3 Best Hiking Trails in Knoxville, TN

Expert-recommended Top 3 Hiking Trails in Knoxville, Tennessee. All of our hiking trails actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

10+ YEARS IN TBR
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IJAMS NATURE CENTER

2915 Island Home Avenue,
Knoxville, TN 37920 Directions

Since 1910

Specialty:

Hiking Lake Kid-Friendly Wildlife Road and Mountain Biking Wild Flowers Trail Running Birding Fishing Nature Trips Walking Rock Climbing Kayaking Zipline Adventures Camping Educational Programs

"Ijams Nature Center is a 315-acre a 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.

2026 Highlights: Ijams Nature Center features over 14 miles of natural-surface trails and a section of the Will Skelton Greenway for hiking, walking, and biking."

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License #000048905

Price:

Membership Level
Friend Membership $75
Active Military Veteran Membership $50
Explorer Membership $125
Trailblazer Membership $250
Guardian Membership $500
1910 Society Membership $1,910
Senior (65+) Membership $35
Student Membership $35
Access For All Membership $10

Discount:

10% Off in the gift shop and 15% Off on Navitat Knoxville for Explorer Level Membership

10% Off on facility rentals for Trailblazer Level Membership

Contact:

(865) 577-4717 (865) 577-5541

Mon-Fri & Sun: 10am - 5pm
Sat: 9am - 5pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

9+ YEARS IN TBR
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FORT DICKERSON PARK

3000 Fort Dickerson Road Southwest,
Knoxville, TN 37920 Directions

Since 1863

Specialty:

Hiking Road and Mountain Biking Birding Trail Running Walking Wildflowers Paddling and Swimming Jumping Forest Lake Nature Trips Picnicking Picnic Shelters Scenic Overlook

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 in leash areas.

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Contact:

(865) 215-4311

Mon-Sun: 7am - 8pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

5+ YEARS IN TBR
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SHARPS RIDGE VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

329 Sharp's Ridge Memorial Drive,
Knoxville, TN 37917 Directions

Since 1953

Specialty:

Park Hiking Picnicking Birdwatching Skyline Views Walking Picnic Tables Unpaved Trails Mountain Biking Wildlife Viewing Scenic Overlook

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.

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Contact:

(865) 215-4311

Mon-Sun: 7am - 8pm

TBR® Inspection Report: