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Forest cross country trail loop from Victor Ashe Park
3.90km
00:24
30m
30m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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By Fede from komoot
·
Updated May 29, 2026
If you've ever tried planning jogging around Karns, you know how quickly the options can feel overwhelming. With so many greenways and parks, it's tough to tell which routes are genuinely worth your time and effort, and which are just filler. That's where we come in. Our komoot community has mapped, run, and reviewed countless routes here, and we've distilled all that local knowledge into a curated shortlist of the very best, saving you the guesswork.
Jogging around Karns means embracing the gentle roll of East Tennessee's landscape. You'll find routes winding through lush, wooded areas, alongside Beaver Creek, and across well-maintained local parks. The terrain here offers a pleasant mix, from easy, mostly flat paths to more moderate routes with modest elevation changes, perfect for building stamina. It’s a region defined by accessible green spaces, making it a fantastic spot for runners of all levels.
If you only do one route, make it the Forest cross country trail loop from Victor Ashe Park. At 2.4 miles (3.9 km), it’s an easy, scenic introduction to Karns’ green heart, perfect for a quick, refreshing run. For something a bit longer with a moderate challenge, we love the Running loop from West Hills, which stretches 7.2 miles (11.5 km) through urban green spaces and along established greenways. Dive in and discover why more than 20 runners have already used komoot to explore Karns’ varied terrain.
Trail | Distance | Elevation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest cross country trail loop from Victor Ashe Park | 3.90 km | 30 m | Easy |
| Running loop from West Hills | 11.4 km | 100 m | Moderate |
| Haw Ridge Trail System loop from Bull Run | 6.91 km | 60 m | Moderate |
| Forest Path in West Hills Park loop from West Hills | 6.03 km | 40 m | Moderate |
| Walker Springs Park loop from Cedar Bluff | 7.17 km | 40 m | Moderate |
| Walker Springs Park loop from West Hills | 16.1 km | 120 m | Hard |
| Melton Hill Lake Picnic Area loop from Haw Ridge Park | 9.59 km | 100 m | Moderate |
| Running loop from Windsor Park | 9.63 km | 80 m | Moderate |
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3.90km
00:24
30m
30m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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11.4km
01:11
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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6.91km
00:48
60m
60m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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6.03km
00:38
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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7.17km
00:45
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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16.1km
01:41
120m
120m
The Walker Springs Park loop from West Hills offers a surprisingly challenging jogging experience, despite its generally flat terrain. You'll find yourself moving quickly alongside a serene stream and through pleasant wooded areas, likely connecting to the Ten Mile Greenway for extended mileage. The route is primarily on paved surfaces, but the sheer distance and required pace make it a demanding workout for joggers.
Planning your visit is straightforward, as Walker Springs Park provides amenities like restrooms and benches. The park's main paths are wheelchair accessible, and it serves as a great hub for accessing longer routes. While specific parking information for the full 10.0-mile (16.1 km) loop isn't detailed, the park is a well-known local spot, suggesting easy access. Aim for an early start to enjoy the quiet and cooler temperatures.
This 10.0-mile (16.1 km) loop, with 394 feet (120 metres) of elevation gain, is rated difficult due to the sustained effort required to complete it in 1 hour and 40 minutes. It's an excellent option for those in Knoxville looking for a long, fast-paced run that combines the convenience of park amenities with the extended reach of the Ten Mile Greenway. Beyond the paved paths, a short nature trail offers a different kind of terrain for variety.
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9.59km
01:10
100m
100m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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9.63km
01:00
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
View route
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Amazing well kept MTB Trails for all skill levels. Beautiful location.
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Haw Ridge has roughly 20 miles of single-track trails in total that intertwine with each other inland and next to the water. There are some picnic areas and tons of trail signage out on the trails. The great trail maintenance and multitude of route options make this park a popular option for mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners.
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Even being so close to civilization, the Ten Mile Greenway often gets so encompassed by trees and overgrowth that you feel like you're just in a dense forest. This particular section near the creek is very dense with vegetation.
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The path that circles around West Hills Park dives in and out of trees while navigating around baseball fields, open grassy areas, and facilities. This park really has it all and is a great space to exercise near town.
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This part of the trail travels through a small forest area and passes behind the dog park. There are a handful of middle school and high school cross country meets each summer and fall that utilize this trail. On a hot, sunny day, the shade on this section of trail is a great escape.
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This is the location of the first tee box for the Victor Ashe disc golf course. This well maintained 18 hole course is open to public use when it is not being utilized for a tournament. When there are disc golfers in the area, it is easy to wonder what all of those weird poles with baskets are in the open fields and tucked away in the trees.
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Nice little park connected to Ten Mile Creek greenway. The place is full of flowers and trees, perfect to go for a relaxing walk. There's also a pavilion and restrooms,
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Komoot features over 10 dedicated running routes around Karns, offering a variety of options for different fitness levels and preferences. These routes range from easy loops through parks to more challenging trails with varied elevation.
Yes, Karns offers several easy jogging routes. For a gentle run, consider the Walker Springs Park loop from Cedar Bluff, an easy 3.1-mile (5 km) path that takes about 30 minutes to complete. You can find more details about this route here.
Jogging trails in Karns typically feature gently rolling terrain with modest elevation changes, making them accessible for various fitness levels. Many routes follow along creeks and through established parklands, offering scenic natural surroundings close to urban areas. You'll often find yourself traversing through wooded areas and well-maintained green spaces.
Many of the greenways and park loops in Karns are suitable for families. The generally easy to moderate terrain and paved or well-maintained paths make them ideal for a family outing. For example, the greenways often provide wide, safe paths away from traffic.
Most greenways and park trails in the Karns area are dog-friendly, provided your dog is kept on a leash. It's always a good idea to check specific park regulations, but generally, the extensive network of greenways welcomes leashed pets, making them great for running with your canine companion.
Yes, many of the running routes around Karns are designed as loops, offering convenient circular paths. For instance, the Forest Path in West Hills Park loop from West Hills is a moderate 3.25-mile (5.2 km) circular route that allows you to start and finish in the same location. Explore this route here.
Karns is well-integrated into a network of greenways ideal for running. Notable options include the Knox/Blount Greenway, which follows the Tennessee River, and the Jean Teague Greenway in Knoxville's West Hills Park. The Parkside/Turkey Creek Greenway also offers a longer trail through urban green spaces. These greenways provide mostly paved, accessible routes.
While Karns Lions Club Community Park offers green space, nearby Victor Ashe Park features a 4.7-mile easy loop trail that is very popular for jogging. Additionally, West Hills Park provides access to routes like the Forest Path in West Hills Park loop from West Hills, which is a great option for runners.
Running routes in Karns often traverse through wooded areas, alongside natural waterways, and through well-maintained parklands. You can expect pleasant natural surroundings, especially along greenways that follow creeks or the Tennessee River, offering a refreshing backdrop to your run.
While many routes feature gently rolling terrain, some trails offer more varied elevation for a challenging workout. For example, the Haw Ridge Outer Loop in Haw Ridge Park, accessible from the broader Knoxville area, provides wooded areas with elevation changes suitable for those seeking a more strenuous run.
While specific public transport links directly to every trailhead in Karns might be limited, the broader Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) system serves parts of the region. For routes within Knoxville's greenway system, such as those connecting to the downtown greenways, public transport might offer closer access. It's advisable to check KAT routes for specific stops near your desired starting point.
Yes, the Knox/Blount Greenway, for example, is a 2.2-mile asphalt greenway that connects to the Neyland Greenway, forming part of an 18-mile connected downtown greenway system. This allows for significantly longer runs by linking various greenway segments, providing extensive options for endurance runners.


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