Take a break from Nashville’s lively downtown and explore five nearby hiking trails, all within an hour of the Bobby Nashville. With options for every skill level, these hikes are perfect for experiencing Middle Tennessee’s fall beauty.
One of the cool things about Nashville is that it has its thriving downtown, with neon lights and honky-tonks and late-night revelry, but you don’t have to go very far to be out in the countryside. And that means you don’t have to go very far to find a good hike. We’ve selected five hikes within an hour’s drive of the Bobby Nashville that appeal to hikers with a variety of activity levels and interests. All of them are good options during Middle Tennessee’s temperate fall weather.
Henry Horton State Park, 49 miles south. The former estate of the former governor of Tennessee, Henry Horton, this park on the Duck River, features a diverse ecosystem, making it a great place to see wildlife. There are 10 miles of interconnected trails here, including the 1.35-mile Adeline Wilhoite River Trail. It follows the river bank and also includes a 20-foot observation tower. Climbing it gives you a lay of the land as well as great views.
Montgomery Bell State Park, 35 miles southwest. There are plenty of shorter trails at this park, popular for its walking, hiking and paddling activities. If you’re looking for a more strenuous challenge, take the 10.4-mile Montgomery Bell Overnight Trail, which winds its way through forest, and by historic iron works and historic cabins.
Bledsoe Creek State Park, 35 miles northeast. Once hunting grounds for indigenous people, this park is still a wooden oasis. It features a number of paved, ADA-accessible trails, plus more strenuous hikes, such as the High Ridge Trail, which offers steep climbs followed by good views.
Long Hunter State Park, 25 miles east. With more than 30 miles of trails on 2,600 acres, Long Hunter provides a number of options. The Couchville Lake Trail is a fairly easy 2-mile paved trail that goes through the Couchville Lake Arboretum, where you can see 45 different species of trees.
Beaman Park, Ashland City, 13 miles northwest. Nashvillians love this city park, with its 2,300 acres, many of which have wooded trails. It’s particularly popular in the spring when the wildflowers are in bloom, but there’s no bad time of year at Beaman. The Laurel Woods Trail is a 12.5-mile hike, with an option to shorten to 7.5 miles on the orange Shortcut Trail.
Lace up your boots, apply sunscreen, fill your water bottles and check out the Middle Tennessee landscape.
