Nashville is definitely a “must-run” city. The network of tracks and trails here is constantly expanding and improving, which means even local runners can learn new routes. In this article, we’ve rounded up the top places where any athlete’s running shoes should step at least once!
1. Centennial Park
This is one of the best parks in Nashville, famous for Nashville’s Parthenon, a replica of the famous Athenian Parthenon, the Centennial Art Center, an incredible sunken garden, and many historical monuments.
The main picturesque 1-mile loop runs around the Parthenon and Lake Watauga. Due to its central location, Centennial Park Nashville trails can be a starting point to other iconic sites like Vanderbilt University and its campus, allowing you to extend your workout and enjoy the historical and urban scenery.
Why is it worth-to-run?
- The running trails are flat and paved, making them suitable for runners of all skill levels.
- The park is located near commercial and residential areas. If you work in an office nearby, you may choose it for your lunch break runs.
- The trails have mile markers every quarter mile and directional arrows, making it easy to build a route and track the covered distance.
- The park’s lush fields are great for extra exercises like stretching or yoga, so you’ll often find other runners there.
- The park offers 11 parking lots, some of which are free. So if you’re driving from another area for a workout, you don’t have to worry about where to park your vehicle.
2. Beaman Park
Beaman Park has been around for over 10 years but still attracts many tourists and joggers. The latter appreciate the diversity of the local paths, which allows them to adjust the training difficulty depending on their goals and desires.
Beaman Park trail lengths are over 5 miles in total. The 2.5-mile Henry Hollow Loop passes close to the rock formations and cascades of Henry Creek, climbing up to the 1.5-mile Highland Trail. Overall, the park offers significant elevation changes, which are great for hill running.
But if you’re looking for easier running trails in Nashville, TN, the park offers two flat 0.25-mile trails. The first is located at the entrance of Little Marrowbone Rd, and the second surrounds the Beaman Park Nature Center.
Why else is it great?
- Beaman Park is less crowded and less visited than many other local parks. This means that you can safely train in silence and solitude without maneuvering between people on your way.
- This is a popular place for dog-friendly trail running in Nashville, so your four-legged friend can stay active with you.
- Incredible natural scenery like pristine streams, waterfalls, hilly landscapes, and narrow ravines will make your workout more enjoyable and reloading.
3. Warner Parks
This is the common name for Edwin and Percy Warner Parks. They are located half an hour (or 9 miles) south of the city center and cover about 3,000 acres in total.
Given such an impressive area, it’s no surprise that it offers plenty of Nashville running trails, totaling 15 miles of road trails and 11 miles of dirt ones.
Why is it good?
- The parks are known for their hills, so if you like a challenge, run to the top of the hill at Percy Warner Park. Or explore the 4.5-mile Mossy Ridge Trail with its hilly terrain, perhaps one of the most famous trails in the area.
- Despite numerous ups and downs, the road surface is smooth and contains no stones or roots. So novice runners can also try their luck without the risk of injury.
- The lush foliage in the parks creates a beautiful view and a pleasant shade on hot days.
4. Richland Creek Greenway
Nashville has an entire 65-mile greenway system, and the Richland Creek Greenway takes an honorable 5.25 miles of them. It connects McCabe and Sylvan parks to the many shopping malls located on the busy White Bridge Pike and Harding Road.
Why is it terrific?
- Richland Creek is located in one of the most promising and prosperous residential areas of Nashville, easily accessible to most city residents. So if you google “running tracks near me,” this path will most likely be at the top of the search.
- On this path, you will find mile markers and pavilions with maps. So wherever you jog, you can always check your location and think about where to run next.
- The path offers both flat and sloping surfaces making it suitable for different types of workouts.
- This is another place where your dog can accompany you on the run.
5. Shelby Bottoms Greenway
Located in East Nashville, Shelby Bottoms Greenway covers 960 acres and offers runners a full 10 miles of trails. 5 miles are paved trails, and the other half are primitive natural trails. Whichever surface you choose, you will have a great view of the Cumberland River.
Why is it nice to run?
- Markers every quarter mile help runners track distance with ease.
- Deciduous forests provide good shade, which is important for long workouts in the heat.
- Along the way, you can find several fountains that will perfectly refresh you during or after your workout.
- If you are a wildlife lover, the local raccoons, waterfowl, deer, owls, and frogs will be grateful spectators of your running training.
6. Stones River Greenway
If you’ve got the energy and enthusiasm left over after the Shelby Bottoms, you can extend your run with the Stones River Greenway. This 10.2-mile trail runs parallel to Stones River and leads to Percy Priest Lake, which means the scenery of the water and its coolness are included in the workout.
Why is it “runnable”?
- This is a comfortable Nashville run with a paved surface suitable for casual, non-exhausting workouts.
- There are 4 main car parks along the way.
- Your dog can run with you if you keep it on a leash.
7. Long Hunter State Park
If you are running in Nashville and need a place for endurance training, try Long Hunter State Park. It has approximately 25 miles of trails.
Unlike many of the above locations, dogs are prohibited here on trails such as the Bryant Grove Trail, Couchville Lake Trail, and the Nature Loop Trail. On the rest of the routes, your furry friend can only accompany you on a leash. This is probably the right decision because a dog can get lost in a territory of 2,600 acres.
Why is it great?
- The main plus is the wide selection of easy to moderate trails ranging from 1 to 6 miles. For example, the Bryant Grove Trail is 4 miles one way, the Nature Loop Trail is only 0.3 miles, and the Volunteer Trail is 5.5 miles. All paths are easily interconnected, so you can build an ambitious running route if desired.
- Maps are available in every park unit. Thus, you won’t get lost even if you are running there for the first time.
- In addition to running, the park offers camping, boat ramps, fishing spots, and more, so you will definitely have something to do after your workout.
8. Highland Rim Trail
If you’re training for a marathon or other long run, the Highland Rim Trail is another good place. It spans 20 miles from Highway 50 to Garrison Creek, with panoramic views of forests, valleys, and hills.
The trail is also open to horses, so we recommend leaving your white running shoes at home and checking your feet periodically (if you know what we mean).
Why is it cool?
- You can choose between paved and dirt surfaces on your route.
- There are no crowds here, so if you want to take a break from the bustle of the city, this is a great opportunity.
- Despite being less crowded, the trail still passes alongside the road. So drive away your fears that you will be completely alone with no hope of help if something goes wrong.
9. Music Row
Calm and uncrowded running trails are great, but sometimes you want to break into civilization and run like a star. In this case, Music Row is what you need.
This is the heart of the country music that Nashville is famous for. Running along the sidewalk street for about 3-4 miles, you will see a lot of music licensing firms, video production houses, record labels, and publishing houses.
Why else is it great?
- The sidewalk streets are paved with moderate elevation changes, which means that a runner of any level can train in this center of the entertainment industry.
- There are plenty of restaurants nearby, so post-workout snacking won’t be a problem.
- You will be able to experience musical history, as many famous hits from different times were recorded here.
As you can see, Nashville has no shortage of parks, greenways, and other attractions for runners. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Please share where you like to run in Nashville in the comments to help us complete the list.
