Kentucky, United States
Hiking trails near Lexington
26 quality-checked hiking routes are currently mapped within 50 km of Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Together their route lines cover 66 km. The average route is 2.6 km with 54 m (177 ft) of recorded ascent.
- 26
- Trails
- 50 km
- Search radius
- 12
- Easy routes
- 23.2 km
- Closest
The directory difficulty mix is 12 easy (46%), 14 moderate (54%) and 0 hard or expert (0%). 18 routes (69%) are recorded as loops. Difficulty is calculated from available distance and elevation data; it is not a statement about technical terrain or current conditions.
The most frequent route tags are river (3), alpine meadow (2), lake (2), waterfall (2). The highest recorded point in this set is 288 m (945 ft). The place-level planning field lists varies by region as the preferred season; check each route and official notices for live access and weather. River Road, Meadow View, Palisades Loop currently lead this page’s directory ranking, which uses route completeness and computed route scores rather than editorial field testing.
Choose by the details
How do these routes differ?
A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.
Shortest mapped distance in this sample
0.5 km
Palisades LoopCompare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.
Lowest recorded ascent in this sample
31 m
Palisades Loop6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.
Return logistics
5 recorded loops
Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.
Plan the return journey →| Route | Distance | Ascent | Moving time | Shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Road | 4.2 km | 176 m | 1 hr 9 min | Loop |
| Meadow View | 3.7 km | 85 m | 54 min | Loop |
| Palisades Loop | 0.5 km | 31 m | 8 min | Loop |
| Pelly | 8.8 km | 123 m | 2 hr 1 min | Loop |
| Lampton | 2.9 km | 72 m | 43 min | Loop |
| Tanyard | 7.8 km | 135 m | 1 hr 50 min | Point to point |
Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.
Other places nearby
Guides around Lexington
Frequently asked questions
Plan with more confidence
All planning articles →Choosing a route
How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label
Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.
Read article →Understanding the map
Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb
Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.
Read article →Planning your day
Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace
Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.
Read article →