With artistic sprinklers and water fountains, shady benches perfect for taking a load off, and large, open fields where visitors can sunbathe, Cherokee Park is ideal for all types of outdoors-y visitors. This lush, green park is more spacious than most, and it even contains paved hiking trails that wind their way through the park’s thick forests.

Bring your family or your friends from Avana Southgate to set out on a nature hike at this natural area, which contains a 2.4-mile scenic loop. Climb to the top of the park’s large hills to take in the incredible views, or even hop on your bike and spend the afternoon pedaling around the bike-friendly trails. Cherokee Park also contains a members-only dog park that is a great option for anyone who owns a dog in the city.

Cherokee Park
Willow Avenue and Cherokee Parkway
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 458-9450
www.yelp.com/biz/cherokee-park-louisville-2

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Chocolate Geek

Louisville's Cherokee Park is a 389-acre urban gem featuring a 2.4-mile scenic loop for walkers and cyclists amid grassy meadows, wooded areas, and rolling hills—all within a stone's throw of downtown. You'll also find more rugged trails suitable for horseback riding and mountain biking, as well as several smaller walking paths. Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the tennis courts, soccer field, and archery range, while bird lovers will want to spend time at the Nettleroth Bird Sanctuary.

You'll find picnic tables and grills scattered throughout the park so that everyone can take a relaxing break from their activities and enjoy a meal together. Louisville residents take pride in the fact that Cherokee Park was designed by the internationally-known landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed New York City's Central Park.

Cherokee Park is open dawn to dusk daily.

Cherokee Park
Willow Avenue and Cherokee Parkway
Louisville, KY 40205
(502) 458-9450
www.louisvilleky.gov/metroparks/parks/cherokee
www.yelp.com/biz/cherokee-park-louisville-2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/T.Kiya