Rabbit Run Park Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This loop uses part of Dardenne Greenway Trail and Mayfield Rd to create an easy, 1-mile loop through Rabbit Run Park and its forested swamp area. The trail is completely paved. You'll see some wildlife and can take advantage of a playground, baseball diamond, or basketball court while you're there.

The pavilion has nice, newer restrooms and a water fountain. The park does flood and will be closed sometimes in the spring.

Park in the parking lot across from the pavilion and start into the wooded area. You'll follow the creek off and on throughout. It's in this section that you may see reptiles, amphibians, or deer. Take a left at the first fork, which will eventually lead you into the open.

As you leave the shade, you'll keep left at another fork. The creek will reappear on your left and a prairie will be on your right.

There are two options to return to the parking lot. One is a jaunt to the left that brings you to another small parking lot on Mayfield Rd. If you miss this first option, there will be a small dirt path on your left that reconnects slightly further down the trail.

Follow Mayfield Rd. north until you reach the pavilion and the parking lot.

Taking different forks can lead to many different parts of the city via the other portions of Dardenne Greenway Trail.

Flora: boxelder maple trees, pin oak, eastern sycamore, spicebush, witchhazel, sugar maple, eastern redbud, gray dogwood, blackgum.

Fauna: white-tailed deer, wild turkey, otter, muskrat, opossum, raccoon, great horned owl, grater snake, black rat snake, northern water snake, prarie king snake, red-tailed hawk, barred owl, Canada geese, great egret, blue heron, mallard duck, indigo bunting, cardinal, bluebird, goldfinch.