Tennessee is rife with natural beauty; it’s found in our cities and down our country roads and along our rivers, serene and bursting with wildlife. Sometimes, though, being so inundated in beauty may make us a bit blind to what is right in front of us. We’ve found seven state parks around Nashville that are great to visit, no matter the time of year – they deserve a little attention!

1. Edgar Evins State Park
Edgar Evins State Park Road, Edgar Evins State Park Rd, Tennessee 38582, USA
Michael Hicks - Flickr
Edgar Evins is located on Center Hill Lake, roughly an hour east of Nashville. You can rent condo-style cabins if you're looking for a vacation, and there are more than 12 miles of hiking trails if you're more into the call of nature. You can visit their famed butterfly garden as well, with more than 35 species of butterflies and 30 of native Tennessee plant life. It's an amazing park for stargazers, too.
2. Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Cedars of Lebanon State Park, 328 Cedar Forest Rd, Lebanon, TN 37090, USA
Michael Hicks - Flickr
Cedars of Lebanon clocks in with 900 acres worth of forested land, spotted with over 100 campsites perfect for the nature enthusiast. Wander more than 8 miles of trails or even plan a wedding on the premises - it's gorgeous enough for it! Due to the uniqueness of the environment, there are actually 19 plants that grow in the park that don't grow anywhere else in the world. That's pretty neat, if you ask us. Learn more about this region in this article.
3. Port Royal State Park
Port Royal State Park Trail of Tears trailhead, Clarksville, TN 37043, USA
Rich - Flickr
Located in Adams, Tennessee, Port Royal State Historic Park covers twenty-six miles of historic area between Montgomery and Robertson Counties. The covered bridge you see above crosses the Red River, and you can utilize the day-use park for picnicking, hiking, fishing and canoeing. It makes a great day trip destination, too.

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4. Long Hunter State Park
Long Hunter State Park, 2910 Hobson Pike, Hermitage, TN 37076, USA
Michael Hicks - Flickr
Long Hunter State Park became a recognized park in 1974 and consists of four main areas within the park, Couchville, Baker’s Grove, Bryant Grove and Sellars Farm. It has more than 20 miles of hiking trails and two boat ramps leading to J. Percy Priest Lake. Long Hunter State Park is also a place where the sunrise is pure magic.
5. Henry Horton State Park
Henry Horton State Park, 4209 Nashville Hwy, Chapel Hill, TN 37034, USA
Kelly Stewart - Flickr
Constructed in 1960, the state park was actually built on the property of former governor Henry Horton. Located out near Columbia, there are multiple campsites and you can fish in the wildly diverse Duck River. The Buford Ellington Championship Golf Course is also located on the property. It's known as one of the most challenging places to swing a club in the south! Learn more on the official Tennessee State Parks website.
6. Harpeth River State Park
Harpeth River State Park - Hidden Lake, 7851 McCrory Ln, Nashville, TN 37221, USA
Brent Moore - Flickr
Covering over forty river miles, the Harpeth River State Park stretches out along the waterfront and delves back into the forested Tennessee wilds. It's most popular for water sports like kayaking and canoeing, but you can also make your way through the foliage on one of their many hiking trails. This state park is perfect for a daycation!
7. Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, 600 James Robertson Pkwy, Nashville, TN 37243, USA
Thegreenj - Wikipedia
The Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park was built in 1996, honoring Tennessee's bicentennial. You'll most likely notice the looming Capitol overlooking the park towards the south, and you'll also have the chance to wander the WWII memorial and see the full Carillon bell tower. Get all the details in this article!

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State Parks to Visit in Nashville

Tori Jane | February 05, 2022

What are the best hiking trails in Nashville?  

Just because you live in or near a big city like Nashville doesn’t mean you can’t get a great hike in every week (or more)! In fact, according to our friends at AllTrails, there are more than 30 wonderful trails in and around Nashville that are perfect for hikers of all skill and experience levels. Some of the best/most popular hiking trails in Nashville include wild gems like the 3.9-mile Day Loop Trail, tucked inside Long Hunter State Park. This beautiful trail features lake views and absolutely breathtaking wilderness. Then, there’s the delightful Harpeth Woods Trail, located in Edwin Warner Park. It’s two and a half miles of good times just waiting to happen for the hiking nature lover. At Radnor Lake State Park, there are trails like the Garnier Ridge and South Cove Trail, which is longer, at five and a half miles, but ever so worth it for the views and the peace and quiet. As we said, there are plenty of choices – after all, there are more than 30 trails in and around Nashville to fall in love with all year round.  

What are the best parks in Nashville?  

Nashville is home to plenty of delightful state and city parks to enjoy whether you’re by yourself or you want to bring the whole family. Parks in Nashville well-known among local parents for just how great they are for kids include the Fannie Mae Dees Park, on Blakemore Avenue, which has an epic dragon/hill slide the young’uns will love. Sevier Park, on Lealand Lane, features an interesting historic house, a walking path, and beautiful trees to admire while you’re wandering. We also like Red Caboose Park, which is absolutely wonderful for families with kids (perhaps even more so than Fannie Mae Dees Park). It’s got all sorts of playground equipment to entertain the little ones – and their imaginations – for hours. Thinking a little bigger? Check out this list of five awesome Nashville-area state parks you ought to visit ASAP.  

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