The best walks and hikes around Nashville

Yes, many parks around Nashville welcome dogs on leashes. The Warner Parks (Percy and Edwin) offer an extensive network of trails where you and your dog can explore the woods. Similarly, Long Hunter State Park has over 30 miles of trails, many of which are suitable for dogs. However, please note that Radnor Lake State Park has strict regulations and dogs are only permitted on the paved Otter Creek Road trail, not on the dirt hiking trails, to protect the area's wildlife.

For a classic day hike, Radnor Lake State Park is a top-rated local favorite, known for its abundant wildlife and scenic lake loop. For something more rugged, Harpeth River State Park offers trails leading to limestone bluffs with panoramic views, including the unique Narrows of the Harpeth. Long Hunter State Park provides a different experience with trails along the shores of J. Percy Priest Lake, including paths through rare limestone glades.

While Nashville's immediate vicinity is more known for its rolling hills and rivers, several state parks a bit further out offer spectacular waterfalls. Burgess Falls State Park is a popular choice, featuring a trail that leads past four waterfalls. Fall Creek Falls State Park, though a longer drive, is home to one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States and has an extensive trail system.

The Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail at Long Hunter State Park is an excellent choice for families. It's a paved, two-mile loop around a calm lake, making it perfect for strollers and young children. For a woodland walk, the Bobcat Loop — Brown County State Park is an easy 3.1-mile (5 km) trail that's manageable for most ages.

For hikers looking for more distance, several trails offer a greater challenge. The North Tower and Pine Loop Trails — Brown County State Park is a moderate route covering 7.3 miles (11.7 km) through the forest. Beaman Park also features a 12-mile loop that traverses ridges and hollows for a more remote-feeling wilderness experience.

The hiking around Nashville is characterized by the rolling hills, dense forests, and river valleys of the Nashville Basin. You won't find high mountain peaks, but you will find rugged topography with limestone bluffs, steep ravines, and significant elevation changes on trails like the Mossy Ridge Trail in Percy Warner Park or the Ganier Ridge Trail at Radnor Lake.

Several trails provide rewarding views. At Harpeth River State Park, the trails leading up to the limestone bluffs offer panoramic vistas of the Harpeth Valley. In Percy Warner Park, various points along the trail network open up to scenic overlooks of the surrounding hills. The Day Loop Trail at Long Hunter State Park also features beautiful bluff overlooks of J. Percy Priest Lake.

There are over 30 curated hiking routes around Nashville available on komoot. These range from easy lakeside loops to more challenging woodland treks, with the majority being easy or moderate, ensuring options for all skill levels.

The region is highly regarded by the komoot community, with an average rating of 4.8 stars. Hikers often praise the accessibility of beautiful natural areas so close to the city, the well-maintained trails in the state parks, and the peaceful, dense woodlands that make you feel far from urban life.

Percy and Edwin Warner Parks contain one of the largest municipal natural areas in the country, with an extensive trail system. You can find everything from paved, multi-use paths to over 12 miles of primitive hiking trails. Popular routes include the moderate 2.5-mile Warner Woods Trail and the more strenuous 4.5-mile Mossy Ridge Trail. You can find detailed trail information on the official park maps.

Accessing trailheads directly via public transport can be challenging, as most major parks like Radnor Lake, the Warner Parks, and Long Hunter State Park are best reached by car. However, some of the city's greenways, such as the Stones River Greenway and Shelby Bottoms Greenway, are more accessible from urban neighborhoods and may be reachable via nearby bus routes.