A hidden gem in an odd area of town! Seriously. Driving through the industrial section of town, you would have no idea this little wooded area along the creek was even here! I was almost convinced we were in the wrong spot until we arrived. There's a small area to park and a covered shelter before you walk into the woods. The paths are short enough to get a quick hike in or time in nature without taking hours to get through the woods.... but long enough to give you time to breathe and relax. Our toddler is able to walk most of the trail by himself, which is awesome. We all delight in finding things along the path and looking at the springs. There are also multiple benches to sit on if you need to take a break or would just like to sit and read a book in an area that makes you forget you are in downtown Lexington. It's not the most scenic spot in Kentucky or anything like that, but it's a nice, quiet and secluded respite from the city. If I lived downtown, I'd come here often. Oh. And it's FREE. read more

McConnell Springs hosted the community in the Education Center for a very interesting and informative talk by a Jessica Whitehead, former Curator of collections at the Kentucky Derby Museum. She spoke about the ladies of the 1800's who were an integral partof thoroughbred breeding and racing. 87 read more

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Nice natural area to walk around it! It is larger and more secluded than the average local option. Unfortunately dogs aren't allowed. read more

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Neat little stop. The walk is mostly paved and flat which I think is a plus for some. The blue hole is neat and the spring boils up which a neat little phenomenon. There is a pond with fish, turtles and frogs. Informative signs along the path tell the history of the park as well. read more

McConnell Springs - Parks Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

McConnell Springs is an AOK venue that's situlated in the middle of an industrial park.  The trails here are suitable for everyone as the terrain in easy, with very little elevation change. Tip: There are no dogs allowed here While it's certainly not nice enough to be a cross-country destination, if you happen to be in the area then a visit here would probably be worth the time it takes. read more

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A peaceful place to wander and relax. Even though it is next to an industrial park, it is peaceful. And, there is a good variety of birds and other wildlife. The paths are easy to walk for all ages and abilities - with plenty of benches scattered throughout for resting or observing. read more

You'll wonder if you've taken a wrong turn when you hit the warehouse district, but behind it lies a quite magnificent set of scenery. There were some hangups; notably the parking lot and visitor center closing early and forcing one to park on the street nearby. A couple of trails were closed for me. Nonetheless, the open trails and boardwalk lead to lush and peaceful scenery that seems distinct from the surrounding city. The clear water and ample plant life make for great views, and there's plenty of space to get your workout in. The word "oasis" is probably overused to describe urban parks, but in this case it applies. read more

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Just a great and easy hike in Lexington. Definitely kid and stroller friendly as a lot of the trail is paved or hardpack. Best part is this nature preserve is about a mile from downtown and you don't need to drive the 30+ minutes to get to some other trails around Lexington. For days I don't have a lot of time but feel the need to be outside this place is wonderful. The trails are well marked and easy to follow. There are some very unique spots to check out while on the trail from spring and boils and a stream to some very pretty wild flowers to a small lake. Every time I come here there are a bunch of turtles just swimming around. I find it very relaxing to just watch them. If you are looking for a free and easy way to get outside with the family or you just want to be with nature, this is a great place. read more

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This is not far from campus at all. It's small and you can see the whole thing in less than an hour and a half. I came here one early morning with a friend. Still humid out though as it was summer. It's calming and fun. You can look at all kinds of vegetation and the ponds were such a nice touch. The springs themselves were interesting. They had lots of signs telling you about them. It's a must see in Lexington. It's not gonna blow you away or anything, but it's cool to know that the city has a lot of random fun things to look at. read more

Wildflower tour through McConnell Springs both experientially and vocally entertaining when we went in 2023. We had a great guided trip in Springtime seeing both native and invasive species. A novice at going on such walks, I found it very interesting, full of information and a short experience. read more

Wow! I've lived in Lexington practically all of my life, and had never been to McConnell Springs. Finally, I decided to get out of my rut of visiting the same parks over and over and explore. I was a bit surprised at the location. It's literally a mile or so from downtown Lexington, tucked away in an area that seems like an industrial park. The visitors center or whatever they call it, closes at 5pm. The gate will also be closed, the park doesn't actually "close" until dusk. You can park curbside in front of the gate, then walk through the visitors center and picnic table area and into 26 acres of hidden beauty. Most of the path is paved and level, so the walk is very easy. You will see signs pointing right for the springs, or you can turn left and explore the pond and wooded landscape. I chose going past the springs first, and circling around into the wooded area. The wooded area is very close to houses, which reminds you that you are in the city. First you pass the Blue Hole. It's 15 feet deep and has a slight tint of blue to it. The water from the Blue Hole area runs underground, through the limestone and bubbles into the second spring area, which is called the Boil. The Boil is not warm as you might think by the name. The third spring area the called The Final Sink. I won't ruin the experience and go into great detail, but each spring is amazing and has it's own story posted along the way. There are benches along the path too, so plan to stop and rest and enjoy the scenery. read more

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I was eager to stop by this little park to check out the trails! Unfortunately it is only open from 1-5pm on Sundays, but there is plenty of free parking available. The main loop is under a mile long and great for a quick afternoon walk. Parts of the trail are paved, while other sections are just leaves and dirt. The location is convenient, but I probably wouldn't bother going here if you have a long commute. Peaceful and scenic though! read more

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As I drove toward downtown Lexington, I was surprised by the location of McConnell Springs but pleased that it was so easy to find. I went on a Friday afternoon and had the place mostly to myself. The walking trails wind back into the woods. They are mostly paved and go over several cute bridges. Benches line the trail. It seems very well maintained. The springs are interesting to look at and sitting on a bench looking at them became meditative. A great place for somewhere to clear your head or take a romantic walk with a significant other. It also looked like a nice spot for a picnic. The trails were not strenuous and could be easily managed by anyone. I was happy to notice while I was leaving that it's very close to the Distillery District on Manchester Street so lunch and a drink at Ethereal combined with a walk at McConnell Springs may be in my future. read more

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This is a great place to bring kids to run/walk off some energy. It usually takes my son and I 20-30 minutes to finish the loop. There cool places to venture off and see the springs, and nice trails. read more

A beautiful little oasis in Lexington. Great for a pandemic picnic spot. It would be nicer if they cleaned the picnic tables a bit more but I'm guessing that they are short staffed due to Covid. Lovely trees with plenty of birds and relatively quiet. Close enough to downtown to get your take out and bring it here. read more

So you have to get in your car to drive here but it's worth the trip. They have a great education center and covered picnic tables. There are paved & dirt walking paths that are easy for everyone, including those with disabilities. They host special events and upon request will host an educational event for you. I have attended Halloween events, Founder's Day and Cub Scout programs here several times. We always enjoyed our visits and will definitely be back! read more

McConnell Springs - Spring Break Bird Watching Class - Parks Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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I went here this time last year and again yesterday. It was a beautiful day and I wanted to take my niece and nephew on a little hike outside to enjoy the weather. They always have a blast here, will continue to go back. They have a schedule of monthly events as well. read more

I went pre Covid and absolutely loved this place. It is super gorgeous and great for all ages. Does require a bit of walking so be prepared. If bringing smaller kids a stroller isn't accessible everywhere so I'd bring a carrier. read more

Absolutely stunning! Such an incredible experience for any age! Not only was it breathtakingly beautiful, there were also signs explaining the history as well as the science behind the sights. Definitely worth your time! read more

McConnell Springs - Parks Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

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The park is cool that it is right in town and have paved walking trail. Gave it only 4 stars because you cannot have dogs and the parking lot is gated. Park opened at 1 pm on Sunday which thought was pretty late opening time. It's a little hard to fully enjoy nature always hearing road traffic and sirens the entire time. Do love the green space area in city. Very short more geared a leisurely stroll not for serious hiking. read more

McConnell Springs - Can spot the deer? - Parks Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

A true diamond in the rough. This hidden forest in the middle of an urban city is magical. Easy walking trails, good picnic spots, animal sightings, and historic facts along the way. Really loved this place, so tranquil in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of the city near by. read more

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It's beautiful, free, and right in town. I can't see how this place doesn't deserve 5 stars. This beautiful hidden gem boasts an impressive education center and great trails with signs to learn things along the way. It is very educational for children and beautiful for the adults. The trails aren't super long, so I wouldn't make a long trip here just to see this place, but it's definitely worth it if you are in town. read more

How have I gone so long not realizing what this amazing place is?! This place is a 5-10 minute drive to downtown or campus but you feel like you are in the middle nowhere! I love it. The grounds a very well kept and it is just simply beautiful. You can easily walk the entire sanctuary in an hour or less. Also we brought our goddaughter in her stroller and it was pretty easy to get around, there were a couple areas we had to work around. read more

The trai here is GREAT for families with young children and it definitely feels like an oasis of nature in the midst of industry. I do wish they had restrooms on the outside of the building that could be available when the visitors center is closed. For example, on Sundays, they don't open until 1:00 and my family went walking there about 11:30. By the time we were done, pregnant me and my potty-training son would have LOVED access to a restroom, but no such luck. The visitors center has some interesting things, but could certainly be added to as well. All in all, a really nice place for a family walk. read more

A nice spot in Lexington for something to do for an hour or two maybe. It's not a very large park and it was annoying to still hear cars driving so ehhh on the relaxing unplugging deal, unless your cool with cars zooming around while trying to get away from that! The blue pool was cool to see right here in lex. The kids enjoyed exploring and making caterpillar friends! It still made for a fun thing to do with them. Driving through the industrial park was not appealing and made me question how secluded it would be, which I found out it really isn't. But hey oh well it's still here in lex so at least go check it out! read more

What a beautiful spot nestled away!!! Very relaxing and not overwhelming at all like some other parks with trails. We experienced so much nature and it's inhabitants. So many turtles and frogs in the water sources. We also encountered a red fox who had just caught his dinner for the evening. I highly recommend to all who have never been. read more