Lexington's walking and biking trails with distances and trailheads: the 8-mile Legacy Trail, Town Branch, Brighton Rail Trail, Shillito loops and mountain biking.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Distances and access points come from the city’s trails page, which also has a bike-friendly trails map. Parks office: 859-288-2900.
Lexington Parks and Recreation lists more than 50 trails across Fayette County, from short neighborhood loops to the 8-mile Legacy Trail. The city sorts them into four types, and the type tells you whether you can ride a bike on it:
- Shared-use trail: paved, 10 to 12 feet wide, for walking, running, biking and skating.
- Walking trail: paved, at least 8 feet wide. Bikes and skates may not go faster than a fast walking pace.
- Path: narrower than 8 feet; can be a sidewalk, gravel or grass.
- Hiking trail: natural surface, single-file, pedestrians only.
Shared-use trails (bikes welcome)
| Trail | Length | Where to start (city list) |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy Trail | 8.0 miles | YMCA on West Loudon Avenue to Iron Works Pike; parking across from the Horse Park Campground, at Coldstream Park and at the YMCA |
| Shillito Park and Lafayette Trail | 2.5 miles | 1.5-mile loop plus 1 mile of Lafayette Trail north to south through the park; access from every park entrance |
| Town Branch Trail | 1.9 miles | Off Long Branch Lane across from Masterson Station Park |
| Brighton Rail Trail | 1.84 miles | From Man o’ War Boulevard to Pleasant Ridge Park and Polo Club Boulevard |
| Wellington Trail | 1.3 miles | Along Keithshire Way and Reynolds Road; connects to Shillito Park and Lafayette Trail |
| Squires Road Trail | 1.3 miles | Summerhill Drive to Squires Road; access at Berry Hill Park |
| Liberty Park Trail | 1.3 miles | Off Starshoot Parkway |
| Coldstream Park | 1.2 miles | Spur off the Legacy Trail, off McGrathiana Parkway |
| Cardinal Run South Park | 1.2 miles | Off Parkers Mill Road |
| South Elkhorn | 0.5 mile | Off Newbury Way |
| West Hickman Trail | 0.4 mile | Off Clearwater Way |
| Hamburg Trail | 0.3 mile | Off Sir Barton Way near Winchester Road |
| Gleneagles Trail | 0.3 mile | Spur off the Brighton Rail Trail; from Polo Club Boulevard or Pleasant Ridge Park |
| Spindletop Trail | 0.2 mile | Spur off the Legacy Trail to Spindletop Hall |
Longer rides: the Legacy Trail is the longest trail on the city’s list, with spurs to Coldstream Park and Spindletop Hall. In the south, Wellington Trail feeds into the Shillito loop and Lafayette Trail for about 3.8 miles of connected paved trail. The state’s Newtown Pike widening is adding a Legacy Trail underpass near Citation Boulevard; see road construction.
Walking trails and park loops
| Park or trail | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Masterson Station Park | 3.0 miles | 2.6-mile grass perimeter path plus a 0.5-mile paved link to Masterson Station Drive |
| Arboretum Trail | 2.0 miles | Off Alumni Drive; no bikes |
| Wellington Park | 1.5 miles | Off Wellington Way |
| Veterans Park | 1.4 miles | Off Southpoint Drive |
| Lansdowne-Merrick Park | 1.4 miles | Off Pepperhill Road beside Julius Marks Elementary |
| Martin Luther King Park | 1.2 miles | Off McCullough Drive |
| Beaumont Preserve | 0.9 mile | Spur off the Cardinal Run Park trail, behind Rosa Parks Elementary |
| Constitution | 0.9 mile | Off Old Paris Pike and Rookwood |
| Kirklevington Park | 0.9 mile | Off Redding Road |
| Waverly Park | 0.7 mile | Off Twain Ridge Road |
The city’s full list, with dozens of shorter neighborhood loops, is on its trails page.
Hiking in the natural areas
| Natural area | Trail | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, 3885 Raven Run Way | More than 10 miles of hiking trail and a 1-mile paved trail | No bikes or pets |
| Hisle Farm Park, off Briar Hill Road | 3.5 miles, shared by horses and hikers | No bikes |
| McConnell Springs Park, end of Rebmann Lane off Old Frankfort Pike | 0.5-mile walking trail and 1.5 miles of unpaved path | No bikes or pets |
Raven Run is open daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in October and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November through March, the city says. Phone 859-272-6105.
Mountain biking
The city runs mountain bike trails at Veterans Park, 3.65 miles off Southpoint Drive, and at Deer Haven Park, in partnership with the Kentucky Mountain Biking Association.
Trail etiquette (city rules)
- Pedestrians generally have the right of way on mixed-use trails. Slow down, announce yourself and pass with room.
- Keep right, and use the bike or walk lane where a trail has both.
- If you stop, step off the trail.
- Slow down on downhills and around blind corners.
- Carry out your trash, and follow posted signs and speed limits.
More
- Parks and trails in Lexington for the big parks and boat rentals
- Dog-friendly Lexington for where dogs can and cannot go
- Getting around Lexington and free things to do
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for the Legacy Trail in Lexington?
The city lists trailhead parking across from the Kentucky Horse Park Campground, at Coldstream Park and at the YMCA on West Loudon Avenue. The trail runs 8 miles from the YMCA to Iron Works Pike.
Which Lexington trails allow bikes?
Shared-use trails, which are paved and 10 to 12 feet wide, are built for bikes as well as walkers. They include the Legacy Trail, Town Branch Trail, Brighton Rail Trail, the Shillito Park loop and Lafayette Trail, and Wellington Trail.
Where can I mountain bike in Lexington?
Lexington Parks and Recreation has mountain bike trails at Veterans Park, 3.65 miles off Southpoint Drive, and at Deer Haven Park, in partnership with the Kentucky Mountain Biking Association.
What is the longest walking loop in south Lexington?
Shillito Park has a 1.5-mile shared-use loop that connects to 1 mile of the Lafayette Trail, 2.5 miles in all, and the 1.3-mile Wellington Trail links to it along Keithshire Way and Reynolds Road.
Are bikes allowed at Raven Run?
No. Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, McConnell Springs and the Arboretum trail do not allow bikes, and Hisle Farm Park’s 3.5-mile trail is for horses and hikers only.
Have your say