Whether you are an avid hiker or just find yourself needing to get out of the house into some fresh air, we’ve collected some of the best hiking spots around Nashville and beyond (hello, waterfalls!). 

Photos via Metro Nashville Parks & Rec Instagram

Percy Warner 

50 Vaughn Road 
Nashville, TN 37221 
Hours: dawn until 11 PM 

Edwin and Percy Warner Parks are one of the largest municipally administered parks in Tennessee and together span more than 3,100 acres of forest and field. Percy Warner is a great place to get your steps in, but also to have a picnic, read a book, or bring your four legged friend. Percy is the larger of the two parks and also includes 8.7 miles of equestrian paths. Percy Warner Park is also home to Steeplechase racecourse, which hosts the annual Iroquois Steeplechase. There are 26 miles of roads and multi-use trails, with a 5 mile loop dedicated to pedestrians and bikes only. 

Photos via Tennessee State Parks Instagram

Radnor Lake

1160 Otter Creek Rd 
Nashville, TN 37220 
Hours: 6 AM to 20 minutes after sunset year-round 

Radnor Lake State Park is a 1,368-acre park and is protected as a Class II Natural Area. On  a typical day you’ll see lots of wildlife, ranging from birds to turkeys to deer. You never know what you will stumble upon! Note that on beautiful days (especially after cold weather), parking can fill up fast, so carpool when you can. 

Trail options include easy, moderate, and difficult. Note that pets, jogging, and bicycles are only allowed on the Otter Creek Road trail, and the Lake Trail is accessible to people with all-terrain wheelchairs.

Easy trails: 

• Dam Walkway 0.20 miles 
• Spillway Trail 0.25 miles 
• Historic Valve House Trail 0.40 miles 
• Otter Creek Road 1.05 miles 
• Lake Trail 1.35 miles 

Moderate trails: 

• Access Trail 0.25 miles 
• South Lake Trail 0.90 miles
• Difficult trails: 
• South Cove Trail 1.40 miles 
• Ganier Ridge Trail 1.65 miles 

Shelby Bottoms Greenway 

1900 Davidson St. 
Nashville, TN 37206 
Park hours: dawn until dusk every day 

Shelby Bottoms is a 950 acre natural area park located within the floodplain of the Cumberland River, and is characterized by wetlands and a diverse array of plants and animals. The mission statement and goal of Shelby Bottoms is “To provide protection, preservation, and restoration of this open space as a greenway and nature preserve; to provide preservation, education, enhancement, and interpretation of this unique environment with wetlands, meadows, and forests; and to provide passive recreational opportunities for the public while maintaining a high level of environmental sensitivity.” 

If you have a bike, the greenways are definitely a place you will want to check out! Shelby Bottoms Greenway totals 6.4 miles and connects to the Stones River Greenway (10.2 mi) via the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge. Shelby Bottoms Greenway also connects to the Cumberland River Greenway Downtown (1.5 mi) and Metro Center Levee (3 mi) sections via the Davidson Street Bicycle Connector. 

Photos via Metro Nashville Parks & Rec Instagram

Richland Creek Greenway 

22 White Bridge Rd 
Nashville, TN 37205 

Richland Creek Greenway is 6.2 miles of paved greenway that forms a trail loop around West Park. It connects neighborhoods, shopping, and restaurants. 

Beyond Nashville:

Pinkerton Park 

405 Murfreesboro Rd 
Franklin, TN 37067 
Hours: 6 AM - 9 PM 

Pinkerton Park is a 34 acre one stop shop as far as we are concerned if you are in the Franklin area! There are three picnic pavilions plus other picnic spots and grills placed throughout the park, two different playgrounds, and a 1 mile trail. It is right next to downtown Franklin, which we highly recommend walking through as well!

Photos via Tennessee State Parks Instagram

Harpeth River

1230 Cedar Hill Road
Kingston Springs, TN 37082
*Different addresses for different entrances. 

Harpeth River State Park manages nine river access sites along 40 river miles. Sites include several natural, archaeological and historic areas. The park is popular for kayaking, canoeing, fishing and hiking. It's a Class I river, appropriate for beginners to advanced paddlers. Visitors can bring their own canoe or kayak. Rentals and trip information are available from local outfitters in and around Kingston Springs. 

Photos via Tennessee State Parks Instagram 

Fall Creek Falls

2009 Village Camp Road
Spencer, TN 38585
Park hours: open 24/7 with the road leading to the falls being locked at dark

One of Tennessee’s largest and most visited state parks. The park encompasses more than 29,800 acres. Fall Creek Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Other waterfalls within the park are Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls, and Cane Creek Cascades. More than 56 miles of trails can be explored.

Want to stay? There are 30 cabins and 222 campsites. Backcountry camping is also available.

Photos via Tennessee State Parks Instagram

Dunbar Cave

401 Old Dunbar Cave Road
Clarksville, TN 37043

The park is 144-acres with three miles of trails. Dunbar Cave has been used for thousands of years and is the site of significant prehistoric Mississippian Native American cave art dating to the 14^th century. The Mississippians left many drawings on the walls of the cave, some in charcoal, some carved into the limestone itself. While we do not know exactly what the drawings meant, the symbols hold sacred meanings even today for modern indigenous peoples of the southeastern U.S.

Photos via Tennessee State Parks Instagram 

Tims Ford

570 Tims Ford Drive
Winchester, TN 37398
Park hours: Trails are open from sunrise to sunset.

Tims Ford State park sits in the shadows of the Cumberland Plateau in south-central Tennessee. The Tims Ford Lake is considered one of the most picturesque lakes in Tennessee and is regarded as one of the top bass fishing and recreational lakes in the Southeast. The Lake View Marina, located within the park, provides pontoon boat rentals as well as a boat launch and courtesy dock. There is also a small inventory of canoes and kayaks available for rent.

Click here for a map of the trails.

Want to stay? The park has 20 beautiful cabins situated on the wooded slopes of Tims Ford Lake. The cabins are completely equipped, including appliances, cooking and serving utensils, and linens. The park has two campgrounds.

Photos via Cummins Falls State Park Instagram

Cummins Falls

390 Cummins Falls Lane
Cookeville, TN 38501
Park hours: 8 AM - 4:30 PM (offseason) and 6 PM (in-season). The gorge area closes at 5PM (in-season). People at the bottom of the waterfall must start walking out at 5 PM in order to get back to the parking lot and be out of the park by 6 PM.

A 282-acre day-use park. Cummins Falls is Tennessee’s eighth largest waterfall in volume of water and is 75 feet high. The hike to the base of the waterfall is strenuous. Make sure to wear sturdy water shoes and swimsuits. We also recommend limiting your belongings. 

Before visiting we recommend reading the full safety information here.

Photos via Tennessee State Parks Instagram

Burgess Falls

4000 Burgess Falls Drive
Sparta, TN 38583
Park hours: 8 AM until 30 minutes before sunset when gates are closed. Closed when the river is high or when there is snow on the roads and/or trails.

Noted for its natural beauty and four waterfalls that cascade down from over 250 feet in elevation. The last of these falls is the most spectacular, plunging more than 130 feet into the gorge. The River Trail/Service Road Loop is a moderately strenuous hike taking visitors past the waterfalls. Most people prefer to hike back to the parking lot along the service road. The half-mile Ridge Top Trail is very scenic with views down the main canyon of Falling Water River. All trails are foot trails. 

Photos via Rock Island State Park Instagram

Rock Island

82 Beach Road
Rock Island, TN 38581
Park hours: 8 AM - 4 PM

Rock Island State Park is an 883-acre park located on the headwaters of Center Hill Lake at the confluence of the Caney Fork, Collins and Rocky Rivers. The Caney Fork River Gorge contains scenic overlooks, waterfalls, deep pools and limestone paths perfect for hiking, swimming, fishing, kayaking, and exploring.

Want to stay? Ten cabins feature three-bedrooms, two-bathrooms, and are open year-round. They are located a half-mile from the natural sand beach along the Caney Fork River. The park also has two campgrounds offering 60 different campsites.

Before visiting we recommend reading the full safety information here.

What's your favorite TN hiking spot? Comment below!

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Source: https://tnstateparks.com