Seven Perfect Parks

Nashville is fortunate to have over 175 Metro parks and nearly 100 miles of paved greenways throughout the county. Socket wants to share his top seven Metro parks with you.

Socket the Dog has been sniffing around for the perfect parks and greenways to enjoy some of the best walking, hiking, and bicycling that Nashville has to offer. Learn more about Socket's top seven parks by reading below and check out the Nashville Parks Finder to search for information on these seven parks, as well as other parks near you.

Hartman Park

Hartman Park is the gateway to Whites Creek Greenway. Visitors can stroll 2.5 miles of paved greenway, which runs along Whites Creek, connecting Hartman Park and Community Center with Joseph Brown Mullins Park and 180 acres of park open space.

Cane Ridge Park

This large park, located at the southeastern tip of Nashville, is worth adding to your list. It has ample space to walk and enjoy nature as well as over four miles of mountain bike trails for all experience levels. With all the twists and turns, the beginner rider can get a feel for mountain biking, while the advanced rider can test their skills by keeping speed through the turns.

Warner Parks

Warner Parks includes both Percy Warner Park and Edwin Warner Park. The Warner Parks are one of the largest municipally administered parks in Tennessee and together span more than 3,100 acres of forest and field.

Despite this park’s popularity, the sheer size ensures that you can find some space and solace. For example, explore any of the nine hiking trails including 12 miles of trail and four trailheads. Percy Warner Park Trail Maps and Edwin Warner Park Trail Maps will help you navigate.

Peeler Park and Greenway

Peeler Park is a 633 acre pastoral park tucked away at the end of a long curve in the Cumberland River known as Neely’s Bend. Its bucolic farmland setting on the river features a 3.7-mile paved, multi-use path, 3.5 miles of hiking trails, 8.3 miles of equestrian trails, a public boat launch with associated truck and trailer parking, and an airfield for remote-controlled planes.

Shelby Bottoms Park and Greenway

Shelby Bottoms is a 950-acre floodplain preserve along the Cumberland River just a couple of miles from downtown. The park features 9.7 miles of relatively flat, paved multi-use paths and 6.6 miles of unpaved hiking trails, including overlooks and an observation platform for studying the local ecosystem. Shelby Bottoms Trail Map

The adjacent Cornelia Fort Airpark, which operated as a public use airport until 2011, when it was acquired by the City of Nashville as parkland, provides wide paved paths (former airplane tarmac) in a flat, open field. On a nice day, you’ll find kids playing on the playground, owners walking their dogs on the trails, and locals roller skating. The size allows for plenty of room to spread out for a bike ride, roller skate, jog, or picnic.

Hamilton Creek Park

Looking for a change of pace? Hamilton Creek Park is the only dedicated mountain biking park within Davidson County! Located in Southeast Nashville, Hamilton Creek Park features over 11 miles of single-track mountain biking trails, with enough limestone rock and exposed root to satisfy the most discerning of technical riders. Rated as an Intermediate/Advanced Trail system, Hamilton Creek offers two loops of varying difficulty. The Hamilton Creek Mountain Bike Trail Map will guide your adventure.

Bells Bend Park

Bells Bend Park is an 808 acre pastoral park located in western Davidson County. This park takes its name from a peaceful arc of the Cumberland River known as Bells Bend. This rural preserve is defined by its agricultural history, bountiful opportunities for viewing wildlife, and a landscape shaped by the river.

Bells Bend Park offers more than 6 miles of mowed grass or gravel hiking trails, including a 2.3-mile loop trail, several old farm road trails, and two trailheads. Here is a Bells Bend Park trail map for your adventures.

Beaman Park

Socket the Dog got so excited about Nashville's beautiful parks, he couldn't stop at just seven recommendations. Here is your "bonus pick" for a park to visit this Spring:

Located in northwest Nashville, this wild and rugged land features a Highland Rim forest type, unique plant associations and species, and a landscape with steep slopes, narrow hollows, and streams and waterfalls. Beaman Park is a huge, 2,371-acre sanctuary of unique natural beauty where visitors can experience a peaceful connection with nature, view and learn about plants and wildlife, and realize the importance of preserving the natural world for future generations.

The park offers three hiking trails including over five miles of trail and three trailheads. A Beaman Park Trail Map will help you navigate this park. Since many of the trails in Beaman are narrow, be sure to bring a face mask in case you need to pass within 6 feet of other users.

Are you seeking even more outdoor options? The Nashville Parks Finder allows you to search for parks near your location, or with certain features and amenities. Once you find your next adventure, let Socket know what you discovered. We are always excited to hear from you! Reach us at [email protected].