CYCLING CAPITAL OF KENTUCKY®

WELCOME TO THE CYCLING CAPITAL OF KENTUCKY®

Cyclists will discover opportunities to ride throughout London-Laurel County and surrounding areas in eastern Kentucky.

Welcome to the Official Cycling Guide to London, Kentucky. The Cycling Capital of Kentucky ® boasts some of the most scenic and challenging routes you will find anywhere in the country. London-Laurel county and surrounding areas include a collection of cycling routes for rural roads, gravel, and biking trails for cyclists of all skill levels. 

 

The Redbud Ride is an annual bicycle ride hosted by London Downtown, that starts in beautiful downtown London, KY and stretches throughout the surrounding areas. This ride is a must- do for cycling enthusiasts, professionals, century riders and amateurs alike. You may choose from 4 routes that passes some of the most beautiful scenery in southeastern Kentucky on rural roads filled with blooming redbud trees.

Laurel River Lake
STNRT Section 26

Mountain Bike Trail
laurel lake trail mt bike
Download Laurel River Lake GPS 

 

Considered by cycling enthusiasts to be one of the greatest trails in the state, singletracks.com ranks it top 10 mountain bike trails Kentucky. The Laurel Lake Trail system features single-track through a variety of pine and hardwood forests. Yet for all its love, the trail is impressively uncrowded. There are multiple places to enter the trail which basically follows the edge of the lake for  out and back of 8 miles. “One of the best places that I’ve had the chance to ride in Kentucky”-Kentucky Cycling

The Broken Spoke
Levi Jackson Park

Mountain Bike Trail
Broken Spoke trail
Download Broken Spoke GPS

 

Home to Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, the Broken Spoke is a 5.5 mile loop that winds up and down through the woods around the London-Laurel County Fairgrounds. The trail is designed for both mountain bikers and hikers.  There are tons of turn and technical features with rooty sections, rock sections.  The trail ends with a half mile of switchbacks climbing back up to the parking lot.

National Bike Route 21

Rural Roads
Us 21
Download US Bike Route 21

 

Laurel County is one of several counties in Kentucky that call U.S. Bike Routes 21 home. The Daniel Boone Bike Route starts in Atlanta, Ga., and ends in Cleveland, Ohio, but London, KY is now anticipates a boost in its economy as more cyclists will be attracted to riding in the footsteps of Daniel Boone. The bicycling tourism industry is over an $8 billion dollar revenue potential, and the average cyclist that rides 500 miles will actually spend about $600 every eight days. Accommodations and restaurants are primed and ready in London, better known as the “Cycling capital of Kentucky.

Cane Creek
WMA

Gravel Roads
cane creek wma bikes
Download Cane Creek WMA

 

Southwest of London, KY, you’ll find an area in the vicinity of Cane Creek WMA that offers a plethora of gravel roads. The Cane Creek Wildlife Management Area is cooperatively managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to provide sustainable populations of game and nongame wildlife species. Enjoy a hilly route on relatively well-maintained forest roads, 27 miles of gravel roads preview your ride with Kentucky Cycling.

Redbud Ride Yellow Route
23 Miles

Rural Roads
Redbud Yellow

Download Yellow Route GPX

 

The 24-mile Yellow Route is shortest of the four routes on the Redbud Ride starts and ends Downtown London. The route for the Redbud Ride passes some of the most beautiful scenery in Kentucky, filled with blooming redbud trees! This ride is a must-do for cycling enthusiasts, professionals and amateurs alike.It is mostly flat and very scenic as you see farmland and beautiful country side filled with Redbud trees.

Redbud Ride Orange Route
34 Miles

Rural Roads
Redbud yellow (1)

Download Orange Route GPS

 

The 34-mile Orange Route is fairly easy and very scenic. The route has a couple short but steep hills. The longest hill is only 0.25 mile long. All of the Orange Route is on country roads.

Redbud Ride Green Route
72 Miles

Rural Roads
Redbud green

Download Green Route GPS

 

This 72 mile is an intermediate route with lots of short hills mixed with flats. This metric century is very scenic full of beautiful trees. The Redbud Ride Green and Red routes ride together for up to 70 miles before the split, so its great option for cycling teams or couples that have different mileage goals.

Redbud Ride Red Route
100 Miles

Rural Roads
Redbud red

Download Red Route GPS

The 100-mile Red Route is challenging but extremely scenic. The Century 100-Mile Route was recognized by Active.com as “Best Century Ride” in 2011. It is also home to the Famous Tussy Hill. It is by far one of the most scenic views in Kentucky as you cycle through Laurel, Rockcastle and Jackson counties.

Honey Bun Route
23 Miles

Rural Roads
Fall Ride picture

Download 23 Mile Route GPS

 

The 23-mile Route is shortest of the three routes on the Honey Bun Day Ride. starts and ends Downtown London. The route for the Redbud Ride passes some of the most beautiful scenery in Kentucky. This ride is a must-do for cycling enthusiasts, professionals and amateurs alike. It is mostly flat and very scenic as you see farmland and beautiful country side views covered with vibrant fall colors.

Honey Bun Route
46 Miles

Rural Roads
fall photo pt 2

Download 46 Mile Route

 

The 46-mile Honey Bun Day Route is fairly easy and very scenic. The route has a couple short but steep hills. The longest hill is only 0.25 mile long. All of this Honey Bun Route is on country roads where you’ll find beautiful fall views throughout the whole ride.

Honey Bun Route
62 Miles

Rural Roads
fall photo 4

Download 63 Mile Route

 

This 62 mile ride is an intermediate route with lots of short hills mixed with flats. This metric century is very scenic full of beautiful trees for the best fall views.

Camp Wildcat Gravel Adventure

Gravel
Camp Wildcat gravel (1)

Download Camp Wildcat Gravel GPS

 

Experience a mix surface Camp Wildcat gravel adventure ride, estimated about 16 miles, on the historical Wilderness Road, starting from Camp Wildcat Battlefield Monument, in Laurel County. The route is best described as a rocky, sandy rollercoaster.

Whitley Gravel
Mix Route

Gravel Mix
whitley gravel

Download Whitley Gravel Route GPS

 

Join us for a multi-surface ride that is over 50% gravel. Starting at Laurel River Lake Dam and head south into Whitley County, in the Daniel Boone National Forest. The route closely resembles the bottom of Boondoggle Bike Events’ “Forty 5” route. Beautiful area!

S-Tree Figure 8
Gravel 

Gravel
stree

Download S-Tree Figure 8 Gravel-GPS

 

Our friends in Jackson county Kentucky also shares The Daniel Boone National Forest. It has lots of gravel forest roads in the vicinity of McKee, KY at S-Tree Figure 8.

Mt. Victory Gravel
Bear Creek Falls

Gravel
bear creek

Download Mt. Victory Gravel GPX

 

The Daniel Boone National Forest has a plethora of gravel forest roads in the vicinity of Mt. Victory, KY. This route includes a view of the Rockcastle River. This Pulaski County route is all gravel with multiple creek crossings on Bear Creek Rd. Hike down and see the natural bridge and Bear Creek Falls.

Boonedoggle Events

Events
Boonedoggle events header

Boonedoggle Events 

 

Boondoggle Events was established in the Fall of 2017 recognizing that southeastern Kentucky has amazing trails and gravel roads that was unnoticed by state and regional riders. Boonedoggle Events wanted to emphasize the reason we all started riding for FUN in an affordable way to compete in races, regardless if you are a beginner or a veteran rider.  Boondoggle Events has low entry fees to be the most cost effective race prices in the country. We strip away the fluff and stick with the good stuff. Amazing courses with great camaraderie of fellow riders.

Capital Bicycles
Custom Design

Custom Made Bikes
Capital bicycles header

Capital Bicycles Webpage

 

The Capitol Performance Bicycle Company produces hand made, bespoke bicycle frames, unique to each cycling client. Based in the heart of London, Kentucky, Capitol Bicycles is not limited by physical location, having shipped frames and complete bicycles both within the USA and abroad. By using the client’s actual body measurements to determine the starting point, the custom frame sizing is designed specifically for each individual’s exact requirements.  Materials, tube lengths and angles are adjusted to craft the signature “One of One” bicycles.

Cumberland Valley Club

Cycling Club
CVCC

Cumberland Valley Cycling Club

 

Come ride with us! Cumberland Valley Cycling Club supports cyclists southern and eastern Kentucky cyclists.

Bike Walk
Kentucky

Cycling Resources
bike walk ky

Cycling Resources

 

Our mission is to educate and advocate for safe bicycling and walking across Kentucky. We envision a healthy and active Kentucky in which cycling and walking are safe, accessible and welcoming to all, without regard to ability or income through development of bicycle facilities, multi-use paths and trails. Bike Walk Kentucky is guided by its strategic plan. Kentuckians from throughout the commonwealth came together to develop this plan between 2018 and 2020. They represented a diverse group of sectors and abilities, including tourism professionals, accessibility advocates, government officials, hikers, and cyclists, to name a few.