10 Best Running Trails in the Nashville Area

Jeff Adkins

All right. Your shoes are laced tight, you’ve done your stretches, and now, you are ready to start sweating and put in some quality miles. So where should you go? Here are several suggestions for great places to run throughout the Nashville Region: 

©Journal Communications/Nathan Lambrecht

1. Beaman Park (Ashland City): A 1,700-acre park with three main trails that traverse through the woods for a combined total of nearly 15 miles. 
2. Chickasaw Trace Park (Columbia): The Duck River Trail Run 5K and 15K take place along the scenic trails of this 240-acre park. 
3. Clarksville Greenway (Clarksville): There are three access points to this 9-mile, fully paved corridor that runs along the path of an old railroad line. 
4. Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail (Ashland City): Another former railway, this trail consists of 4 miles of paved pathway and 2.5 miles of gravel. 
5. Murfreesboro Greenway (Murfreesboro): There are plenty of options here, with 16 trailheads, seven greenway sections and a total of 17 miles of trails, bridges and boardwalks. 
6. Radnor Lake State Park (Nashville): While hiking is the primary activity within this 1,368-acre nature preserve, runners enjoy the lake view along the 1-mile Otter Creek Road Trail. 
7. Riverwalk Park (Columbia): Located just off Columbia’s downtown square, this small 60-acre park has a popular 2-mile trail that runs alongside the Duck River. 
8. Shelby Bottoms Greenway (Nashville): Views of the Cumberland River highlight this nicely shaded, 4-mile paved trail. 
9. Springfield Greenway (Springfield): Another 4-mile paved trail, though this time, the scenery is provided by Sulphur Fork Creek. 
10. Warner Parks (Nashville): Two parks with 3 miles of paved trail connecting to the Harpeth River Greenway system, nearly 9 miles of paved multi-use trails and two cross-country courses. 

No matter where you end up going in the Nashville Region, you will be sure to find some beautiful scenery, a good mix of terrains and plenty of outstanding people who share a passion for running.