Description
Book SynopsisDiscover the Best Hikes in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is a perfectly situated hiker’s paradise. The master chain of the Appalachian Range—the Great Smoky Mountains—rises within sight to the east. Protected as Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this area offers more than 900 miles of hiking trails amid rushing streams, rugged ridges, huge trees, colorful wildflowers, and abundant wildlife. To the west, the Cumberland Plateau features distinctly different terrain. Water-carved gorges slice through this elevated table of land, exposing rock walls and creating rock houses, sheer bluffs, and other remarkable geological formations. North of Knoxville, the ridge-and-valley country blends elements of the plateau and the high ranges.
Explore 40 of Knoxville’s best, five-star trails with the guidance of acclaimed author and hiking expert Johnny Molloy. With hikes in this guide divided into five distinct areas, you’ll wind through hilly woodlands, around expansive lakes, and along meandering rivers. You’ll visit breathtaking waterfalls and find panoramic overlooks.
Inside you’ll find:
- Descriptions of 40 five-star hiking trails for all levels and interests
- Full-color GPS-based trail maps, elevation profiles, and detailed directions to trailheads
- Insight into the history, flora, and fauna of the routes
- Ratings for scenery, difficulty, trail condition, solitude, and accessibility for children
Lace up, grab your pack, and hit the trail!
Table of ContentsKnoxville
- Ijams Nature Center Loop
- Knox Blount Greenway
- Lakeshore Greenway
- Neyland Greenway
- Will Skelton Greenway
- William Hastie Natural Area
West
- East Lakeshore Trail
- Frozen Head State Park: Emory Gap Falls and DeBord Falls
- Frozen Head State Park: Frozen Head Tower via Armes Gap
- Gallaher Bend Greenway
- Hall Bend Trail
- Lone Mountain State Forest Hike
- UT Arboretum Loop
North
- Big Ridge State Park: Dark Hollow Loop
- Big Ridge State Park: Sharps Station Loop
- Cumberland Trail above LaFollette
- Devils Backbone
- Norris Dam State Park: Andrews Ridge Loop
- Norris Dam State Park: Lake View Loop
- Norris Dam State Park: Marine Railway Loop
- Observation Point Loop
- River Bluff Trail
East
- House Mountain Loop
- Panther Creek State Park: Maple Arch Double Loop
- Panther Creek State Park: Point Lookout Loop
- Panther Creek State Park: Pioneer Loop
- Seven Islands State Birding Park
South
- Cherokee National Forest: Indian Boundary Loop
- Cherokee National Forest: South Fork Citico Sampler
- Fort Loudon State Historic Area Hike
- Smoky Mountains: Alum Cave Bluff
- Smoky Mountains: Baskins Creek Loop
- Smoky Mountains: Cucumber Gap Loop
- Smoky Mountains: Hen Wallow Falls Hike
- Smoky Mountains: Injun Creek
- Smoky Mountains: Little Bottoms Loop
- Smoky Mountains: Porters Flat Hike
- Smoky Mountains: Rich Mountain Loop
- Smoky Mountains: Walker Sisters Place via Little Greenbrier Trail
- Smoky Mountains: Whiteoak Sink
