Louisville has an impressive park system. Incredibly, 18 of the city’s parks were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the famous father of landscape architecture, who also designed Central Park in New York City. Cherokee Park, a 409-acre park in the heart of Louisville, was designed by Olmsted in 1891. Cherokee Park is known for its fantastic trails, but its scenic loop is my favorite. One sunny and warm summer morning, I set out to conquer the 2.3-mile paved trail in Louisville.

The Cherokee Park Scenic Loop is a two-lane paved path that snakes through many areas of the park.

The loop's right lane is a one-way road for vehicles, while the left lane is for recreational users, like walkers and runners. I wanted to enjoy the views but also get some exercise, so I decided to briskly walk the loop.

With earbuds in and a podcast playing, I hit the trail.

Because cars occasionally ride down the right lane, I stayed to the leftmost side of the left lane, walking right along the tree line. I immediately noticed the enormous number of thriving trees along the trail.

Their bright green leaves filtered the hot sun rays, providing much-appreciated shade.

Many parts of the trail were almost completely shaded; the dappled light moved as the wind blew the tree branches. It was so beautiful and relaxing!

Not long after starting the loop, I came upon a construction site and realized that part of the path was closed.

Crews are replacing a bridge along the route. Fortunately, a gravel path created a detour, and after following it, I was back on the original scenic loop after a few minutes.

I passed all kinds of travelers along the scenic loop. There were runners, solo walkers, dog walkers, bikers, and skateboarders. The scenic loop was an active and lively trail but was not crowded.

A large open field, known as Frisbee or Rugby Field, is along the loop. Although no one was playing the morning I walked by, the field is a popular place for—you guessed it—locals who like to play frisbee and rugby.

Although the paved trail is rated easy by AllTrails, it has extended hills.

One hill takes walkers along the Cherokee Golf Course. I enjoyed seeing golfers in their carts and looking at the landscaped course.

At the top of one of the hills, Baringer Hill, walkers are rewarded with stunning views of bright green landscapes.

I made a mental note to come back and see the view when the leaves start changing in the fall! A playground and gazebo near this hilltop make it a beautiful and fun place to hang out if you have the time.

All along the scenic loop, there are places to go "off-loop" and explore new areas of the park.

I have yet to take all of these paths, but I look forward to doing so one day!

I finished the loop in about 50 minutes. Although I felt physically tired, I felt mentally refreshed. Trees and fresh air often have that effect on me!

Have you completed the Cherokee Park Scenic Loop in Louisville? What is your favorite paved trail in Louisville?

Check out the city's Cherokee Park website for more information.

Did you know that Olmsted designed three of Louisville's major parks? In addition to Cherokee Park, Olmsted designed Shawnee Park and Iroquois Park.

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