on tHe traiL

Day Trails in Tennessee

Compiled by Tom Brannon most of the time we think of winter as cold, and sometimes wet and miserable. But in the mid-south we often have days when the weather is nice enough that a trail ride is just the ticket for a fun day on horseback. temperatures in the 40s and 50s are very comfortable for horses; besides, there are no flies in the winter. overnight camping, particularly primitive camping, could get pretty chilly, and some campgrounds are closed in the winter. a daytime trail ride after a relatively short haul can be a great way for you and your horses to enjoy the cooler season and still be able to sleep in your own bed and your horses in their own barn. Josh guin, a regular contributor of trail riding articles in the Mid-South Horse Review, has compiled on his website, tnhorsetrails.com, a list of trails in tennessee that lend themselves to a day ’s trail ride. Hauling distance depends on your starting point, but there is at least one day trail within a twohour haul of almost anywhere in tennessee. not many states can claim that, particularly when the distance from one end of the state to the other is over 500 miles. the tennessee state Parks website, https://tnstateparks.com/activities/horseback-riding, also has information about trails within state parks. Before you haul, contact the facility to make sure they are open that day and if there are any special restrictions. Below is a partial list.

Big Hill Pond State Park 6 miles; trail difficulty: intermediate 1435 John Howell rd., Pocahontas,tn

Big Hill Pond state Park lies in the southwestern part of mcnairy County and encompasses 4,138 acres of timberland and hardwood bottomland. Cypress Creek and tuscumbia river border the property. the flood plain, adjacent to the river and creek, contains small oxbows and swampy areas which are desirable habitat for waterfowl, wildlife, and fish. equestrian trails are primarily on old logging/fire roads and park gravel roads. Horse trails are blazed red and shared with mountain bike riders. most fire roads are double-back roads.

Chickasaw State Park and Forest over 100 miles; trail difficulty: beginner to advanced 20 Cabin Lane, Henderson, tn

Chickasaw state Park has five miles of horse trails and the surrounding Chickasaw forest has hundreds of miles of trails. Horses may be rented at the stables or bring your own.

Bowie Nature Park 12 miles; trail difficulty: beginner 7211 Bowie Lake rd., fairview, tn

Bowie nature Park contains 700+ acres of forest, lakes, and trails. Day use trails are good for barefoot horses and beginners. the trails are beautifully maintained and, since they close the trails in wet conditions, they are generally free from erosion. within the park there are 12 miles of winding trails through several ecosystems that include wetlands, grasslands, pine forest, and hardwood forest. at any time, trails may be closed to bikers and horseback riders due to wet conditions, so call before riding: 799-5544 ext. 1.

Harlinsdale Farm 3 miles, trail difficulty: beginner 239 franklin road, franklin, tn the equestrian trail at Harlinsdale is open as a self-guided trail throughout the park, uniquely located next to historic downtown franklin.the trail features 2.62 miles of standard trail and .33 miles of advanced trail throughout the historic farm, known as the birth place of the modern tennessee walking Horse.

Percy Warner Park 8.7 miles; trail difficulty: beginner 2500 old Hickory Blvd., nashville,tn

Percy warner Park, along with edwin warner Park, form one of the largest municipal parks in tennessee, together at 3,100 acres just outside downtown nashville. Percy warner Park has a dedicated equestrian trailhead entrance off old Hickory Blvd with ample parking. its nine miles of maintained trails with shade trees, open fields, access to water, picnic areas and winding paths make this a prime trail riding destination.

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park 8.5 miles; trail difficulty: intermediate

910 riddick rd., millington, tn meeman-shelby forest state Park is a 12,539-acre hardwood bottomland area bordering the mississippi river, 13 miles north of memphis, featuring mature Bald Cypress and tupelo swamp. most of the facilities are on top of the Chickasaw Bluffs that rise from the bottomlands and are covered with large oaks, american beech, hickory, and sweet gum. the trail meanders along a bluff with the largest loop overlooking Poplar tree Lake. the horse trail closes for inclement weather and wet conditions. Please call 901-876-5215 to see if the trail is open. trail and topography maps are available at the visitor’s center.

Norris Dam State Park 125 village green Circle, rocky top, tn; 865-425-4500 norris Dam state Park shares a boundary with the City of norris. the following trails, located on the east side, are open for equestrian use: Camp sam, Lake view trail, Lakeside Loop, and Highpointtrail.

Panther Creek State Park 2010 Panther Creek Park road, morristown, tn; 423-587-7046 the trails offer a variety from easy, straight, gently sloping sections to strenous, hilly sections along Cherokee Lake, with captivating views. Bring your own horse, with current negative Coggins papers. there are no camping facilities on the trails, and riders must stay on the trail.