3 Best Hiking Trails in Knoxville, TN

“Ijams Nature Center is a 315-acre an ideal destination where tourists of all ages and abilities can walk, bike, paddle, climb, and enjoy. The trail is a loop with a total length of 1.3 miles and an elevation gain of 114 feet. This trail takes approximately 29 minutes to complete. This trail also encourages environmental stewardship by offering an urban green space where people may learn about and enjoy the outdoors via engaging events. Ijams Nature Center is committed to offering numerous educational programs annually and is a lovely place to learn about the local area's nature. This is a perfect spot to explore the local birds, turtles, and plants.”

“Fort Dickerson Park covers over 1,000 acres and contains a preserved Civil War fort with picnic areas and informative displays about the fort's history, design, and construction. The trail is a loop type and spans a total length of 1.3 miles. The trail's elevation gain is 82 feet, which is generally considered an easy route. This trail takes approximately 27 minutes to complete. The quarry view is connected via a natural footpath that winds through the forest and skirts around the quarry. The trail features a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, picnic tables, and kid-friendly hikes for the convenience of the visitors. Fort Dickerson Park also allows dogs on a leash areas.”

“Sharps Ridge Veterans Memorial Park is a perfect place to ride mountain bikes and enjoy time with friends and family. The trail is a 3.6-mile loop with an elevation gain of 390 feet, which is considered moderately challenging. The time taken to complete the total trail is 1 hour and 26 minutes. The trail features a magnificent viewing platform with signage identifying each mountain peak. This nature area also ensures a network of unpaved walking and hiking trails, including a multi-use path that meanders through the wooded hills. Sharps Ridge Veterans Memorial Park also includes a 0.6-mile trail designated exclusively for downhill mountain biking. This is a habitat for numerous songbirds, which attracts bird enthusiasts from all around.”