My Visit to Kentucky’s Iconic Walkway Connecting Two States: Big Four Bridge

There's no place like my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. It's the only home of the Kentucky Derby, Louisville Slugger baseball bats, and "the Greatest" Muhammad Ali. I love visiting sites around Louisville that you can't find anywhere else. They are great reminders of what makes the city special. One of my favorite unique spots is the Big Four Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that spans the Ohio River from Louisville's Waterfront Park to Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Louisville's winter days can often be a little dull and grey, so when the skies are blue, I head outside. One beautiful but chilly December afternoon, I decided I'd enjoy the sunshine on the Big Four Bridge. I parked in one of Waterfront Park's designated parking lots, grabbed my heavy winter coat and favorite gloves, and took off up the elliptical ramp. The 0.25-mile circular ramp winds up to the bridge, and as you climb higher and higher, the views only become better. I enjoyed seeing all of Louisville's bridges in a row across the Ohio River, as well as the downtown skyline. I could even see planes descending across the blue sky to land in the city.

As I reached the pedestrian bridge, I noted bright yellow signs reminding bikers to pass walkers slowly and that pets are not allowed. The bridge's dark brown trestles were beautiful, and I loved studying their architecture as I crossed the bridge. Several benches along the bridge allowed walkers to sit and enjoy the view.

Signs sharing the bridge's history were posted along its 0.5-mile length. The bridge was built in 1895 for freight and passenger trains to pass between Louisville and Southern Indiana. In 1969, the city decommissioned the rail bridge, which was unused until 2013, when it became the Big Four pedestrian bridge. In 2014, Jeffersonville completed a ramp on its side of the bridge, allowing walkers and bikers to travel from Waterfront Park to Jeffersonville. An estimated 1.5 million walkers and bikers travel across the bridge annually.

When I visited the bridge that December afternoon, it wasn't crowded, but there were people there. Couples strolled along it, and one young girl marveled at the views. Warmer months often bring bigger crowds to the Big Four Bridge, but I highly recommend visiting throughout the year.

The bridge is a great spot to watch the sunset over Louisville. It also has an amazing LED lighting system that visitors can enjoy at night. Through Waterfront Park's website, people can request special lighting for an event or charitable cause.

For more information, visit the Big Four Bridge website.

Fantastic Louisville attractions and restaurants are near the Big Four Bridge. Waterfront Botanical Gardens is a stunning 23-acre botanical garden with waterfalls and plants. The Heigold House Facade is an unusual roadside attraction nearby. There are also fantastic restaurants along Louisville's waterfront, including River House Restaurant and Raw Bar. If you're interested in planning a getaway to Louisville, consider booking a stay at the luxurious Omni Hotel on South 2nd Street.