Lace up your hiking boots. We’ve compiled a curated hiking guide for the Knoxville area with 15 trails and routes to help you plan your next adventure.
Note: Before heading out, we recommend checking park websites for further info, current trail conditions, and safest practices for the area.
Key: Easy = 🥾| Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Hard = 🥾🥾🥾
Urban oases
Sequoyah Greenway, 400 Cherokee Blvd.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.7 miles point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes (crushed gravel surface with a few inclines)
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
This greenway located in the median of Cherokee Boulevard — along the Tennessee River — is popular among runners, walkers, and cyclists. Make it a longer trek by crossing Kingston Pike to access Third Creek Greenway from the parking lot.
Urban Wilderness South Loop Trail, Multiple entrances
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 12.5-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
One of our city’s true gems, the Urban Wilderness — pretty much exactly what it sounds like — features 50 miles of trails and greenways. South Loop Trail in particular connects multiple parks that are part of the Urban Wilderness, like William Hastie Natural Area and Ijams Nature Center.
Lakeshore Greenway, 6014 Lyons View Pike
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.1-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions; paved with some steep inclines
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Enjoy views of the Tennessee River while running or walking this loop. Though the entire greenway covers 3.1 miles, the main loop is a bit shorter.
This overlook from Tharp Trace Trail offers beautiful views of Mead’s Quarry.
Photo by Scott Basford via Wikimedia Commons
Picture-perfect views
Ijams Tharp Trace Trail, 3518 Island Home Pike
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 1.3-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
This hike’s moderate to hard difficulty level is worth it thanks to beautiful views of Mount LeConte and the Quarry. It’s technically two trails — Tharp Trace connects with Pink Marble to close the loop. Once you knock this one off your list, try one of the many other trails at Ijams.
Sharp’s Ridge Loop Trail, 599-501 Ridge Ave.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 3.5-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Views of the Smokies without driving to the Smokies? Count us in. Enjoy some of the best views of the mountains and Knoxville’s skyline on this trail.
Big South Fork Angel Falls Overlook, F8GJ+GM, Oneida
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 6 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Hike along the river and up a few switchbacks to reach the overlook that’s set ~500 ft above the Big South Fork River.
Spot songbirds, hawks, and waterfowl along the meadow trails + Barn Owls inside of old barns at Seven Islands State Birding Park.
Photo by Brian Stansberry via Wikimedia Commons
Wildlife walks
Upland Trail (Inner) Loop, 2809 Kelly Ln., Kodak
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.1-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
This trail at Seven Islands State Birding Park is a popular spot for birdwatchers to observe wildlife while hiking. Species like songbirds, hawks, and waterfowl can be spotted along the meadow trails.
Norris Dam Hootin’ Hollow Trail, West Campgrounds parking lot
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.2 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Listen to the barred owls that the trail was named after and keep an eye out for plants, mushrooms, and lichens including species like Paw Paw, Eastern Redbud, Sassafras, and Flowering Dogwood.
Perimeter Trail (Will Skelton Greenway, Whaley Trail, and Western), W4PX+PX
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: ~6-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: Portions
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Located at Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, animals like deer and turkey can be seen year-round, in addition to a variety of bird species. While this trail is open to the public all year, keep in mind that certain trails in the WMA are only open to hunters from September 1-May 31.
Explore the unique twin arches at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
Photo via NPS
Best for a workout
House Mountain Trails, 9601 Hogskin Rd., Corryton
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: ~1.8-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Combine the West Overlook Trail and Mountain Trail to create an intense — but rewarding — loop with views of the Cumberland, Blue Ridge, and Great Smoky mountains. The short and steep climb to the top is sure to get your blood pumping.
Big South Fork Twin Arches (Upper) Loop, Twin Arches Ln., Jamestown
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.2-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Make the short upper loop to get a view of the double sandstone arches, or brave the more difficult, 4.1-mile lower loop that will take you past rock houses, cliffs, and Charit Creek Lodge in addition to the arches.
Concord Park Trail, 10960 Concord Park Dr.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 4.4-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash
Bring Fido along to enjoy the off-leash dog park before or after your hike. The park is also a popular spot for fishing, tennis, soccer, and skating.
Drive-worthy hikes
Alum Cave Trail, 3639 Newfound Gap Rd., Gatlinburg
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 11 miles out-and-back
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: No
You’ll gain nearly 3,000 ft of elevation while hiking this trail that leads you to panoramic mountain views while passing landmarks like Alum Cave. In the summer, you’ll also get to see blooming Rhododendron along the trail.
Spruce Fir Nature Trail, HGWR+6G Bryson City, NC
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 0.4-mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: No
Explore the highland bogs, where you may get the chance to spot rare species like mountain laurel and yellow birch. If you’d prefer a longer hike in the same area, check out the 9.7-mile Fork Ridge Trail.
Fiery Gizzard Trail, 498 Foster Falls Rd, Sequatchie
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 13 miles point-to-point
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash (some portions of the trail are rocky and may be dangerous for dogs)
We recommend starting at the south trailhead in South Cumberland State Park so that you can enjoy views of Foster Falls right off the bat — and still get a scenic trip even if you don’t hike the full length of the trail.
Bonus: Taking a road trip to Chattanooga? Check out a guide to the city’s hiking trails from our friends at NOOGAtoday.
Get the right gear
Get the most out of your trip with comfortable, handy, and helpful hiking gear:
- For the best footwear, check out Nordstrom Rack’s sneaker edit for hiking.
- If your trail demands a proper hiking boot, we like Columbia’s collection on Amazon.
- Travel light (but still have room for snacks) with lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag.
- Get a good bulk deal on Perfect Bars, Clif Bars, or Kind Bars at a warehouse store like Sam’s Club.
- Don’t forget to bring a compact, portable phone charger (you’ll thank us later).
- We like this Teton hiking backpack.
- Stay hydrated with this lightweight water bottle.
- Psst — to be ultra-prepared, here are the 10 items you should never enter a national park without, according to the National Park Service.
