Ohio River Walking Trail
The walkway along the Ohio Riverfront remains one of Madison’s greatest places to walk. It is a fully brick-paved pathway with plenty of parking along the way. It stretches about one mile from one end to the other. Two lookout points are located along the route for a better view. Parks, playgrounds, benches, and shelters with picnic tables can all be found along the riverfront, too. Connected to the path is the Harlan & Anna Hubbard Walkway across the Milton- Madison Bridge. It leads to Kentucky and back in about a mile. It is also fully accessible.
Heritage Trail Beginning
This 1.25 mile paved and natural surface pathway is great for jogging, walking, biking, hiking. Heritage Trail connects downtown with the hilltop and overlooks the Ohio River. No motorized vehicles permitted. The trail begins at the corner of Vaughn Dr. and Vernon St. It follows along the train tracks until it breaks away to a paved path to go up the hill. At the very top of the hill, walk along the road to see the historic Madison State Hospital and a grand view of the river.
Hatcher Hill Trail
This fully paved trail is .75 miles long. Similar to Heritage Trail, it meanders up a hill through the woods of Madison. This trail also connects downtown with the hilltop, finishing in a neighborhood. Golf carts permitted.Parking for this trail is located at 1215 Walnut St, on the north side of downtown Madison. To get to this section of Walnut St, you will have to go on 421 and turn into the street with the mechanic garage. After turning, follow the road north to the parking area. The trail entrance is at the top of Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, just north of the parking area.
Clifty Falls State Park Entrance
Whether you are an avid wildlife watcher, hiker, or simply enjoy the great outdoors, this magnificent park has something for everyone. This includes ten hiking trails and four major waterfalls. These trails range from easy to moderate to very rugged.Each trail has their difficulty listed as well as their length in miles in the Clifty Falls State Park Map. The longest trail is 4.5 miles one way and the shortest trail is .75 miles one way. Be sure to pick up a Clifty Falls State Park Map in the Visitor’s Center or at one of the park entrances.One trail even features a man-made tunnel that visitors can walk through. It was originally being carved out for the Madison- Indianapolis Railroad. Some trails include walkways, stairs, and lookout points that offer amazing views of the park.
