53 trails · 388 trail miles · Best season: March – November
Kentucky's Red River Gorge features hundreds of natural sandstone arches and world-class rock climbing alongside hiking. Mammoth Cave offers unique underground exploration, while the Sheltowee Trace crosses the state.
Best Season
March – November
Terrain
Appalachian foothills, sandstone arches, river gorges
Top Trail: Kentucky State Park River Walk
Kentucky has 53 hiking trails covering 388 trail miles across 2 national parks and 43 state parks.
The best hiking season in Kentucky is March – November. The terrain includes appalachian foothills, sandstone arches, river gorges.
The top hiking destinations in Kentucky include Mammoth Cave National Park, Daniel Boone National Forest, Red River Gorge, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
Notable long-distance and iconic trails in Kentucky include Sheltowee Trace Trail (319 mi), Red River Gorge loop trails.
The highest-rated trail in Kentucky is Kentucky State Park River Walk. The average trail difficulty across the state is Moderate.