This one is for all of my Nashville friends (or those visiting)!
If you are looking for a place to walk your dog, run or visit with friends, Percy Warner Park is a great place! Located at 50 Vaughn Rd Nashville, TN 37221, the park features many hiking and walking trails of varying difficulties. I personally love the neighborhood of Belle Meade, and the park itself feels secluded enough so that you really get a peaceful and serene space to walk in. When you reach the end of Belle Meade Blvd, you will see the Percy Warner steps which is a great starting point (and photo op!) You can also start your walk/run off at either side of the steps. Pro tip: get to the park early! Parking can fill up quickly, so it’s best to get there earlier in the morning.
There are many trails ranging from 1.6 miles to 11.2 miles, so there is something for everyone! The 1.6 mile loop is a great choice for a quick and casual route, and can easily be used for as many laps as you would like. I would say this is a good place to start if you’ve never been to the park before, especially if you’re going alone. I know when I visit a new park or trail, I always worry about getting lost. The loop encircles the steps at the end of Belle Meade Blvd, and access is simple and easy. The route itself is very intuitive, so no need to worry about getting lost! The loop is also paved; therefore, the terrain is easy to go through as well. There are some hills and elevation, but nothing too crazy, so I would definitely recommend it for beginners or as an easy walk with friends.
The other trail I’ve done is the 5.8 mile loop. This is a longer and more moderate route in terms of difficulty. There’s more elevation than the 1.6 mile loop, but it is still paved all the way through. I like this trail if I’m looking for a solid workout. It’s pretty much a perfect length because it’s long enough that I feel accomplished, but it’s short enough that it doesn’t take up half of the day. I haven’t tried the 11.2 mile loop yet, but it will happen soon! I can do an updated review once I’ve tried that one too if that would be helpful.
One thing I love about this park is the physical nature. As I’ve mentioned above, it makes you feel removed enough from the city because the park itself is so big. When you’re inside, you feel like you’re in the forest which is very peaceful. It’s so quiet and a great place to clear your mind. There are so many trees along the paths that it creates a nice canopy from sun or rain. You might also come across some wildlife whether it be turkeys or a family of deer! I usually go in the mornings, and although there aren’t too many people yet at that time of day, there are still enough people where I don’t feel totally alone. I know running or walking alone, let alone in a new place, can be scary. I will say, whenever I’ve been here, I have always come across enough people to feel safe.
Overall, Percy Warner Park gets 4/5 stars! Minus one star because I haven’t explored all of the trails yet. It’s a great option because it offers a wide range of routes and trails for all types of walkers, runners, bikers, equestrians, etc. It’s not too far out of the way from downtown Nashville (about a 25 min drive), and it’s definitely a popular spot. Go try it out if you haven’t already! If you have any experiences at Percy Warner that you would like to share, post them in the comments below! If you have any questions about Percy Warner, you can contact me and I’ll try my best to answer them. Finally, if you have any recommendations on where I should go or what places to review, put them in the user ideas form.
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