It’s that time of year again, folks. Time to grab the old hiking boots off of the top shelf of the hall closet, dust them off, and start putting them to good use now that the weather is finally warming up. Luckily, Nashville is in a beautiful part of the world, so you don’t have to go far to experience some serious world-class hiking. We’ve put together a list for your spring bucket list, but you can use this as a springboard to get out there and see the best hikes in Nashville.
- Radnor Lake
Michael Hicks - Flickr Radnor Lake State Park is one of Nashville’s favorite spots to get out and experience the beauty of Middle Tennessee. The trails around the lake and up to the hills are stunning any time of year, but they’re especially gorgeous in the spring. Be sure to get there early – the crowds can get big on nice weekend days. Radnor Lake State Park, 1160 Otter Creek Rd, Nashville, TN 37220, USA
- Sewanee Perimeter Trail
Michael Hicks - Flickr Just a short drive southeast of Nashville near Sewanee, the Sewanee Perimeter Trail winds around the top of the Cumberland Plateau, offering stunning views and making it one of the most scenic hikes in Nashville. This trail is often less busy than others in the area, so this is a great spot for some isolation and sweeping views. Perimeter Trail, Sewanee, TN, USA
- Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Michael Hicks - Flickr The Cedars of Lebanon State Park is full of over 10 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty, but all of them show off the diverse and unique ecosystems of the park. There are tons of rock formations along the path as well, including sinkholes, springs, and a small cave. Cedars of Lebanon State Park, 328 Cedar Forest Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090, USA
- Bells Bend River Loop
Rex Hammock - Flickr Bells Bend is one of the city’s most secluded parks, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. Located on the northwest side of the city, the park features tons of open grasslands with views of the Cumberland River, and the whole place explodes with wildflowers in the spring. With almost no elevation gain this is one of the best kid-friendly hikes around Nashville. 4187 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37218, USA
- Beaman Park
Paul Nicholson - Flickr A little north of Bells Bend, Beaman Park offers something a little different. This forested natural area has multiple trails that follow and cross the park’s small stream, making this an idyllic and quiet spot to hike right outside of Nashville. It’s also a great spot to bring your dog! Beaman Park Trail, Nashville, TN 37015, USA
- Fall Creek Falls
Michael Hicks - Flickr About 90 minutes east of Nashville, Fall Creek Falls State Park is a perfect spot to retreat for a weekend day trip. The eponymous state park is full of some of the best hikes in Nashville and waterfalls that are beautiful every time of year. But, the springtime typically sees more swollen rivers, meaning more stunning waterfalls. Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee 37367, USA
- Shelby Bottoms Nature Center & Greenway
Shelby Bottoms Nature Center & Greenway - Facebook East Nashville’s favorite park, Shelby Bottoms Greenway stretches along the banks of the Cumberland River all the way from the southern tip of East Nashville to Two Rivers. The park features grassy areas and wooded areas, all of which bloom with wildflowers every spring, making this one of the prettiest spots in the city. 1900 Davidson St, Nashville, TN 37206, USA
Any local trails you’d add to the list of the best hikes in Nashville? Let us know in the comments!
Michael Hicks - Flickr
Radnor Lake State Park is one of Nashville’s favorite spots to get out and experience the beauty of Middle Tennessee. The trails around the lake and up to the hills are stunning any time of year, but they’re especially gorgeous in the spring. Be sure to get there early – the crowds can get big on nice weekend days.
Radnor Lake State Park, 1160 Otter Creek Rd, Nashville, TN 37220, USA
Just a short drive southeast of Nashville near Sewanee, the Sewanee Perimeter Trail winds around the top of the Cumberland Plateau, offering stunning views and making it one of the most scenic hikes in Nashville. This trail is often less busy than others in the area, so this is a great spot for some isolation and sweeping views.
Perimeter Trail, Sewanee, TN, USA
The Cedars of Lebanon State Park is full of over 10 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty, but all of them show off the diverse and unique ecosystems of the park. There are tons of rock formations along the path as well, including sinkholes, springs, and a small cave.
Cedars of Lebanon State Park, 328 Cedar Forest Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090, USA
Rex Hammock - Flickr
Bells Bend is one of the city’s most secluded parks, but it’s also one of the most rewarding. Located on the northwest side of the city, the park features tons of open grasslands with views of the Cumberland River, and the whole place explodes with wildflowers in the spring. With almost no elevation gain this is one of the best kid-friendly hikes around Nashville.
4187 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37218, USA
Paul Nicholson - Flickr
A little north of Bells Bend, Beaman Park offers something a little different. This forested natural area has multiple trails that follow and cross the park’s small stream, making this an idyllic and quiet spot to hike right outside of Nashville. It’s also a great spot to bring your dog!
Beaman Park Trail, Nashville, TN 37015, USA
About 90 minutes east of Nashville, Fall Creek Falls State Park is a perfect spot to retreat for a weekend day trip. The eponymous state park is full of some of the best hikes in Nashville and waterfalls that are beautiful every time of year. But, the springtime typically sees more swollen rivers, meaning more stunning waterfalls.
Fall Creek Falls, Tennessee 37367, USA
Shelby Bottoms Nature Center & Greenway - Facebook
East Nashville’s favorite park, Shelby Bottoms Greenway stretches along the banks of the Cumberland River all the way from the southern tip of East Nashville to Two Rivers. The park features grassy areas and wooded areas, all of which bloom with wildflowers every spring, making this one of the prettiest spots in the city.
1900 Davidson St, Nashville, TN 37206, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Nashville April 11, 2022 Libby Monson What are the most kid-friendly hikes around Nashville? Edwin Warner Park Nature Loop is an excellent choice for families with small children. Edwin Warner Park has more than 3,100 acres of forest and field. The nature trail is perfect for little legs at under a mile and features a small creek. The Deerwood Arboretum Trail is another great choice for a day out with the family. This paved trail makes walking easy, and you can download a tree identification trail guide to help you name the trees along the path. Be on the lookout for wildflowers in the spring! What are the best beaches in Nashville? When you think about spending the day at the beach, Nashville might not come to mind right away, but spending the day at Percy Priest Lake’s Swimming Beach will change that. About 25 minutes from the heart of the city, this real sand beach is in the Anderson Road Recreation Area. Rock Island State Park also has a sand swimming beach at the headwaters of the Center Hill Lake. This state park is also home to some of the best hikes in Nashville if you want to do a little hiking before hitting the sand. So, grab your sunscreen and a picnic lunch, and enjoy your day at the beach! What is a short-and-sweet hike in Nashville? Centennial Park Lake Trail is a beautiful trail in an urban oasis close to downtown Nashville. You will meander around Lake Watauga and enjoy the birds that call it home. Centennial Park has stunning green space and well-manicured gardens. You’ll also see a replica of the Parthenon at the edge of the lake. The trail is short, but you will enjoy water views the whole time, and there are opportunities to venture off the main path and visit several monuments.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes In Nashville
April 11, 2022
Libby Monson
What are the most kid-friendly hikes around Nashville? Edwin Warner Park Nature Loop is an excellent choice for families with small children. Edwin Warner Park has more than 3,100 acres of forest and field. The nature trail is perfect for little legs at under a mile and features a small creek. The Deerwood Arboretum Trail is another great choice for a day out with the family. This paved trail makes walking easy, and you can download a tree identification trail guide to help you name the trees along the path. Be on the lookout for wildflowers in the spring! What are the best beaches in Nashville? When you think about spending the day at the beach, Nashville might not come to mind right away, but spending the day at Percy Priest Lake’s Swimming Beach will change that. About 25 minutes from the heart of the city, this real sand beach is in the Anderson Road Recreation Area. Rock Island State Park also has a sand swimming beach at the headwaters of the Center Hill Lake. This state park is also home to some of the best hikes in Nashville if you want to do a little hiking before hitting the sand. So, grab your sunscreen and a picnic lunch, and enjoy your day at the beach! What is a short-and-sweet hike in Nashville? Centennial Park Lake Trail is a beautiful trail in an urban oasis close to downtown Nashville. You will meander around Lake Watauga and enjoy the birds that call it home. Centennial Park has stunning green space and well-manicured gardens. You’ll also see a replica of the Parthenon at the edge of the lake. The trail is short, but you will enjoy water views the whole time, and there are opportunities to venture off the main path and visit several monuments.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Edwin Warner Park Nature Loop is an excellent choice for families with small children. Edwin Warner Park has more than 3,100 acres of forest and field. The nature trail is perfect for little legs at under a mile and features a small creek. The Deerwood Arboretum Trail is another great choice for a day out with the family. This paved trail makes walking easy, and you can download a tree identification trail guide to help you name the trees along the path. Be on the lookout for wildflowers in the spring!
What are the best beaches in Nashville?
When you think about spending the day at the beach, Nashville might not come to mind right away, but spending the day at Percy Priest Lake’s Swimming Beach will change that. About 25 minutes from the heart of the city, this real sand beach is in the Anderson Road Recreation Area.
Rock Island State Park also has a sand swimming beach at the headwaters of the Center Hill Lake. This state park is also home to some of the best hikes in Nashville if you want to do a little hiking before hitting the sand. So, grab your sunscreen and a picnic lunch, and enjoy your day at the beach!
What is a short-and-sweet hike in Nashville?
Centennial Park Lake Trail is a beautiful trail in an urban oasis close to downtown Nashville. You will meander around Lake Watauga and enjoy the birds that call it home. Centennial Park has stunning green space and well-manicured gardens. You’ll also see a replica of the Parthenon at the edge of the lake. The trail is short, but you will enjoy water views the whole time, and there are opportunities to venture off the main path and visit several monuments.
