Outdoor Activities in Nashville

Road cycling on the Natchez Trace Parkway

The Natchez Trace Parkway starts at a trailhead in south Nashville near Pasquo and runs 444 miles to Natchez, Mississippi, but the first 25 to 30 miles heading southwest make for a proper day ride. The road is smooth, two lanes, no commercial traffic allowed, and the speed limit tops out at 50 mph. You'll pass the double-arch bridge at milepost 438, one of the more photographed structures in Tennessee. Early morning rides in October are something else. Cool air, fog sitting in the valleys, and the smell of damp leaves on limestone. Watch for deer at dawn.

Difficulty

Moderate, with rolling hills

Duration

2 to 4 hours for a 30-to-50-mile out-and-back

Best season

March through May and September through November

Mountain biking at Percy Warner Park

The Warner Parks trail system covers roughly 2,700 acres on the western edge of Nashville. The mountain bike loop runs about 10 miles through dense hardwood forest, and the terrain is rooty, rocky, and technical in stretches, especially after rain when the red clay gets slick. The climbs are short but steep. You'll gain around 1,200 feet of elevation over the full loop. The park sits along the Harpeth Hills, and in spring the forest floor fills with trillium and wild phlox. Trail access is free, and the lot off Old Hickory Boulevard fills up by 9 a.m. on weekends.

Difficulty

Intermediate to advanced, with rocky technical sections

Duration

1.5 to 2.5 hours for the full loop

Best season

April through June and September through November

Rock climbing at Sanitarium Boulder Field

About 45 minutes southeast of Nashville near Murfreesboro, the Sanitarium Boulder Field has been a local climbing spot for decades. The bouldering problems range from V0 to V8 on sandstone, and the rock tends to feel gritty under your fingers compared to limestone. The area sits on private land that has historically allowed access, so check current status with the Southeast Climbers Coalition before heading out. Bring a crash pad. The ground is uneven.

Difficulty

V0 to V8, beginner to advanced

Duration

Half day

Best season

October through April, when the sandstone friction improves in cooler temps

Trail running at Beaman Park

Beaman Park covers 1,600 acres in north Nashville near Joelton, and it feels more remote than its 20-minute drive from downtown suggests. The Creekside Trail and Henry Hollow Loop combine for about 5 miles of singletrack through second-growth forest with creek crossings that can run knee-deep after spring rains. The footing is rocky in places. You'll hear woodpeckers drilling overhead and, in April, the trillium bloom turns whole hillsides white. The park opens at dawn and closes at dark. No dogs on trails.

Difficulty

Moderate, with elevation change and uneven terrain

Duration

1 to 1.5 hours for 5 miles

Best season

March through May and October through November

Horseback riding along the Harpeth River

Several outfitters near Kingston Springs, about 25 miles west of Nashville, run guided trail rides along the Harpeth River. The rides typically last 1 to 2 hours and follow wooded paths above the river bluffs. You'll cross open meadows where the grass brushes your boots and drop down to gravel bars along the water. The smell of cedar is strong on the ridge sections. No prior experience is usually required for the beginner rides, though weight limits around 250 pounds are standard. Expect to pay $50 to $90 per person for a guided ride.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate, depending on trail selection

Duration

1 to 2 hours

Best season

April through October

Radnor Lake: South Cove and Ganier Ridge Loop

This combination loop starts from the Otter Creek Road parking lot and takes you along the south shore of the lake before climbing to the Ganier Ridge overlook, about 400 feet above the water. The trail surface is a mix of gravel, packed earth, and some rocky sections on the ridge. Total distance comes to around 2.5 miles. The ridge section can feel steep in spots, but it is short. Morning is best. The parking lots fill by 10 a.m. on weekends, and there is no overflow lot. You might spot white-tailed deer along the lake edge, and in winter the bare trees open up views that the summer canopy blocks entirely.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate

Duration

1 to 1.5 hours

Best season

Year-round, with fall color peaking in late October

Harpeth River State Park: Hidden Lake and Bluff Trails

About 30 minutes west of Nashville near Kingston Springs, this section of the Harpeth River State Park follows the river bluffs and drops down to a small oxbow lake. The trail runs roughly 3 miles round trip and includes a stretch along the Narrows of the Harpeth, where the river cuts through a limestone bluff. The Pattison Forge site at the Narrows dates to an 1820s iron forge, and the hand-cut tunnel through solid rock is still there. The footing gets muddy after rain, and the bluff sections are exposed. Bring water.

Difficulty

Moderate, with some uneven bluff-top sections

Duration

1.5 to 2 hours

Best season

March through May and October through November

Stones River National Battlefield: Fortress Rosecrans Loop

The Fortress Rosecrans Trail at Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, about 35 miles southeast of Nashville, follows the perimeter of the largest inland fort built during the Civil War. The loop covers around 3 miles on mostly flat, mowed paths and gravel. It is more of a history walk than a nature hike, but the cedar glades along the route are home to several rare plant species found only in Middle Tennessee. The battlefield visitor center is free. The fort's earthworks are still visible and surprisingly intact for structures built in 1863.

Difficulty

Easy, flat terrain

Duration

1 to 1.5 hours

Best season

Year-round, though summer heat and humidity make spring and fall more comfortable

Percy Warner Park: Mossy Ridge Trail

Mossy Ridge is the longest single trail in the Warner Parks, covering about 4.5 miles with roughly 1,100 feet of total elevation gain. The trail winds through mature hardwood forest, crossing several small creek drainages. The surface is dirt and rock, and the downhill sections can get slippery after rain. You'll pass through stands of tulip poplar and red oak, and in spring the understory lights up with redbud blossoms. The trail is well marked with white blazes but does not get the foot traffic of Radnor Lake, so you might have stretches to yourself on weekday mornings.

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous

Duration

2 to 3 hours

Best season

April through May and October through November

Savage Gulf State Natural Area: Stone Door Trail

About 90 minutes southeast of Nashville on the Cumberland Plateau, the Stone Door Trail drops to a massive rock overhang and overlook above Savage Gulf. The hike to the Stone Door and back runs about 2 miles round trip on a well-maintained path, though the last section descends stone steps carved into the bluff face. The overlook sits at the edge of a 100-foot sandstone cliff with views across the Gulf. It is cooler up on the Plateau, often 10 to 15 degrees below Nashville temps. The full Savage Gulf Day Loop extends to 8 or 9 miles and drops 800 feet into the gorge, which pushes it into strenuous territory.

Difficulty

Easy to the Stone Door overlook, strenuous for the full Day Loop

Duration

1 hour for Stone Door, 5 to 6 hours for the Day Loop

Best season

April through June and September through November

Long Hunter State Park: Day Loop Trail

Long Hunter sits on the shore of Percy Priest Lake, about 20 minutes east of Nashville. The Day Loop covers roughly 5.5 miles through cedar glades and lakeshore forest on the Couchville Cedar Glade peninsula. The terrain is mostly flat with some gentle rolling sections. Cedar glades are unique to Middle Tennessee, and in late spring the rare Tennessee coneflower blooms here. The trail surface is dirt and exposed limestone, and sections near the lake can flood in wet weather. The trailhead parking area has restrooms and is well signed from the main park road.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate

Duration

2 to 3 hours

Best season

April through May for wildflowers, October for fall color

Kayaking the Harpeth River

The Harpeth runs west of Nashville through farmland and forested bluffs, and the stretch from Kingston Springs to the Narrows, roughly 7 to 8 river miles, is the most popular float. The river is Class I, slow and wide enough for beginners, with a few riffles over gravel bars. Several outfitters near Kingston Springs rent kayaks and canoes for $30 to $50 per person and run shuttle service. In summer the water drops to shin-deep in spots, so expect to scrape bottom or portage briefly. The limestone bluffs along the Narrows section rise 100 feet above the water. You'll likely see great blue herons, turtles stacked on logs, and the occasional kingfisher.

Difficulty

Easy, Class I

Duration

3 to 5 hours for the Kingston Springs to Narrows float

Best season

April through October, with best water levels in spring

Paddleboarding on Percy Priest Lake

Percy Priest Lake covers about 14,200 acres east of Nashville and has dozens of access points. The coves near the Anderson Road Recreation Area tend to stay calmer than the main channel, which gets boat traffic on summer weekends. SUP rentals are available at several marinas around the lake for roughly $20 to $30 per hour. Morning sessions before 10 a.m. give you glassy water and fewer wakes to deal with. The water is warm enough to swim comfortably from late May through September, reaching the upper 70s to low 80s by July.

Difficulty

Easy in coves, moderate on open water with boat wakes

Duration

1 to 3 hours

Best season

May through September

Swimming at Percy Priest Lake beaches

The Army Corps of Engineers manages several swim beaches on Percy Priest Lake. Anderson Road and Cook Recreation Area are the closest to Nashville, both about 15 minutes east of the airport. There are no lifeguards at most sites, and the lake bottom is rocky in places, so water shoes help. The water clarity is fair, not mountain-lake clear but better than the Cumberland River. Parking fees run about $5 per vehicle. The beaches get packed on holiday weekends, so arrive before 11 a.m. for a spot with shade access. The water temperature stays comfortable from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

Half day

Best season

Late May through September

Canoeing on the Cumberland River through Nashville

Several outfitters offer guided and self-guided canoe and kayak trips on the Cumberland River through downtown Nashville. The river is flat and wide through the city, moving slowly past the Nissan Stadium waterfront and under the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. The 5-to-7-mile stretch from Shelby Bottoms downstream to the dam is the most common route. Mind you, this is not a wilderness paddle. You'll see the skyline, hear traffic, and share the water with the occasional barge. But the perspective on the city from river level is different, and the Shelby Bottoms shoreline still feels surprisingly wild.

Difficulty

Easy, flat water

Duration

2 to 3 hours

Best season

April through October

Fishing at Old Hickory Lake

Old Hickory Lake stretches northeast of Nashville along the Cumberland River, covering about 22,500 acres. The lake holds largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, and catfish. The rocky points and submerged timber near the Rockland Recreation Area and Shutes Branch are productive spots. A Tennessee fishing license costs $50 for non-residents as of recent pricing. Bank fishing is free at most Corps-managed areas. The pre-dawn bite in May and June tends to produce the best bass action, and crappie fishing picks up in March when the water temperature climbs past 55°F.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate, depending on whether you fish from shore or boat

Duration

Half day to full day

Best season

March through June for bass and crappie

Radnor Lake sits in a wooded valley about 6 miles south of downtown, and the state manages it as a natural area rather than a standard park. That means no bikes, no dogs, no jogging on most trails, and a 60-car parking cap at each lot. The lake itself covers 85 acres and was originally built in 1914 as a water supply for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The Ganier Ridge Trail climbs to a ridgeline overlook where you can see the lake through the canopy. In the early morning, especially in fall, mist hangs over the water and the only sound is herons fishing near the dam. The birding is strong. Over 240 species have been documented here.

Highlights: 85-acre lake with great blue heron rookery, Ganier Ridge overlook, 240-plus documented bird species, and the Otter Creek Road boardwalk section

Centennial Park's 132 acres sit about a mile west of downtown, anchored by a full-scale replica of the Parthenon that Nashville built for its 1897 Centennial Exposition and rebuilt in concrete in the 1920s. The park has a 1-mile walking loop around Lake Watauga, a sunken garden, and large shade trees that actually make summer bearable. On weekend mornings, the Centennial Farmers' Market sets up on the south side with local produce and Nashville-made hot sauce. The grass gets crowded with picnic blankets by mid-afternoon.

Highlights: Full-scale Parthenon replica with a 42-foot Athena statue inside, Lake Watauga loop, sunken garden, and Saturday farmers' market

Cheekwood covers 55 acres in the Belle Meade area, about 8 miles southwest of downtown. The estate was built in the 1930s by the Cheek family, who made their fortune from Maxwell House coffee. The botanical garden includes a Japanese garden with a koi pond, a wildflower meadow, and seasonal displays. The dogwood and tulip plantings in late March and early April are worth timing a visit around. Admission runs $22 for adults as of recent pricing. The woodland sculpture trail adds about a mile of walking through cedar and hardwood forest.

Highlights: 1930s Georgian mansion, Japanese garden with koi pond, seasonal tulip display of 150,000 bulbs, and the Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail

Shelby Bottoms stretches across 960 acres of river-bottom land on the east bank of the Cumberland, and it floods. That is part of the point. The bottomland hardwood forest and open meadows support a different ecosystem than the upland parks. The greenway's paved path runs about 5 miles and connects to the Stones River Greenway at its eastern end. The nature center has free exhibits on local wildlife. In summer, the air near the wetland observation areas is thick with the sound of red-winged blackbirds and the smell of warm mud.

Highlights: 5-mile paved greenway, wetland observation platforms, free nature center, connection to Stones River Greenway, and seasonal wildflower meadows

Percy Warner covers 2,058 acres of hilly, forested terrain in southwest Nashville. The park's Allée, a stone-stepped hillside entrance off Belle Meade Boulevard, climbs over 100 limestone steps through a canopy of old-growth trees. The scenic drive loops 5.8 miles through the park and is popular with runners and cyclists. Warner Parks together form one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. The Deep Well area has picnic shelters and a playground. Dogs are welcome on leash.

Highlights: The stone Allée staircase, 5.8-mile scenic loop drive, 2,058 acres of hardwood forest, equestrian trails, and the steeplechase course

This 19-acre park sits directly north of the Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville. It opened in 1996 for the state's 200th anniversary. The park is more monument than wilderness, but the 200-foot granite map of Tennessee built into the plaza floor is genuinely interesting, and the World War II memorial at the north end is a quieter alternative to the busy Broadway district. A 2,000-seat amphitheater hosts free summer concerts. The Court of 3 Stars represents Tennessee's three grand divisions.

Highlights: 200-foot granite Tennessee map, World War II memorial court, 95-bell carillon that plays on the hour, and views of the State Capitol dome