10 Best Hiking And Trekking Spots In Tennessee, USA

1. Cumberland Trail

Cumberland Trail, also known as Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail, is a panoramic trail that features gorges, rivers, falls, and woods. It stretches to 11 counties in Tennesse. The hiking trail is not yet fully developed, but hikers have been visiting it for the longest time already. Its development is expected to be finished in the year 2021. Depending on which part of the trail you’d want to hike, the distance of your walk can take up to 40 miles (64 kilometers).

Cumberland Trail

Address: TN

Website: Cumberland Trail

2. Volunteer Trail

Volunteer Trail is a moderate trail to take—ideal for people who are new to hiking. It is 10 miles (16 kilometers) long, and the path is pretty straightforward as there are orange reflectors to guide travelers. It is near a lake, so you can also catch some fish to eat during your hike. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to see wild deers, so bringing a camera and a power bank will be worth it because there are so many wonderful sights to take pictures of here! For dog lovers, yes, you can bring your dogs—just make sure that they are properly leashed because you don’t want them to chase the wild animals!

Volunteer Trail

Address: Granny Wright Ln, Hermitage, TN

3. Fall Creek Falls State Park

Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of the most famous and frequently visited attractions in Tennessee because of the stunning falls. The trail will give you the opportunity to enjoy lush greens, gorges, streams with crystal-clear water, and cascades. Fall Creek Falls is a magnificent sight to see as it stands at 256 feet (around 78 meters)—one of the tallest in the state.

Fall Creek Falls State Park

Address: 2009 Village Camp Rd, Spencer, TN

Website: Fall Creek Falls State Park

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

4. Ramsey Cascades Trail

Ramsey Cascades Trail is another moderate trail to take. With its elevation gain reaching 2,190 feet (667 meters), you’d best be prepared to be tired along the way if you are new to hiking—in other words, you must be physically prepared! Though tiring, it has features that will chase your stress away. You’ll have the chance to see fantastic falls worthy of being uploaded to Instagram, and you will also have plenty of chances to connect with fellow hikers!

Ramsey Cascades Trail

Address: Ramsey Prong Rd, Gatlinburg, TN

5. Blue Blazes Trail

Blue Blazes Trail is a two-loop trail that is geared towards a more relaxed and easy trek. It stretches 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) long with elevation gains of 42 feet (13 meters), so you can easily complete the whole trail. It is ideal for people who are not so acclimated to hiking and serves as a practice trail for longer, and more challenging, hikes. Other things that you’ll enjoy in the trail is the view of Tennesee River and wildlife running out and about the vicinity.

Blue Blazes Trail

Address: 409 Moccasin Bend Rd, Chattanooga, TN

6. Virgin Falls State Natural Area

Virgin Falls State Natural Area features an 8.3-mile (13-kilometer) out-and-back trail. It is famous for its natural geological formations, caves, and waterfalls. The trail is considered by many hikers to be moderately difficult to hike due to its roughness and some narrow points. Camping is allowed only in the proper camping areas. While walking the trail, you might want to pick some wild blueberries you’ll find along the way!

Virgin Falls State Natural Area

Address: 2080 Scott Gulf Rd, Sparta, TN

Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)

7. Percy Warner Park

Percy Warner Park has three different trails for travelers to explore, all of which are moderately challenging, and the length of these trails ranges from 3 miles to 6 miles. (4.8 to 9.6 kilometers). A hike can be completed in one to three hours, depending on which trail you will take—and yes, you can take your loyal pet dog with you, provided that he’s on a leash! The only thing is that camping is not allowed, and there are no overnight accommodations too.

Percy Warner Park

Address: 50 Vaughn Rd, Nashville, TN

Website: Percy Warner Park

Opening hours: 6am - 11pm (daily)

8. Radnor Lake State Park

Radnor Lake State Park boasts wildlife, such as various species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, plus a panoramic environment, which makes the park a pleasure to hike in. It features nine trails for hikers to explore, six of which are for people looking for a moderately difficult hike, and the distance range from 2.3 to 5 miles (3.7 to 8 kilometers), which gives you a lot of options to choose from. Radnor Lake State Park is classified as a Class II State Natural Area, and you’re expected to adhere to its hiking policies—e.g., no running, going off-trail, bringing of food, and bringing pets.

Radnor Lake State Park

Address: 1160 Otter Creek Rd, Nashville, TN

Website: Radnor Lake State Park

Opening hours: 6am - 5pm (daily)

9. Little Cedar Mountain Trail

Little Cedar Mountain Trail is known for having species of plants that can only be found in the area and nowhere else. The trail is only 4 miles (6 kilometers) long, which is a relatively short hike—but nevertheless enjoyable because of the panoramic views. It is also home to a newly discovered species of plant, John Beck’s Leafcup (Polymnia johnbeckii)—which makes the place great for photography enthusiasts because there are so many interesting subjects here!

Little Cedar Mountain Trail

Address: Tva Rd, Jasper, TN

10. Cherokee National Forest

Cherokee National Forest is one of the largest national forests in Tennessee. It spans a total of 655,598 acres, so there’s plenty of hiking trails that you can explore. It has a total of 138 hiking trails, 88 of which are for moderate hikers, and the rest is reserved for hard-core trekkers. Depending on the trail you’d choose, the length ranges from 1 to 23.7 miles (1.5 to 38 kilometers), and elevation gains from 721 to 5,892 feet (21 to 1796 meters). There is a wide variety of animal species here and over 20,000 plant species too!—making it one of the most frequented national parks in all of Tennessee!

Cherokee National Forest

Address: Elizabethton, TN

Pause with nature

There are plenty of places in Tennessee where you can connect with nature. If the going gets tough in your everyday routine life, then it’s about time that you pause for a while and visit the best hiking and trekking spots in Tennessee, USA! A dose of fresh air and refreshing forest views are sure to help revitalize you.