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    Pinnacles Hiking Trails

    4.6 (36 reviews)

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    Allison F.

    Some marketing materials will tell you that The Pinnacles is worth checking out because of the smaller crowds (compared to Red River Gorge). My marketing pitch is that The Pinnacles will offer you fabulous views of the landscape around you. My husband, dogs, and I spent a fantastic day hiking the various trails, and I'm grateful we had this option in the Berea area. Go see it for yourself!

    Eagles Nest
    Stephanie G.

    I enjoyed my first experience hiking at the pinnacles. We hiked to Indian Fort Lookout and Eagles Nest, which overall was about 3.5 miles. Such beautiful scenery along the way and an awesome view from the top! I will say that it was a very challenging hike for me and I was a little scared at two areas that were pretty steep. But I'm glad I did it...the views were worth it!

    Amanda S.

    The Pinnacles in Berea are a great local place to spend some time in nature on a pretty KY day. The trails here are pretty easy to follow and lead you to some absolutely astounding views. Although I have seen families with kids here, I'd be cautious to bring any because there are a lot of places with sharp drop offs. The Pinnacles is a popular place and the trails can get a little congested during nice weather! They welcome pets so bring Fido & some extra water :) I've hiked here in the late fall and early spring...would love to come when flowers are in full bloom or when leaves are just starting to change!

    Benjamin C.

    Trails were all extremely well marked, well maintained, and the views were wonderful. Just a short drive from downtown Berea too, so it's easy to access. Quite possibly my favorite place to hike in Kentucky.

    One fall tree in there
    Kevin J.

    I wanted to get some nature in on the tail end of my road trip to New Orleans and back and the Pinnacles fit the bill. I just did the two shortest excursions, Eagles Nest, a nice overview of surrounding valleys from a peak with some big flat rocks good for chilling on, and Devils Kitchen, some spooky hallows among the large stone formations underneath that are propping up Eagles Nest. Most of the trail heading up was at a fairly gentle grade but then it got fairly steep for the last leg. (There were lots of rocks and tree roots that helped, though.) I knew this beforehand from the friendly park ranger when I stopped in the office to use the bathroom. I'm trying to remember if there was a donation box in there and if I showed them a little love. I really ought to have; this is a marvelous free resource. I arrived a little early for fall color season, and I missed the borrow-a-walking-stick box when I entered, but maybe if I find myself back in this neck of the woods. I wouldn't mind doing some of the longer hikes here. It was mostly chill on the trails on an October weekday with a few small groups and one big one, apparently a school field trip. They were well behaved, and when they reached Eagles Nest behind me the first thing their teacher did was instruct them to stay silent and listen for a couple minutes. Good cue for me to split! Nothing against them but I already did my time with a large tour group back at Mammoth Cave, so this was my spot for solo nature time.

    Indian mountain overlook
    Shana M.

    Some pretty overlooks, Indian mountain is a hard to moderate climb depending on skill level and the east pinnacles are the prettiest. Lots of options for different routes to take.

    J F.

    Gorgeous views from the East Pinnacle. Definitely recommend. Once you make it to the top, you can look out and see beautiful Kentucky for miles. I went here as a kid, and it's even better going back as an adult. Bring plenty of water and a backpack if you go during the summer.

    Indian Fort Lookout -Fall
    Kacey H.

    I have been to the Pinnacles many times and in every season even in the Snow! (favorite time to go btw) If you like hiking and like a good overlook Indian fort lookout is like no other. Over the years the trail has gotten more crowded but we tend to go early in the morning or in the winter months so that there isn't as much foot traffic. If you are there on a day when there is a lot of foot traffic people tend to be courteous and polite. No matter what the condition or the season the view will not disappoint.

    Morgan C.

    Before COVID-19 shut down everything we loved in nature, I finally indulged my wanderlust on a trip to the Berea College Pinnacles! Little did I realize, I'd been going there my whole life with my mom and sister for the Arts & Crafts Festival at Indian Fort Theatre. (We stopped going when they moved it downtown.) This was still a first, however, because I'd never ventured up beyond the amphitheater, and boy, was it a HIKE! My Netflix legs were definitely feeling it the next day, and we ended up hiking almost every trail available, a little over 5 miles. The highlights were Devil's Kitchen, Buzzard's Roost, and Eagle's Nest. While these trails don't have my favorite features (water), the VIEWS definitely make up for it! There is ample parking and a brand new visitor's center, plus these trails are dog-friendly, so combined with the beautiful drive, I'd say this is one of the best hiking destinations in Central Kentucky!

    A view from the trail to East Pinnacle
    Shannon C.

    Wow! What a beautiful example of Appalachian foothills! The Pinnacles hiking trails are awesome. They deserve 5 stars in my book for being one of the best hikes I've found within 2 hours of Cincinnati. It doesn't quite scratch my itch for going to the mountains, but it comes about the closest of anything I've found within a two-hour drive from home. And the views of the surrounding valleys really are beautiful. I can't wait to come back in the summer, or maybe sometime this winter if snows/frosts in the area. My boyfriend and I hiked most of the park in one afternoon with our puppy. We didn't go to the West Pinnacle so that leaves something new for next time, and we also skipped the Eagle's Nest. We hiked to the Indian Fort Lookout, Devils Kitchen, and Buzzards' Roost. We almost skipped heading out to the East Pinnacle, but some other hikers told us it was more than worth the 0.4 miles out to it from where we met them, and they were absolutely right. East Pinnacle was my favorite view of the afternoon. Overall, I think we hiked about 6 miles looping around everywhere and had a great time. I can't wait to check it out again and see how the view at West Pinnacle compares. We have been looking for places with more extensive trails and while no individual point was very far out (by our standards) we were able to get in a very satisfying hike. We will definitely be back to this place!

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    4 years ago

    Beautiful scenery and very well maintained trails, but if you're out of shape, you will die.

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    10 years ago

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    6 years ago

    GREAT trails!!!!! I would recommend them more but then they would be waaaaaaaay more crowded.

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    9 years ago

    Abundance of beautiful nature! Close enough to town, but near enough to country to get away

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    9 years ago

    Takes a couple hours to get to both peaks with nice views of the flatlands to the west or mountains to the east including Owsley Fork

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    Ask the Community - Pinnacles Hiking Trails

    Review Highlights - Pinnacles Hiking Trails

    . We almost skipped heading out to the East Pinnacle, but some other hikers told us it was more than worth the 0

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    Legacy Trail

    Legacy Trail

    (8 reviews)

    If you're looking for a place to bike or run, walk. The legacy trail is the perfect spot. We enjoy…read morecoming to run, walk it's very peaceful and they have beautiful trees along the trail. They also have a dog park nearby if you want to take your boys out. I like how they have markers for the miles you've done it helps me stay on pace.

    This greenway trail seems like what I've been looking for. Lexington is notable for having a…read morerelative lack of urban sprawl, with zoning laws ensuring that much of the city is surrounded by rolling hills covered with farms. The outskirts of the city are very pretty to drive through, but you can't really do much as the farms are privately owned and there isn't much in the way of parks or trails. Enter this paved pathway, which runs from the city proper out to the horse center. It seems geared towards bikers, which I am not, but there was certainly space for pedestrians and I saw a few others. I visited a section that ran by some university-owned test farms, and got a treat with nice views, ample songbirds, and peace and quiet. I did get mobbed by some sort of fly as it got dark; though it did not seem to be of any biting or stinging variety you definitely want to consider repellent, along with something for pollen allergies and some sunscreen. The entire length of the trail is farther than I could walk on one night, but I suspect it will be well worth exploring, as this is exactly the sort of thing Lexington needs.

    Lower Howard's Creek Nature Preserve - Fall view at Lower Howard's Creek Nature Preserve

    Lower Howard's Creek Nature Preserve

    (3 reviews)

    I must write a review of the area and the beginning of the trail to alert future hikers that it is…read moretemporarily closed due to abuse, vandalism/garbage. People were loud and using the creek as a pool, spray painting and damaging the trail/trashing the area. So, if you are headed down to hike on the John Holder Trail, as we were, you will find it closed. The area itself is lovely. Hall's on the River is great (and open during Covid), you can still canoe on the river, and the fort is close by and well worth a visit.

    It was too beautiful of a day in February to not try to get in a hike. Decided to head out on the…read moreJohn Holder Trail. The trails were pretty muddy after the snow melt but it was worth it. I would rate it a moderately easy there and back trail but with some beautiful views of the Lower Howard River. Total round trip is just under 3 miles. There is a point that you do cross the river so make sure you have either waterproof hiking boots or the river is low enough to get across. Please don't try to cross if it is deep or flowing fast. Nobody wants to get hurt or wet. There are some elevation changes and several historical sites. For this hike there was a lot of pretty ice hanging off the cliffs. There is a waterfall but that's off property so you shouldn't hike there. And after a day of hiking you can get soon food at Halls On The River and enjoy the scenery from there. As for parking, I usually park across the street from Halls but there is parking behind Halls too.

    Pinnacles Hiking Trails - hiking - Updated May 2026

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