Nashville’s Top Five Hiking Spots With Your Dog

Nashville is a great city to live in and has much to offer. But sometimes, you want to get back to simplicity and enjoy the simple sounds of nature, especially with your dog. Luckily, you do not need to go too far to find places that will satisfy this need to explore. Nashville has many different hiking options, and we have compiled a list of our top five places to enjoy with your dog.

1. Beaman Park

Pros: Located about 15 minutes northwest of Downtown Nashville. Beaman Park is a great place to go hiking with a dog. It is not far from the city and the park has beautiful creeks along the trail. It is not overly crowded and the forest keeps you nice and shaded the whole hike. There are a few hiking trails to choose from in this 1,678 acre park. Trails are a narrow dirt path with some elevation that are moderately challenging. trails range from 2.1 mile to 12 miles. The park offers a nature educational center that usually hosts serval learning events or hikes related to the local habitat.

Cons: There is nothing bad I can say about this park, just be aware the 12 mile trail can easily take up to 5 hours to complete and it is good to be prepared with water and snacks for you and your dog.

2. Bells Bend Park

Pros: Located about 15 minutes northwest of Downtown Nashville and is not too far from Beaman Park. Bells Bend Park is one of my favorite places to go hiking with a dog. It is not far from the city and the park has beautiful wide open green spaces. It is rarely crowded and you are likely to see some wildlife. This park is a perfect place to go running with your dog because the soft and flat terrain is easy on your joins. The 2.5 mile trail loop runs alone the Cumberland River and the park offers camping and a nature educational center.

Cons: There is a lot of tall grass boarding the trails and dogs are more likely to pick up ticks and burs in their fur. Because it is near the river, it is not uncommon for the trail to be muddy or slightly flooded after heavy rain. There are not as many signs along the path, so it can sometimes be confusing for a first timer.

3. Percy Warner and Edwin Warner Parks

Pros: Located in the Bellemeade area of Nashville, Percy Warner is one of my top places to go hiking with a dog. It is minutes from downtown and is a peaceful oases from the city noises. This park has many different trail options and is great for hiking and trail running. They also have paved roads to walk or bike on. The trails are hilly and moderately challenging and mostly shaded. The park entrance is known for the long set of stairs at the start of the trailheads. You are likely to hear local birds and see a showcase of wildflowers in the the spring. Some of the trails merge into Edwin Warner park for more trail options.

Cons: It is a popular park and can be more crowded, especially during the summer and weekends. some trails do intersect with some horseback riding trails, which can be always fun to see, but some dogs might be startled if they have never seen a horse before.

4. Radner Lake

Pros: Located South Nashville Radner Lake is a beautiful place to go with your dog. It is not far from the city and the park has a paved trail that goes around a picturesque lake. The park encourages preservation of the local animal habitats which means you are likely to see some wildlife such as birds, deer, and bald eagles. This park is a perfect place to go for a leisurely stroll and enjoy the natural scenery.

Cons: It is a popular park and can be more crowded, especially during the summer and weekends. Not all the trails at this park allow dogs which would limit your options.

5. Long Hunter State Park

Pros: Located South East of Nashville in Mt. Juliet, there is a great place to go hiking with your dog. It is about 30 minutes from the city and the park has many trails lining Percy priest lake. Some trails are paved and the majority are easy to moderate in difficulty. The park has a lot of outdoor recreational activities and camping facilities.

Cons: Some trails do not allow dogs.

6. Bonus- Shelby Bottoms & Two Rivers Greenway

Pros: I had to include at least one of the many greenways we have in Nashville to walk on. Shelby Bottoms to Stone Rivers Greenway is one of my favorites because it is a very long trail that can lead you from East Nashville over a bridge across the Cumberland River all the way toward the Percy Priest Dam. The whole trail is almost 20 miles long one way. There are many trail heads, and parks along the way to enjoy different sections of the trail at different times you choose to visit.

Cons: The trails are very popular with bikers, runners, and other walkers, so you will need to keep your dog closer to you to prevent any road blocks.