Where to Run in Nashville

WHERE TO RUN IN NASHVILLE

For when you want to get away from the rowdy honky tonks and live music joints that light up the Nashville night, here is a list of our favorite running spots that will get you in a rhythm!

The Cumberland River Greenway

• Location: Downtown Nashville
• Length: 3.5 miles
• Trail End Points: Ted Rhodes Park to Nissan Stadium
• Trail Surface: Paved

Paved trail along the Cumberland River that extends from Ted Rhodes Golf Course into Downtown to 1st Ave along Fort Nashborough and Riverfront Park, with spurs along the way to Morgan Park and Bicentennial State Park. It featuring public art and a number of river overlooks. Soon to be extended through the TSU campus, connecting with Boyd/Taylor Park.

Shelby Bottoms

• Location: East Nashville
• Length: 10 miles
• Trail End Points: 1900 Davidson Street; Stones River Greenway
• Trail Surface: Paved/Primitive Trails

The 960-acre Shelby Bottoms Greenway and Natural area is located in East Nashville adjacent to Shelby Park and is one of five Natural Area Parks within Metro Parks. With approximately three miles of Cumberland River frontage, this area features bottomland hardwood forests, open fields, wetlands, and streams, providing excellent habitat for birds, amphibians, deer and more. The greenway offers over 5 miles of paved ADA accessible trail for hiking, biking, running, skating and wildlife watching and over 5 miles of primitive trails for more passive activities of walking, running and exploring nature.

Centennial Park

• Location: Downtown Nashville
• Length: 1 mile
• Trail End Points: 2500 West End Avenue
• Trail Surface: Paved

Centennial Park is one of Nashville's premier parks. Located on West End and 25th Avenue North, the 132-acre features: the iconic Parthenon, a one-mile walking trail, Lake Watauga, the Centennial Art Center, historical monuments, an arts activity center, a beautiful sunken garden, a band shell, an events shelter, sand volleyball courts, dog park, and an exercise trail. Thousands of people visit the park each year to visit the museum, see exhibits, attend festivals, and just enjoy the beauty of the park.

Stones River Greenway

• Location: East Nashville
• Length: 10.2 miles
• Trail End Points: Shelby Park to Percy Priest Dam
• Trail Surface: Paved

Ten-mile paved trail system connecting Shelby Bottoms to Percy Priest Lake and linking to the YMCA on Lebanon Road, Heartland Park, and Two Rivers Park along the way.

Richland Creek Greenway

• Location: Sylvan Park
• Length: 5.25 miles
• Trail End Points: McCabe Park
• Trail Surface: Paved

Over three miles of paved trail connecting McCabe Park and the Sylvan Park neighborhood with shopping centers along White Bridge Pike and Harding Road, and Nashville State Community College.

Photo: Jobie Williams

Percy and Edwin Warner Parks

• Location: Belle Meade
• Length: 15 miles road, 11 miles dirt trail
• Trail End Points: Belle Meade Blvd/Harpeth River Greenway
• Trail Surface: Paved/Dirt Trails

Edwin and Percy Warner Parks, collectively known as “The Warner Parks,” are managed by the Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation Department. 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, 9 miles from downtown Nashville.

Close to a million people visit the Warner Parks annually to utilize the Nature Center, picnic shelters, dog park, scenic roadways and overlooks, hiking trails, mountain bike trails, equestrian center and horse trails, cross country running courses, golf courses, and athletic fields. Warner Parks is also an important historical community resource listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo: Trent Rosenbloom

Harpeth River Greenway

• Location: West Nashville
• Length: 8 miles
• Trail End Points: Edwin Warner Park/Morton Mill
• Trail Surface: Paved