September 3: Mayor’s Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike and Paddle

The Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle is a twice annual event held every Memorial & Labor Day. Thousands of participants flock to Waterfront Park to enjoy a morning full of fun. Bring the entire family for this free, healthy community event. Various fitness demonstrations start the day including yoga, tai chi and zumba. There are numerous vendor booths available for information and giveaways. After all of that, take your pick from a 5k hike, 12.5-mile bike ride or a paddle on the Ohio River. This event is not a race. It is open to participants of all levels and we encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the festivities!

Free t-shirt while supplies last. Go Green! Bring your own water bottles! Fill stations are available at Waterfront Park.

Bike Route

The scenic 15-mile bike route will travel south from Waterfront Park, to Iroquois Park and back to the Great Lawn. Turnoffs will provide options for cycling routes as short as two miles.

Both the cycling and walking routes will be marked with signage and will have water stops at the halfway points to refill water bottles. The Louisville Bicycle Club and Scheller’s Fitness and Cycle are providing “bike captains” to help cyclists obey the rules of the road.

“Bike doctors” will be in Waterfront Park before the ride and along the route to assist cyclists with any equipment problems. Louisville Metro Police will provide traffic assistance at key intersections, and the Louisville Metro EMS bicycle team will patrol the route. All cyclists are asked to remain behind the lead Police vehicles.

The Brain Injury Association will be on hand to distribute 500 free helmets to riders. View safety instructions here

Hike Route

This year the hike route will offer three different options to suit your hiking needs!

One route will showcase the river as walkers travel across the Big Four Bridge to Indiana and back. The route is wheelchair and stroller-accessible.

Dogs are not permitted on the Big Four Bridge, so the second option will take those with animals around the Louisville Community Boathouse.

A shortened version of this route will allow hikers to walk from the Great Lawn to the Big Four Bridge and turn around and head back to the Great Lawn.

Paddle Route

Paddlers will begin their adventurous five-mile course at 10 a.m. taking their canoes and kayaks through the McAlpine Locks and Dam to the Jaycees Boat Ramp in New Albany. TARC will offer a shuttle service for paddlers to retrieve their vehicles at the launch site.

This year, patrons will have the opportunity to try their hand at stand-up paddle boarding provided by Kentucky Paddleboarding LLC until 1 p.m.

Kayak rentals will be available on site or you can rent ahead of time online.

Subway Fresh Fit Hike, Bike & Paddle Paddlers can enter from the Harbor Lawn in Waterfront Park, but are encouraged to enter from the University of Louisville Rowing Center/ Louisville Community Boathouse off River Road and paddle towards the start at the Harbor Lawn. Parking will be available at the Louisville Community Boathouse and volunteers will be on-site to assist paddlers at both of these locations.

Paddling participants will launch their canoes or kayaks at the river ramp located at the Harbor Lawn of Waterfront Park. Paddlers can drop their boats off at the “Green” parking lot off Witherspoon St near Slugger Field or off of River Road at the University of Louisville Rowing Center located at 1321 River Rd from 7:30-9:30 a.m.

Police and safety boats will be nearby during the paddling activity, and participants can get assistance if needed in launching their canoe or kayak. Safe paddling instruction and demonstrations will take place in the harbor area of the Great Lawn.

*This is not a race, but participants must adhere to time constraints in order to complete the route.

• 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Boat Drop Off/Paddlers Put In – At the Harbor Lawn at the water’s edge next to Great Lawn
• 10:00 a.m. – Paddlers start at Harbor Lawn
• 10:30 a.m. – Paddlers must pass 2nd Street Bridge
• 10:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. – Enter Portland Canal
• 11:45 a.m. – McAlpine Locks close
• 12:30 p.m. – TARC Bus shuttle available at New Albany Jaycee Boat Ramp
• TARC drop off at E. Witherspoon Street in front of the Great Lawn and the Community Boathouse ONLY

Download Mayor’s Press Release