Looking to take your workouts outside this summer? Louisville offers an incredible mix of trails, parks, riverside paths, and open-air fitness spaces perfect for staying active in the sunshine. From steep forest hikes to circuit-ready loops and scenic spots for yoga or paddling, here are 10 of the best outdoor workout destinations to explore across the city.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens – 1435 Frankfort Ave
More than just plants, this peaceful garden space offers quiet paths for walking meditation and hosts outdoor yoga classes that blend mobility work with stunning views of curated landscapes. Waterfront Botanical GardensE.P. Cherokee Park – 745 Cochran Hill Rd
Spanning 389 acres, this Olmsted-designed gem features the 2.4-mile Scenic Loop for cycling or running, shaded trails, and the iconic Dog Hill for challenging incline sprints or bodyweight training on grass. Olmsted Parks ConservancyDavid Armstrong Extreme Park – 531 Franklin St
Designed for high-energy movement, this 40,000 sq ft 24-hour skatepark features deep bowls, rails, ramps, and urban terrain that challenge your balance, cardio, and explosive strength. Louisvilleky.govE.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park – 3000 Freys Hill Rd
Equipped with a 1-mile fitness loop, outdoor pull-up and dip bars, tennis courts, and wide athletic fields, this East End park is ideal for structured strength circuits and speed work. Kentucky State ParksLouisville Loop Trail – Entry at 129 River Rd
Stretching across neighborhoods and nature zones, this in-progress 100-mile multi-use path is ideal for long runs, cycling sessions, walk-and-talks, or connecting multiple parks in one fitness route. Rails to Trails ConservancyIroquois Park – 2120 New Cut Rd
This south-end park offers steep hiking trails, basketball courts, picnic areas, and a summit overlook perfect for incline conditioning, trail running, or quiet post-workout reflection. Olmsted Parks ConservancySeneca Park – 3151 Pee Wee Reese Rd
Popular with runners and walkers, it includes a 1.2-mile loop, tennis courts, open green spaces, and wooded hills that are great for hill sprints, trail jogs, and agility-focused workouts. Olmsted Parks ConservancyWaterfront Park & Big Four Bridge – 129 River Rd
Right along the Ohio River, this downtown path network is perfect for long runs, riverside bike rides, stair workouts on the Big Four Bridge, and open spaces for calisthenics or yoga. OurWaterfront.orgJefferson Memorial Forest – 11311 Mitchell Hill Rd
As the nation’s largest municipal urban forest, this expansive natural space features winding trails like the Siltstone and Mitchell Hill Loop, varied terrain for endurance training, and peaceful lakeside views for stretching or cooldowns. Louisvilleky.govThe Parklands of Floyds Fork (Beckley Creek Park) – 1411 Beckley Creek
This expansive outdoor destination combines paved and natural trails, a paddling launch for kayaking, scenic bridges, and flat lawns perfect for HIIT, stretching, or community fitness events. TheParklands.org
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Shelby Brown is a multimedia journalist and producer with a focus on entertainment news. While attending Indiana University, she has produced digital and on-air stories under deadline for PBS, NPR, and...
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