Nashville, TN is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking an unforgettable hiking experience. With its impressive Greenways system, which offers a network of more than 100 parks and green spaces across the city, there are plenty of trails to explore. Beaman Park is one of the highlights of this system, with its 2,371-acre park on the northwest side of the city. Here, you can find shaded areas with waterfalls, wildflowers, elevation changes, and a network of intersecting trails, including loops and exits.
The Henry Hollow Loop Trail is a great option for those looking for an easy hike, with its 2.2-mile loop that can be accessed from three different starting points and parking lots in Beaman Park. For those looking for a longer hike, you can connect to the Ridgetop Trail for a total of five miles. Edwin Warner and Percy Warner parks are also great options for hikers in Nashville. Combined, these two parks are the largest parks in Nashville and house an equestrian center, a model aircraft field and a hiking trail system that began with the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s. The Harpeth Woods Trail is a good 2.5-mile option for an easy hike.
For those looking for something more challenging, there are 12 miles of unpaved trails and 12 miles of paved trails to explore. For those looking for an even more unique experience, Rock Island State Park is located an hour and a half from downtown Nashville and is situated in the Caney Fork Gorge area. This natural park has an incredible 17 kilometers of trails (including horse trails) that wind around several beautiful ponds and lakes, through pine forests and hardwoods and along a beautiful bubbling stream. The Gorge Overlook Trail is a 1.2-mile option that offers views of the 256-foot waterfalls, which are one of the highest in the eastern half of the United States. It's also a great place to take a short walk to the falls in the morning and then spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking or fishing. South Cumberland State Park is another great place to go hiking in Nashville.
This huge 30,845-acre park is located in four different counties and offers a variety of different hikes, from quick and easy options to longer night walks. The longest walk in the park is the moderate Volunteer Route, which is 5.5 miles one-way and is particularly beautiful in spring when wildflowers bloom. If you're looking for an even less crowded experience, Beaman Park's ring road offers a short but steep climb to the cliffs that surround the lake. Once you've gone to Pattison Forge, return to the beginning of the trail and head in the opposite direction (don't worry, there's a sign to guide you) to Bluff Overlook. This is an especially good hike in the summer months because it's shaded and generally there's a nice breeze coming from the lake. No matter what kind of hiking experience you're looking for in Nashville, TN there's something for everyone! From easy hikes to more challenging ones with stunning views, you're sure to find something that suits your needs.
