Nashville is without doubt one of the greatest locations to remain in the US for mountain climbing, but most individuals understand it as ‘music city’. As a lot as we love the Nashville music scene, it’s time for mainstream tourism to start out seeing the town as a extra rounded vacation spot – and these prime 15 hikes close to Nashville are the proper place to start out. There are many waterfalls hikes close to Nashville and beautiful inexperienced areas like Percy Warner Park, Long Hunter State Park, and extra. For all its vigorous beats and partying, Nashville just isn’t wanting mountain climbing alternatives.
15 Top Hikes Near Nashville, Tennessee
Whether you need inexperienced house in Downtown Nashville or simply hikes close to Nashville, Tennessee, which you can go to as a day journey, this information has received you coated. We’ll whisk you thru an inventory of the very best mountain climbing trails close to Nashville, Tennessee.
1. Cane Creek Waterfalls
Cane Creek Falls is without doubt one of the most stunning waterfall hikes close to Nashville. The falls drop 85 toes as a single-drop waterfall into an enormous plunge pool beneath. Cane Creek Falls are located in Fall Creek Falls State Park and are one among its six completely different waterfalls, however this waterfall stands out for its quantity. You’ll be mountain climbing this waterfall path for its attractiveness – not a exercise, because it takes lower than 15 minutes to finish. However, for those who additionally embrace the suspension bridge in your route, it’s a very partaking brief hike close to Nashville.
Distance: 0.4 miles Difficulty: Easy Elevation achieve: 25 meters Driving time from Nashville: 2 hours
2. Radnor Lake Trail
Radnor Lake is an attractive vacation spot for outside fans. The state park encompasses 1,368 acres and is a thriving hotspot for river otters, beavers, and white-tailed deer. Consider Radnor Lake Trail because the wildlife-watching alternative amidst these greatest mountain climbing trails. And the serene lake is an enormous added bonus, with ranger-led canoe floats obtainable for these wanting a extra adventurous likelihood to attach with Radnor Lake.
This path takes roughly an hour to finish and is a big loop that laps across the lake’s edge. Take your time, although, to get essentially the most out of wildlife watching, and brings some binoculars to identify animals from a distance.
Distance: 2.7 miles Difficulty: Easy Elevation achieve: 37 meters Driving time from Nashville: 17 minutes
3. Narrows of the Harpeth Trail
The Narrows of the Harpeth Trail is an absolute breeze to hike. If you need a brief however candy mountain climbing journey from Nashville, add this to your checklist. The Narrows offers upstream and downstream path entry, and this space is legendary for its slim part of river flowing by way of lush forest and towering cliffs. The Narrows of the Harpeth Tunnel are beautiful; image a man-made waterfall cascading out of the cliffs.
The Narrows of the Harpeth River is simply half an hour’s drive from Nashville’s metropolis heart – superb for a fast afternoon journey. Situated in a chosen state park, this hike is ideal for these wanting a trek by way of dense forest and a singular river setting.
Distance: 1.1 miles Difficulty: Easy Elevation achieve: 68 meters Driving time from Nashville: half-hour
4. Montgomery Bell Trail
Montgomery Bell is extensively described as a pure oasis. Picture three green-tinted lakes surrounded by 3,850 acres of forest and pure magnificence – actually, it’s no surprise that individuals from Nashville flock to make the 40-minute drive to Montgomery Bell State Park. The Montgomery Bell Trail is a average path of over 10 miles, taking roughly 4 hours to finish, plus longer for those who cease for swimming. However, it is without doubt one of the most enjoyable and peaceable locations for mountain climbing close to Nashville. Most guests spend the day lounging on lake shores or paddling in shallow waters.
Distance: 10.3 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 320 meters Driving time from Nashville: 40 minutes
5. Volunteer Trail Day Loop Trail
Volunteer Trail Day Loop is a average hike that latches on as an additional problem from the Volunteer Trail that loops Long Hunter State Park. It pays to get off the crushed monitor as soon as in some time, and on this path extension, you allow Volunteer Trail at its halfway level and detour to Percy Priest Lake. You can truly camp on this path. In truth, a well-liked approach to expertise it’s to arrange at Percy Priest Lake’s campsites after which watch the sundown – ending the hike the next day. This is an attractive path to tick off for lakeside mountain climbing close to Nashville.
Distance: 4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 82 meters Driving time from Nashville: half-hour
6. Twin Falls and Down River Trail
Ready for an additional one among Nashville’s close by waterfall trails? Twin Falls and Down River Trail is a reasonably straightforward hike close to Rock Island State Park. But its successful issue is the cascading Twin Falls – an attractive waterfall that appears to tumble out of the bushes and dozens of white streaks. The path takes round 40 minutes to finish and is located in Rock Island State Park. This park sits on the confluence of three rivers; Caney Fork River, Collins, and Rocky River.
Distance: 1.6 miles Difficulty: Easy Elevation achieve: 68 meters Driving time from Nashville: 1 hour 40 minutes
7. Burgess Falls Trail
Burgess Falls Trail is a unbelievable mountain climbing journey to mix a number of waterfalls into one brief stroll. The path passes 4 enormous waterfalls alongside the Falling Water River – offering unmatched views of highly effective crashes of water. Don’t be fooled; this route is labeled reasonably difficult regardless of solely taking 40 minutes to finish. There is a few rocky terrain in sections alongside some gentle inclines that push up the problem degree. Bring some water, and also you’ll be advantageous.
Distance: 1.5 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 64 meters Driving time from Nashville: 1 hour 15 minutes
8. Greeter Falls Loop
Greeter Falls is fairly well-known. You’ve in all probability seen this waterfall earlier than, and its pristine single drop is inconceivable to overlook. To go on an out of doors journey mountain climbing close to Nashville, the Greeter Falls Loop is without doubt one of the most photogenic choices. You stroll by way of a shaded forest for a lot of the path earlier than rising onto an iconic spiral staircase to get near Greeter Falls. The hardest half is the elevation achieve, however the stroll takes roughly an hour and a half.
Distance: 3.2 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 158 meters Driving time from Nashville: 1 hour half-hour
9. Hidden Lake
Remember Harpeth River State Park from earlier? Well, it has a second trial it’s essential learn about. The Harpeth Hidden Lake is one among our shortest trails, taking simply 25 minutes to finish as a loop. However, it is without doubt one of the most scenic trails to hike from Nashville and has a shocking lookout level. With little children, the ‘hidden aspect’ can also be an excellent supply of pleasure.
Distance: 1.3 miles Difficulty: Easy Elevation achieve: 14 meters Driving time from Nashville: 20-minute drive
10. Foster Falls Base Trail
Foster Falls is a spectacle to be witnessed up shut and private. The 60-foot waterfall drops right into a deep plunge pool beneath, surrounded by mountain laurels and azaleas. While it’s tucked away on the Cumberland Plateau in the South Cumberland State Park, the hike is easy. Ideal for outside fans with out the power or health degree for a protracted stroll.
Distance: 0.6 miles Difficulty: Easy Elevation achieve: 47 meters Driving time from Nashville: 1 hour 40 minutes
11. Gorge Overlook Trail
The Gorge Overlook Trail is a round route in Fall Creek Falls State Park – which ought to sound acquainted since we’ve simply coated its different path, Cane Creek Falls. Instead of whisking you to Cane Creek, this path takes you on a more difficult pure impediment course. You’ll discover rocky terrain all through and sections of the path that require mountaineering. And regardless of solely being a couple of miles lengthy, it takes round 2 hours to finish due to intense elevation achieve. But your strenuous efforts are rewarded with dramatic gorge views.
Distance: 3.1 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 217 meters Driving time from Nashville: 2 hours
12. Fiery Gizzard Trail to Raven’s Point
Fiery Gizzard Trail is a star amongst outside adventures. This path even hits lists naming the highest mountain climbing trails in the US, a vastly weighty declare in a rustic filled with such iconic mountain climbing trails. Fiery Gizzard Trail comes into its personal with its range and points of interest. There are waterfalls, stunning swimming holes to dip in, unstable terrain to maintain you in your toes, and beautiful forest surroundings. It is a problem, however good for the bold hiker visiting Nashville.
Distance: 11 miles Difficulty: Challenging Elevation achieve: 445 meters Driving time from Nashville: 1 hour half-hour
13. Jackson Falls Trail
Jackson Falls Trail is a tiny path that snakes previous a sequence of streams and deep swimming pools earlier than reaching one major plunge pool on the base of the falls. While it takes simply 10 minutes to finish, it loops down a steep concrete path, making it extra of a average hike than a straightforward path. Watch your footing in moist climate since it may get fairly slick. But in any other case, don’t bat an eyelid tackling this path, and produce a picnic to get pleasure from on the backside.
Distance: 0.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 15 meters Driving time from Nashville: 1 hour
14. Cummins Falls Trail
Dropping 75 toes, Cummins Falls is definitely Tennessee’s eighth-largest waterfall. The falls have two important drops and an attractive swimming gap on the base, and it’s positioned on the Blackburn Fork River in the 306-acre Cummins Falls State Park. People have been mountain climbing the Cummins Falls Trail for over 100 years to get pleasure from its swimming gap on the backside. So if you wish to escape the inner-city warmth in Nashville, Cummins Falls is a refreshing reward.
Distance: 2.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 107 meters Driving time from Nashville: 1 hour 15 minutes
15. Mossy Ridge Trail
Mossy Ridge Trail is in Percy Warner Park, one of many closest parks to Nashville’s metropolis heart. The incontrovertible fact that it’s located in Percy Warner Park doesn’t make this a straightforward path, although, and you’ll anticipate scrambling sections and steep hills to navigate. Mossy Ridge Trail is ideal for a hiker trying to push themselves bodily with out venturing too far out of Nashville. The spotlight of this path is the non-compulsory detour it has to an overlook dealing with a rocky ridge. There are even little benches to take a seat down and relax with a picnic or chilly drink.
Distance: 5.1 miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation achieve: 253 meters Driving time from Nashville: half-hour
Hikes Near Nashville: FAQs
Hiking close to Nashville is unimaginable – particularly with the variety of waterfall hikes. Fall Creek Falls, Blue Hole Falls, and Virgin Falls are unbelievable waterfall choices, simply to call a couple of. In summer time, nothing is healthier than discovering a swimming gap or plunge pool for a dip. But what else do it’s essential learn about mountain climbing close to Nashville? Check out these important snippets of knowledge.
Does Nashville Have Good Hiking?
Nashville has wonderful mountain climbing trails and is surrounded by hills and waterfalls. Nashville is a unbelievable break for rookies and mid-level hikers, with loads of mid-length and easy-to-moderate trails.
What Are The Closest Hikes to Nashville?
Warner Park is positioned simply outdoors Nashville metropolis heart (20 minutes by automobile or an hour by bus) and has 9 mountain climbing trails. Warner Park has an enormous Nature Center the place you possibly can decide up path maps or use Google Maps to information the best way.
What Mountains Are Close to Nashville?
The closest mountains to Nashville are the Great Smoky Mountains. However, the town is usually surrounded by hills – that are higher choices for extra accessible day journeys. The Great Smoky Mountains are 4 hours away from Nashville by automobile, so we suggest visiting them as a part of a protracted weekend reasonably than a day journey.
To Conclude: Hikes Near Nashville
Hiking close to Nashville, Tennessee, is totally chic. You’ll discover beautiful mountain climbing trails whether or not you head to East Nashville or go on a extra distant outside journey. It has among the greatest mountain climbing in the US, which is not any menial feat. Don’t simply tick off music points of interest and name it a day – carve out time for these 15 greatest mountain climbing trails in and round Nashville. Hiking trails are the proper approach to steadiness out the depth of a metropolis break.
Still, on the lookout for Nashville inspiration? Check out our information on the place to remain in Nashville for the lowdown on the very best neighborhoods and accommodations. Have a beautiful mountain climbing journey.