Take a Spin Through Nashville’s Bike Trails and Scenic Byways
From convenient city greenways to serene rural roads, cycling is on a roll throughout the Nashville Region. The area’s biking community has been steadily growing for years, creating a feeling of camaraderie for those who just want to get on their bikes and ride.
“We have a very robust cycling community around Nashville,” says Angela Gucwa, a board member for the Harpeth Bicycle Club, which serves the greater Nashville area. “It’s a community that is supportive of one another. We want people to get outdoors, be healthy and enjoy themselves.”
It is the beauty of the outdoors that makes the Nashville Region so enticing to cyclists. You don’t have to venture far from the hustle and bustle of Lower Broadway to find the peace and quiet of country roads passing picturesque farmland.
“It’s amazing how far you can ride on some of those roads without there being many cars at all,” says Steve Caldwell, president of the Veloteers Bicycle Club in Mt. Juliet. “This area has so much to offer, and cycling is such a great way to see things you wouldn’t normally see by just driving.”
Where to Cycle in the Nashville Region
The greenway systems throughout the Nashville Region have helped propel the overall growth of cycling in the area. There are more than 100 miles of designated paved pathways within Nashville alone and numerous more outside the city.
Popular places to pedal include the Cumberland River Greenway (a 9-mile rail-trail that follows its namesake waterway through downtown Nashville), Clarksville Greenway (another 9-mile former railway), Shelby Bottoms Greenway (within a 960-acre natural area in East Nashville) and the extensive trails systems that run through the cities of Murfreesboro and Brentwood. Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro offers nearly 7 miles of trails.
“I ride a lot with my family in Brentwood,” Gucwa says. “The trail system connects the parks and neighborhoods, and it’s heavily shaded. We’ll do rides as a family and make videos. It’s a great way for us to bond.”
For those seeking a more remote ride, Gucwa recommends heading toward the Leiper’s Fork area, which is in Williamson County approximately 30 miles southwest of downtown Nashville.
“It’s low traffic with great scenery,” Gucwa says. “Just a beautiful place to go for a ride.”
Meanwhile, east of Nashville, Caldwell touts riding to Cedars of Lebanon State Park and then on toward the small community of Lascassas near Murfreesboro.
“There are tons of routes you can take around there, with rolling hills and very low traffic,” Caldwell says.
In addition, cyclists can add a bit of adventure to their riding at Montgomery Bell State Park in Burns in Dickson County, which has approximately 23 miles of dirt mountain bike trails that wind through forested hills. And with trails varying from easy to difficult, everyone can find a path they love.
“Nashville is a great place for cycling, because there is a little bit of everything,” Gucwa says. “You have so much variety that you don’t have to do the same ride over and over. You can explore.”
Rent a Bike, Join a Club
There are numerous places to rent bikes in the Nashville Region, which makes starting easy. These include Pedego Franklin in Franklin, Green Fleet Bikes in Nashville and Nashville’s BCycle bike-sharing program, which is great for short rides around town.
And while cycling can be a solo pursuit, it is also a wonderful way to enjoy exercising with a group. The Nashville Region has multiple options for group rides, as well. The Veloteers Bicycle Club holds organized rides six days a week, along with special holiday outings that raise funds for the Families for Safe Streets organization.
“Cycling is a great way to get out and exercise and build community,” Caldwell says. “You get to know people who you wouldn’t necessarily meet otherwise.”
The Clarksville Cycling Club celebrates that sort of variety, stating that the group is composed of “all types of riders, from casual to way too fast,” which is one of the attractions of cycling. There are no set rules that every participant must follow. You can go fast or slow, travel a long distance or go for a quick jaunt. The only thing to follow is the road or pathway in front of you.
“We want people to enjoy cycling for whatever purpose they want, whether that be travel, exercise or adventure,” Gucwa says. “We want to make the whole Nashville area as bike-friendly as possible.”
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