Nashville Parks & Outdoor Activities: The Short Version (2026)
- Best hike close to downtown: Radnor Lake State Park, 16 minutes by car, 7.75 miles of trails, free, open 6 AM until 20 minutes after sunset.
- Biggest woods: Percy and Edwin Warner Parks, more than 3,000 acres and about 17 miles of hiking trails, 23 minutes from Broadway.
- Best walk or bike ride: Shelby Bottoms Greenway, a flat 5.5-mile paved trail along the Cumberland, 14 minutes from downtown; Metro has more than 110 miles of greenways in total.
- On the water: Percy Priest Lake beaches ($5 per vehicle at Anderson Road), Harpeth River canoe floats, and self-guided skyline kayak trips on the Cumberland.
- Know the rules: pets, bikes and jogging are allowed at Radnor only on the Otter Creek Road Trail; summer heat, ticks and storms shape the best hours.
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Nashville parks and outdoor activities are the side of Music City most visitors never see. Within 30 minutes of Broadway there is a wildlife sanctuary around a lake, more than 3,000 acres of forest in the Warner Parks, a riverside greenway you can ride for an afternoon, a 14,200-acre reservoir with swimming beaches and a river gentle enough for a first canoe trip. Most of it is free.
This guide covers the city parks, the best hikes, greenways and biking, the lakes and rivers, seasonal tips and park rules, and which hotels make the best base for an outdoorsy trip. Each section is a short summary that links to our detailed guide on that park.
How we researched this: in November 2026 our editors checked hours, trail lengths, fees and rules on the official pages of Radnor Lake State Park, Metro Parks (nashville.gov), Friends of Warner Parks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers listings on Recreation.gov, Nashville BCycle, Nashville Shores and River Queen Voyages, and measured drive times from 4th Avenue and Broadway with OpenStreetMap routing (no traffic). Where official figures differed, we used the most recent official one.
Nashville parks and outdoor activities at a glance
Every park in this table is free to enter except Nashville Shores and the paid paddling trips; the main cost is getting there. Drive times are from 4th Avenue and Broadway without traffic, checked November 2026.
| Place | Distance from downtown | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park | Walkable; 4 min by car | History walk, carillon, events | Free |
| Centennial Park | 2.8 mi, 7 min | Picnic, lake loop, the Parthenon | Free (Parthenon $15) |
| Shelby Bottoms Greenway | 4 mi, 14 min | Flat walk or bike ride | Free |
| Two Rivers Park | 8 mi, 16 min | Disc golf, mansion grounds | Free |
| Radnor Lake State Park | 7.8 mi, 16 min | Wildlife, easy lake trails | Free |
| Percy and Edwin Warner Parks | 15 mi, 23 min | Longest forest hikes, scenic drives | Free |
| Beaman Park | 13 mi, 30 min | Quiet ridge-and-hollow hikes | Free |
| Long Hunter State Park | About 21 mi, 30 min | Lake trails, paved Couchville Lake loop | Free |
| Percy Priest Lake (Anderson Road) | 12.5 mi, 23 min | Swimming beach, boating | $5 per vehicle per day |
| Nashville Shores | 12.4 mi, 19 min | Lakeside waterpark (summer) | $49.99 online in 2026, parking $15–$18 |
| Narrows of the Harpeth | 27 mi, 40 min | Canoe and kayak floats | Outfitter rental |
City parks: Centennial Park, Bicentennial Capitol Mall and Two Rivers
The best city parks for a short outdoor break are Centennial Park in Midtown and Bicentennial Capitol Mall downtown, both free and within 7 minutes of Broadway; Two Rivers Park in Donelson adds disc golf near Opryland.
Centennial Park (2500 West End Avenue) covers 132 acres around a lake and the full-scale Parthenon replica. The grounds are free; the Parthenon museum, with the 42-foot Athena, costs $15 for adults in 2026. It is the easiest green space to reach from Midtown hotels and the most popular picnic lawn in the city; our Centennial Park and Parthenon guide covers hours and parking.
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park (600 James Robertson Parkway) runs below the State Capitol, with the Pathway of History wall, a World War II memorial and a 95-bell carillon that plays on the hour. It is free and sits next to the Tennessee State Museum and the Farmers’ Market, so it combines easily with a morning downtown. It is a lawn and memorial park rather than a nature walk, and shade is limited in summer.
Two Rivers Park in Donelson, 9 minutes by car from Gaylord Opryland, has a popular disc golf course and the grounds of the 1859 Two Rivers Mansion. See our Two Rivers Mansion and disc golf guide before you go; bring your own discs.
Best hikes near Nashville: Radnor Lake, the Warner Parks, Beaman Park and Long Hunter
For a first hike, choose Radnor Lake for wildlife and easy trails 16 minutes from downtown; for a longer forest hike, choose the Warner Parks. Beaman Park and Long Hunter State Park are quieter and about 30 minutes out.
Radnor Lake State Park (1160 Otter Creek Road). A protected natural area of just over 1,400 acres around an 85-acre lake, with 7.75 miles of trail. It is day-use only and open 6 AM until 20 minutes after sunset every day; the Walter Criley Visitor Center opens 7 AM until dark. Trails are reserved for hiking, photography and wildlife watching: pets, jogging and bicycles are allowed only on the Otter Creek Road Trail. Parking is free in two lots, east (off Franklin Road) and west (off Granny White Pike), and both back up on busy weekend mornings. Trail picks are in our Radnor Lake guide.
Percy and Edwin Warner Parks (Warner Park Nature Center, 7311 Highway 100). Managed together, the two parks cover more than 3,000 acres, with about 17 miles of designated hiking trails according to Friends of Warner Parks and 10 miles of horse trails, plus paved scenic roads popular with cyclists and runners. The parks are open sunrise to 11 PM, and the nature center opens Tuesday to Saturday, 9 AM to 4 PM. The Iroquois Steeplechase takes over part of Percy Warner Park on May 8, 2027. Routes are in our Warner Parks hiking guide.
Beaman Park (nature center at 5911 Old Hickory Boulevard, northwest Davidson County). More than 2,300 acres of steep hollows and ridges with trails such as the Henry Hollow Loop and the Sedge Hill Trail. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk; the nature center opens Tuesday to Friday noon to 4 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM. It is the quietest of the four, but 30 minutes from downtown and with limited facilities.
Long Hunter State Park (on the east shore of Percy Priest Lake, about 30 minutes from downtown). Around 2,600 acres, with a flat, paved loop of about 2 miles around 110-acre Couchville Lake that suits strollers, and the 5.5-mile Volunteer Trail along the lakeshore for a longer day. Entry is free.
Greenways and biking: Shelby Bottoms, the greenway network and BCycle
Nashville’s greenways are the easiest way to be outdoors without a car trip into the woods: Metro Parks counts more than 110 miles, and Shelby Bottoms in East Nashville is the best stretch for visitors, flat, paved and 14 minutes from Broadway.
Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural Area (nature center at 1900 Davidson Street). Metro describes it as a 960-acre natural area next to Shelby Park with a 5.5-mile, ADA-accessible paved trail that links to the Stones River and Cumberland River greenways. The greenway is open dawn to dusk; the free nature center opens Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 9 AM to 4 PM and Wednesday and Friday noon to 4 PM. Our Shelby Bottoms guide has route ideas for walkers and cyclists.
Bike share. Nashville BCycle’s site still lists its e-bike system as available 24 hours a day, with rides from $10 (checked November 2026). Its future is less certain than the website suggests: Metro did not renew the operating contract in 2025, and stations were removed from Metro Parks locations, so check the app for docks near your route before you count on it. For a full day on the greenways, a rental from a bike shop is the more reliable option.
Lakes and rivers: Percy Priest Lake, Harpeth River paddling and Cumberland River kayaking
For swimming, go to Percy Priest Lake; for a gentle canoe float, the Harpeth River west of town; and for a skyline paddle, a self-guided kayak trip down the Cumberland into downtown. All three are seasonal, roughly spring to fall.
J. Percy Priest Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir with 14,200 surface acres of water east of the city. The Anderson Road Day Use Area has a swim beach, picnic shelter, playground and boat ramp for $5 per vehicle per day, operates seasonally and may close on busy weekends when it fills; Seven Points also has a designated swim beach and boat ramp in season. Corps swim beaches are generally unguarded, so swim only in the marked areas.
Nashville Shores (4001 Bell Road, Hermitage) is the lakeside waterpark on Percy Priest. Its 2026 season ran May 9 to September 20, with any-day tickets at $49.99 online ($59.99 at the gate) and parking at $15–$18; 2027 dates and prices had not been announced in November 2026. Details are in our Nashville Shores guide.
Harpeth River. The Harpeth is a slow, mostly Class I river west of Nashville, and the stretch around the Narrows of the Harpeth, about 40 minutes from downtown, is the classic beginner float. Outfitters along U.S. 70 in Kingston Springs rent canoes and kayaks and run shuttles in season; water levels drop in late summer and rise fast after storms, so call ahead. Trip lengths and access points are in our Harpeth River canoeing guide.
Cumberland River kayaking. River Queen Voyages runs a self-guided Skyline Route that paddles downriver from Shelby Park to downtown, with a free shuttle to the put-in; standard trips meet at Wasioto Park next to Nissan Stadium. The company says it operates from roughly March to November and that reservations are required; it does not publish prices on its home page, so check its booking calendar.
When to go: heat, ticks, storms and park rules
The best months for hiking and paddling in Nashville are April–May and September–October. Summer is hot and humid, so hike before 10 AM; spring brings storms; and ticks are active in the warm months on every wooded trail.
- Heat: July and August afternoons are hot and humid. Start hikes early, carry more water than you think you need, and choose shaded trails such as Radnor’s lake loop over open lawns.
- Ticks and insects: stay in the middle of the trail, wear long socks or repellent, and check for ticks after any hike in the Warner Parks, Beaman or Long Hunter.
- Storms and rivers: spring and summer thunderstorms build fast; leave lakes and rivers at the first thunder, and do not paddle the Harpeth after heavy rain.
- Hours: Radnor closes 20 minutes after sunset, Beaman at dusk and the Warner Parks at 11 PM; the Warner, Beaman and Shelby Bottoms nature centers close at 4 PM and are closed Sundays and Mondays.
- Dogs: keep dogs leashed in Metro parks, and remember that at Radnor pets are allowed only on the Otter Creek Road Trail. Our dog-friendly hotels guide lists the hotels that welcome them.
Beat the Radnor parking line
Radnor Lake’s two lots back up on spring and fall weekend mornings. Arrive at the 6 AM opening or after 3 PM on weekends, or go on a weekday. If the east lot is full, the west lot off Granny White Pike has overflow parking along Otter Creek Road; the road is closed to cars between the two lots.
Where to stay for an outdoorsy Nashville trip
Midtown is the best base for Centennial Park, Radnor Lake and the Warner Parks; Opryland is closest to Two Rivers, Shelby Bottoms and Percy Priest Lake; and SoBro puts you on the riverfront for the pedestrian bridge and kayak trips. Fees and parking are from our hotel registry, checked November 2026.
| Hotel | Area | Price level | Walk to Broadway | Pool | Resort fee | Parking | Booking.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimpton Aertson Hotel | Midtown / Vanderbilt / Music Row | Upscale | 6-minute Uber (1.5 miles straight down Broadway) to Lower Broadway | 8th-floor seasonal rooftop pool for guests and residents (closed for the season in November 2026; reopens in spring) | $30 + tax per night guest amenity fee (internet, Social Hour, coffee, loaner bikes, one-time $15 Henley credit) | Self-parking $50 + tax; valet $54 + tax per night | Check prices |
| Conrad Nashville | Midtown / Music Row (Broadwest) | Luxury | 4-minute Uber (1 mile) straight down Broadway to Lower Broadway | 3rd-floor heated outdoor pool terrace with cabanas & Thistle & Rye bar | $30 + tax per night (waived on Hilton Honors points stays) | Valet $56/night (Broadwest underground self-parking garage available) | Check prices |
| Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center | Opryland / Music Valley | Upscale | 15-min drive to Lower Broadway (about a 14-min walk to the Grand Ole Opry House) | 4-acre SoundWaves indoor/outdoor upscale waterpark + 2 outdoor resort pools | $45 + 16.75% tax per night ($52.54/night total) | Self-parking $38/night; Valet $50/night | Check prices |
| Four Seasons Hotel Nashville | SoBro (1 Block off Lower Broadway) | Luxury | 1 block to Lower Broadway & Ascend Amphitheater (2-minute walk) | 7th-floor heated infinity-edge pool overlooking the Cumberland River | None ($0 mandatory resort or destination fee) | Valet $58/night | Check prices |
Kimpton Aertson Hotel (2021 Broadway, Midtown) is about a 20- to 25-minute walk from the Parthenon and 14 minutes by car from Radnor Lake. It is pet-friendly and has an eighth-floor seasonal rooftop pool; the downsides are a $28 + tax nightly fee and $50 valet. Conrad Nashville (1620 West End Avenue) is the quieter luxury option in Midtown, with a heated pool terrace, but adds a $30 + tax fee and $56 valet. Gaylord Opryland is 9 minutes from Two Rivers Park and has its own SoundWaves waterpark, but charges a $45 + tax resort fee ($52.54 per night) and $38 self-parking. Four Seasons Hotel Nashville (100 Demonbreun Street) has no resort fee and a seventh-floor infinity pool over the Cumberland, a few minutes from the pedestrian bridge; valet is $58.
Kimpton Aertson Hotel
- 8th-floor rooftop pool deck in Midtown (seasonal)
- Hosted evening Social Hour (in the amenity fee)
- Henley restaurant & Woodhouse Spa in the Aertson Midtown complex
- 1 block from Hattie B’s Hot Chicken & Vanderbilt
Sophisticated Midtown boutique hotel at 20th & Broadway with an 8th-floor rooftop pool, a hosted evening Social Hour and the Henley restaurant.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
- 9 acres of indoor glass-enclosed botanical atriums
- 4-acre SoundWaves indoor/outdoor waterpark
- Delta flatboat river ride inside hotel
- Walk to Grand Ole Opry & Opry Mills
Nashville’s iconic 2,888-room resort featuring nine acres of climate-controlled indoor tropical gardens, indoor waterfalls, a quarter-mile riverboat ride and the SoundWaves waterpark.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Four Seasons Hotel Nashville
- NO Resort Fee ($0/night)
- 7th-floor infinity pool over Cumberland River
- Bacco Tuscan steakhouse (opened April 2026) & Rivière Rooftop
- 1 block from Lower Broadway & Country Music Hall of Fame
Five-star contemporary luxury just one block south of Lower Broadway, pairing a 7th-floor infinity pool over the Cumberland River with zero resort fees.
Prices vary according to travel dates and availability.
Sources and How We Verified This
- Radnor Lake State Park: acreage, hours, trail mileage, pet and bike rules, parking lots.
- Metro Parks, Shelby Bottoms: 960 acres and the 5.5-mile paved trail.
- Metro Parks, Beaman Park Nature Center: acreage, address and hours.
- Friends of Warner Parks: acreage and hiking trail mileage.
- Recreation.gov, Anderson Road Day Use: swim beach facilities and the $5 vehicle fee.
- Nashville BCycle: operating status and starting price.
- Nashville Shores: 2026 season dates, ticket and parking prices.
- River Queen Voyages: Skyline Route, meeting point and season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best park in Nashville for hiking?
Radnor Lake State Park is the best all-round choice: 7.75 miles of trail around an 85-acre lake, frequent wildlife sightings, free entry and only 16 minutes by car from downtown. For longer, hillier hikes, the Percy and Edwin Warner Parks have about 17 miles of hiking trails across more than 3,000 acres, 23 minutes from Broadway.
Are dogs allowed at Radnor Lake?
Only on one trail. Radnor Lake’s rules allow pets, jogging and bicycles only on the Otter Creek Road Trail, the paved former road between the east and west parking lots. The other trails are reserved for hiking, photography and wildlife watching. If you are traveling with a dog, the Warner Parks and Shelby Bottoms are better choices; keep dogs leashed.
Can you swim in Percy Priest Lake?
Yes, at designated swim beaches such as the Anderson Road Day Use Area, which charges $5 per vehicle per day and operates seasonally, and Seven Points. The beaches are run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and are generally unguarded, so swim only in marked areas, and expect Anderson Road to close to new cars on busy summer weekends.
Where can you kayak in Nashville?
For a skyline trip, River Queen Voyages runs self-guided kayak trips on the Cumberland from Shelby Park down to downtown, roughly March to November, with reservations required. For a quieter float, the Harpeth River near the Narrows of the Harpeth, about 40 minutes west, has canoe and kayak outfitters in Kingston Springs. Percy Priest Lake suits paddlers who bring their own boat.
Is there bike share in Nashville?
Nashville BCycle’s website still lists its e-bike share as running 24 hours a day with rides from $10 (checked November 2026). However, Metro did not renew the operating contract in 2025 and some stations were removed from parks, so confirm dock locations in the app before you plan a ride. For long greenway rides, renting from a bike shop is more reliable.
