking. We’re happy to see places taking a stand for the environment! So many places need to take a harder stance because it’s been a tough year with more people hiking than ever!
Click here for more information on getting a pass for the day.
Best Parks in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky is a unique city within Kentucky with a ton of incredible parks! If you’re in town for a weekend, make sure you take the time to visit one of these parks to really get a feel of the Kentucky spirit.
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