7 Amazing Nashville Hikes Under 3 Miles You'll Absolutely Love
By Meghan Kraft|Updated on April 22, 2022(Originally published April 16, 2022)
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Going on a hike is one of the oldest forms of exercise and enjoyment, the perfect marriage of exertion and leisure. That being said: sometimes we don’t really want to go on a long hike, a huffing and puffing half-day spent out in the heat. Give us a couple of miles and maybe a lake or a river and we’re good to go. Sound good, Nashville? We founds seven of the best hikes in Nashville that are perfect for a quick morning out and about. So no need to search for “short hiking trails near me,” This article has you covered, so go check ’em out!
The Ridgetop Trail comes in at only a mile and a half, which is just long enough to get out there and a little bit sweaty - but not so much you feel like you've been drenched by a bucket of water. Beaman Park is also fairly tucked away from the rest of the city, so you won't be dealing with droves of tourists or millennials with a free day off of work. Learn more about Beaman Park, then go hit the trails there.
2. Harpeth River State Park
Harpeth River State Park - Hidden Lake, 7851 McCrory Ln, Nashville, TN 37221, USA
This isn't exactly a "trail" per say, but it is a solid park to traverse if you're looking to strap on those hiking boots. There are quite a few short trails and loops scattered throughout the park, or you can make for your own adventure as you explore the great expanse of greenery. AKA: turn around when you're tired. Harpeth River State Park provides quite a lot of bang for its buck, so no worries about how long you actually rough it. Read more about Harpeth River State Park and pencil in your next visit.
This is probably the most mysterious of all of Nashville's hikes. You'll find remnants of the past scattered along the Double Loop trail, like the debris of what once was a swimming resort, a home lost to the wild, and an old train car. Eerie! The loop is only a couple of miles, so you'll get your fill of story fodder alongside some good exercise. It's one of the best hikes in Nashville, so don't wait, check out Hidden Lake today.
There are six actual miles of hiking trails in the park, but it's not hard to make up a quick walk for yourself. Take the park's outside loop, which is two and a half miles of easy trail trekking and a whole lot of beautiful scenery. This beautiful trail is one of the easy hikes in Nashville. So read more about Bells Bend, then grab your hiking shoes and check it out.
The Shelby Bottoms Greenway is the best kind of way for a "city person" to get their fill of natural beauty, especially in Nashville proper. This east Nashville locale is popular for hikers, runners and families alike. There is a paved area that runs almost seven miles (!!), but we'd recommend taking one of the short, spin-off trails that break off the main roadway. They usually run about a mile or less, looping right back to where you started. Pretty neat trick, hey? Learn more about Shelby Bottoms Greenway, then pay it a visit.
6. Long Hunter State Park
Long Hunter State Park, 2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage, TN 37076, USA
We're fudging this one a bit, mainly because the day trail at Long Hunter State Park comes in at a little under four miles. That being said: the park makes it very easy for you to create your own hike, one that fits your timing parameters. You'll hike along Percy Priest Lake with little to no hills to climb, leaving you less than sweaty with a whole lot of natural beauty under your belt. This trail is one of the most scenic hikes in Nashville. So read more about Long Hunter State Park, then plan your next visit.
As one of the most popular hikes for Nashvillians, Radnor Lake is also one of the cleanest. The trails are well-maintained and highly trafficked, especially on the weekends. We'd recommend the Granier Ridge Trail, which isn't quite two miles long and gives you beautiful views from the ridge point. There's even a paved trail in the park if you're bringing Fido - or a stroller, of course. So it's one of the most dog and kid-friendly hikes around Nashville. Read more about Radnor Lake, then go give it a try.
How many of the best hikes in Nashville have you hiked on your own? We love them all!
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best hikes in Nashville
Jessica Bohl|April 21, 2022
What are some kid-friendly hikes around Nashville?
Nashville and its surrounding area abound with amazing hiking trails. The trails in the article above have some great hikes that you can take with your whole family. But for families with small children, sometimes even a hike hovering around the 3-mile mark can seem long for little legs. So for those of you with littlest of littles, you may want to try hikes that are closer to 1-mile long and have very little elevation change. For instance, the Edwin Warner Nature Park Loop is a great option for families at just under ¾ of a mile. The trail is flat and you can even find a small creek that the kids will love. The Deerwood Arboretum Trail is another great hike for families with kids. This loop trail is a little under a mile and has some lovely wildflowers along the way. The trail is also paved, so it’s perfect for families with strollers and kids with scooters. Read more about kid-friendly hikes around Nashville, and then plan your next family outing.
