When the chill of winter finally melts away and the days get warmer and longer, the city of Nashville has the chance to get back its first love: the great outdoors. Still, everyone understands how difficult it can be to dust off the cobwebs after spending so much time indoors, so we decided to put together a few short hikes that will get you back in the swing of things. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, after all. If you’re looking to enjoy the lush beauty of a Tennessee spring then you need to get started on these fabulous local spots. Here are some of the best hikes in Nashville for when you’re feeling outdoorsy, but lazy (same):
- Edwin Warner Park Nature Loop
Michael Hicks - Flickr The Nature Loop at Edwin Warner Park in Nashville’s Belle Meade neighborhood is the perfect short hike, and it’s just a short drive from downtown Nashville. Stop by the Nature Center to get the short book that accompanies the trail to make your exercise educational! Learn why this is one of the best hikes in Tennessee on AllTrails! Percy Warner Park, 50 Vaughn Rd, Nashville, TN 37221, USA
- Deerwood Arboretum Trail
City of Brentwood, Tennessee Local Government - Facebook One of the most underrated parks in the Nashville area, the Deerwood Arboretum has a short paved trail that’s perfect for taking out your kiddos, pets, or even for just a quick walk on your lunch break. This fun hike in Nashville is quick, easy, and lovely. Deerwood Arboretum, 320 Deerwood Ln, Brentwood, TN 37027, USA
- Montgomery Bell State Park - Jim Bailey Nature Trail
Mark Spangler - Flickr Montgomery Bell State Park, about 45 minutes West of downtown Nashville, is one of the harder parks on this list to get to, but it’s definitely one of the most beautiful retreats in the Nashville area. There are many trails in the park, but most of the ones around the lake, like the Jim Bailey Nature Trail, are perfect for a quick, short hike. Learn all about this amazing hike in Tennessee on the official AllTrails listing. Jim Bailey Nature Trail Green, Jim Bailey Nature Trl Grn, Tennessee 37029, USA
- Shelby Bottoms Greenway
kristenlea71 - Flickr The Shelby Bottoms Greenway stretches up the Cumberland River towards the Two Rivers area before crossing a bridge to get to the other side. If you park on either side, there are short trails around the parking lots, and you can always make the greenway a quick out and back. Check out our previous article to learn more about this hike in Nashville that might just become your new favorite thing. Shelby Bottoms Greenway, Nashville, TN, USA
- Long Hunter State Park Deer Trail
Michael Hicks - Flickr Long Hunter State Park, located on Percy Priest Lake, is a beautiful and quick hike for the whole family. Another nature trail, this one is known for the wild deer and turkeys that are often spotted on the trails. Get the details for this short and sweet hike in Tennessee on its official AllTrails listing. Long Hunter State Park, 2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage, TN 37076, USA
If you’d rather get your outdoor time at a German beer hall with a killer patio, then we’ve got just the place for you! What are your favorite things to do in Nashville? Tell us about your hobbies in the comments!
Michael Hicks - Flickr
The Nature Loop at Edwin Warner Park in Nashville’s Belle Meade neighborhood is the perfect short hike, and it’s just a short drive from downtown Nashville. Stop by the Nature Center to get the short book that accompanies the trail to make your exercise educational! Learn why this is one of the best hikes in Tennessee on AllTrails!
Percy Warner Park, 50 Vaughn Rd, Nashville, TN 37221, USA
City of Brentwood, Tennessee Local Government - Facebook
One of the most underrated parks in the Nashville area, the Deerwood Arboretum has a short paved trail that’s perfect for taking out your kiddos, pets, or even for just a quick walk on your lunch break. This fun hike in Nashville is quick, easy, and lovely.
Deerwood Arboretum, 320 Deerwood Ln, Brentwood, TN 37027, USA
Mark Spangler - Flickr
Montgomery Bell State Park, about 45 minutes West of downtown Nashville, is one of the harder parks on this list to get to, but it’s definitely one of the most beautiful retreats in the Nashville area. There are many trails in the park, but most of the ones around the lake, like the Jim Bailey Nature Trail, are perfect for a quick, short hike. Learn all about this amazing hike in Tennessee on the official AllTrails listing.
Jim Bailey Nature Trail Green, Jim Bailey Nature Trl Grn, Tennessee 37029, USA
kristenlea71 - Flickr
The Shelby Bottoms Greenway stretches up the Cumberland River towards the Two Rivers area before crossing a bridge to get to the other side. If you park on either side, there are short trails around the parking lots, and you can always make the greenway a quick out and back. Check out our previous article to learn more about this hike in Nashville that might just become your new favorite thing.
Shelby Bottoms Greenway, Nashville, TN, USA
Long Hunter State Park, located on Percy Priest Lake, is a beautiful and quick hike for the whole family. Another nature trail, this one is known for the wild deer and turkeys that are often spotted on the trails. Get the details for this short and sweet hike in Tennessee on its official AllTrails listing.
Long Hunter State Park, 2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage, TN 37076, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Nashville March 28, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the best kid-friendly hikes around Nashville? With as many wonderful hiking trails around Nashville as there are, plenty of them are bound to be perfect for the whole family – even those with small children. We have a lot of favorite hikes around Nashville that are kid-friendly. Some of those include the beautiful Hidden Lake Double Loop, at Harpeth River State Park. It’s short and sweet, at just 1.9 miles long, and features views of a small-but-mighty lake. Then, head to the Hermitage Public Use Area and hit the Stones River Greenway of Nashville Trail. That one’s longer and more suitable for older kids, at 5.7 miles long. It’s an easy boardwalk along the river, and one you’ll enjoy enough to want to return soon. The Hungry Hawk Trail at Edwin Warner Park is another good one; that one’s especially brief at just a half-mile long and is both interesting and educational. It’s even got a station for viewing and learning to identify animal tracks! Finally, take the kids to England Park and do the 1.3-mile paved Richland Creek Greenway hike, which travels under the I-40 and parallels Richland Creek. The kids will love it! What are the best scenic hikes in Tennessee? Honestly, guys, which hiking trails in Tennessee AREN’T scenic? We live in a pretty stunningly scenic state, and it’s home to hundreds of incredible trails that you can’t miss. There are lots of ridiculously scenic hikes in Tennessee you’ll find yourself wanting to embark on sooner than later, like the epic Laurel Falls Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (which is the most-visited National Park in the USA, by the way). That one is 2.3 miles long and paved all the way to the falls – and these falls are WORTH the hike! Then, wander to Burgess Falls State Park and do the Burgess Falls Trail, another waterfall hike in Tennessee featuring an amazing waterfall. That one’s short and sweet – just 1.1 miles in length. Finally, check out the Honey Creek Loop at Big South Fork National Area. That trail is suitable for expert hikers only; it’s quite difficult but, like the rest of the hikes mentioned here, it’s worth it thanks to its stunning beauty. Want some more ideas? Take a look at this article for some of the best hikes in Tennessee.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Nashville
March 28, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the best kid-friendly hikes around Nashville? With as many wonderful hiking trails around Nashville as there are, plenty of them are bound to be perfect for the whole family – even those with small children. We have a lot of favorite hikes around Nashville that are kid-friendly. Some of those include the beautiful Hidden Lake Double Loop, at Harpeth River State Park. It’s short and sweet, at just 1.9 miles long, and features views of a small-but-mighty lake. Then, head to the Hermitage Public Use Area and hit the Stones River Greenway of Nashville Trail. That one’s longer and more suitable for older kids, at 5.7 miles long. It’s an easy boardwalk along the river, and one you’ll enjoy enough to want to return soon. The Hungry Hawk Trail at Edwin Warner Park is another good one; that one’s especially brief at just a half-mile long and is both interesting and educational. It’s even got a station for viewing and learning to identify animal tracks! Finally, take the kids to England Park and do the 1.3-mile paved Richland Creek Greenway hike, which travels under the I-40 and parallels Richland Creek. The kids will love it! What are the best scenic hikes in Tennessee? Honestly, guys, which hiking trails in Tennessee AREN’T scenic? We live in a pretty stunningly scenic state, and it’s home to hundreds of incredible trails that you can’t miss. There are lots of ridiculously scenic hikes in Tennessee you’ll find yourself wanting to embark on sooner than later, like the epic Laurel Falls Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (which is the most-visited National Park in the USA, by the way). That one is 2.3 miles long and paved all the way to the falls – and these falls are WORTH the hike! Then, wander to Burgess Falls State Park and do the Burgess Falls Trail, another waterfall hike in Tennessee featuring an amazing waterfall. That one’s short and sweet – just 1.1 miles in length. Finally, check out the Honey Creek Loop at Big South Fork National Area. That trail is suitable for expert hikers only; it’s quite difficult but, like the rest of the hikes mentioned here, it’s worth it thanks to its stunning beauty. Want some more ideas? Take a look at this article for some of the best hikes in Tennessee.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
With as many wonderful hiking trails around Nashville as there are, plenty of them are bound to be perfect for the whole family – even those with small children. We have a lot of favorite hikes around Nashville that are kid-friendly. Some of those include the beautiful Hidden Lake Double Loop, at Harpeth River State Park. It’s short and sweet, at just 1.9 miles long, and features views of a small-but-mighty lake. Then, head to the Hermitage Public Use Area and hit the Stones River Greenway of Nashville Trail. That one’s longer and more suitable for older kids, at 5.7 miles long. It’s an easy boardwalk along the river, and one you’ll enjoy enough to want to return soon. The Hungry Hawk Trail at Edwin Warner Park is another good one; that one’s especially brief at just a half-mile long and is both interesting and educational. It’s even got a station for viewing and learning to identify animal tracks! Finally, take the kids to England Park and do the 1.3-mile paved Richland Creek Greenway hike, which travels under the I-40 and parallels Richland Creek. The kids will love it!
What are the best scenic hikes in Tennessee?
Honestly, guys, which hiking trails in Tennessee AREN’T scenic? We live in a pretty stunningly scenic state, and it’s home to hundreds of incredible trails that you can’t miss. There are lots of ridiculously scenic hikes in Tennessee you’ll find yourself wanting to embark on sooner than later, like the epic Laurel Falls Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park (which is the most-visited National Park in the USA, by the way). That one is 2.3 miles long and paved all the way to the falls – and these falls are WORTH the hike! Then, wander to Burgess Falls State Park and do the Burgess Falls Trail, another waterfall hike in Tennessee featuring an amazing waterfall. That one’s short and sweet – just 1.1 miles in length. Finally, check out the Honey Creek Loop at Big South Fork National Area. That trail is suitable for expert hikers only; it’s quite difficult but, like the rest of the hikes mentioned here, it’s worth it thanks to its stunning beauty. Want some more ideas? Take a look at this article for some of the best hikes in Tennessee.
