It’s no secret that I love the outdoors. There is something so special about stepping off the concrete and into the woods for a hike. it is my favorite way to get exercise and leave all of the stress of the world behind me one step at a time. When I first moved to Nashville I frequently ran into the issue that most of the land in Tennessee is privately owned and fenced off. This isn’t something I had experienced out west. Growing up in the desert I could walk out the back gate and walk for 20 miles without encountering a no trespassing sign or a fence. Those days are long gone for Tennessee. This makes hiking difficult unless you have a great trail on your own land. Upon moving to Nashville I would look online and find great suggestions for hiking in the Smoky Mountains, or Hiking in the land between the lakes area. Yet most of the rails I could find in Nashville were glorified city parks. This all Changed when I discovered Beaman Park. It’s wide variety of trails close to where I live have allowed hike as often as I’d like and I still haven’t completed every trail!
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Beaman Park Nature Center
Beaman Park is a 2300 acre public natural area that is located in the hills of Nashville’s western highland rim. It is jam packed full of primitive trails and winding creeks where you can lose yourself for a day and enjoy the beauty of what Tennessee was before all of the development. This park is nestled in the small town of Joelton, TN. a suburb of Nashville making it a short drive from downtown and accessible to all of Nashville’s residents. There are also trails to suit any level of hiker which is fantastic! Especially when you have a family with small children, or maybe haven’t been hiking in a few years and are looking to get back in shape. These are some of my favorite trails!
The Boardwalk trail
This trail can be easily accessed from the nature center parking lot. It is a 0.25 mile walk through the woods on a looped raised wooden boardwalk. This is easily the best trail fro folks that want to get out of the woods but have mobility issues. When I have elderly family members come to visit, this is the trail I take them to when I want to show them the beauty of Tennessee! Just because this trail is the least natural in the park, that doesn’t make it any less fun. You can still watch the chipmunks play and listen to the woodpeckers laugh high in the trees.
The Creekside trail
If you are just looking for a stroll in the woods, this trail is for you. It is a manicured gravel trail that follows a creek on the way to the access points for other trails. All you need to do is park in the parking lot and walk until you see the bridge that crosses the river. I highly suggest unlacing your boots and going for a splash in the river. The cool water flowing between my toes is one of the best experiences following a long hike! From there you can return to your vehicle. This is an extremely easy trail that is great for those with small children. You can even push a stroller with decent sized wheels down the trail.
Sedge Hill Trail
This Trail is somewhat more difficult. This trail begins as a nice stroll through the woods and down a hill that leads to a nice babbling creek where children and dogs can play and you can witness all varieties of the wildlife that calls this area home. I’ve even found some small fish swimming around the rocks!. This trail can be accessed from the Beaman Park Nature Center Parking lot. The challenging thing about this trail is the rough condition due to limited maintenance done on the trail and the long walk uphill while returning to the car. This is the trail I hike the most because it is a short 0.6 miles each way and gets me in woods without requiring a large amount of time This trail is marked by yellow paint on the trees.
Henry Hollow Loop
This is my favorite trail so far! I hike down the Sedge hill trail to access this 2 mile loop making my hike a total of 3.2 miles. This trail goes up and down hills and through the creek making it a beautiful walk in the highland rim! Overall you can expect a 500ft elevation change during this hike. I would rate this hike as somewhat difficult as it does require a decent level of physical fitness to complete. Although this hike can be difficult, enjoying the sights of the trees, the sound of the wind blowing through the canopy and the smell of fresh cedar couldn’t be easier. Most people should be able to finish this hike in around an hour and 45 minutes. Just follow the trees painted yellow until you see the signs for the trail and then follow the trees painted white and its impossible to get lost.
Laurel Woods Loop
Laurel woods loop is the most challenging hike in Beaman park. This is a 12 mile loop that is rated “Difficult” by the park. I have yet to hike this trail yet but am looking forward to it when my son gets a little older. After looking at maps I would say that this trail has a large amount elevation change and covers most of the parks 2300 acres. The great thing about this trail is it has a shortcut connector halfway through that turns it into a 6 mile look. So in the event you feel like tapping out or just wanted a shorter hike it is completely possible! This trail is marked by trees that have green dots painted on them. Im looking forward to the day when my son and I will be able to complete this 12 mile loop and spend the day exploring the rolling hillsides and and abundant wildlife in this area! Maybe we will even see some deer.
Conclusion
I love Beaman park and find myself walking its beautiful trails at least once a month. You should do the same! Leave the couch and the concrete behind. Find a place without all of those pesky fences and trespassing signs go commune with nature in one of the few areas of Nashville that hasn’t been carved into little squares. Having a park like this so close to the heart of Nashville really is a blessing! If you do go visit Beaman park or have been there in the past, drop a comment and let me know what you thought! What trail did you hike?
If you are looking for more fun things to do in Nashville check out the rest of our BLOG. Or take a look at Cody’s Ultimate Guide to Nashville!
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