GARY UNDERWOOD GREENWAY
6135 Moore Rd. Paved Trail: 0.8-mile loop
Winding through tall pines and large open fields, the Gary Underwood Greenway winds around the perimeter of Gary Underwood Park—a perfect place to walk, run, bicycle, and walk your dog.
HIGH GROUND PARK TRAILS 1000 Cherokee Trail Natural Trail: 1 mile one-way Difficulty: easy
The trail at High Ground Park, site of a Civil War fort, opens to a wildflower meadow where chairs invite users to sit for a spell. A nature trail leaves the meadow to wind past the remnants of defensive emplacements. As the leaves fall in winter, views of Fort Stanley, Fort Dickerson, and the Loghaven Ridge can be seen, as well as scenic views across the Tennessee River to the UT campus and downtown Knoxville.
I.C. KING PARK TRAILS 3440 Alcoa Highway Natural Trails: 8 miles Difficulty: easy to moderate
There are just under 8 miles of multi-use trails at I.C. King Park. Skirting the shoreline of Knob Creek, an inlet of the Tennessee River, and winding through heavily forested woods, these easy-to-moderate trails are a local favorite for hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers. The shoreline and main trails are low in elevation change, but the trails that climb to the ridge are more strenuous with steep descents.
IJAMS NATURE CENTER & MEADS QUARRY TRAILS
Ijams Parking: 2915 Island Home Ave. Mead’s Quarry Parking: 3518 Island Home Pike Paved Trails: 0.25 miles Natural Trails: 12.3 miles Difficulty: easy to moderate Connects: Knoxville Urban Wilderness, Will Skelton Greenway The tranquil trails on the river side of Ijams Nature Center wind through undisturbed woods and along the boardwalk where the Tennessee
River flows below. These trails are open to hikers and trail runners. The multi-use trails across the road at Ross Marble/ Meads Quarry are part of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness South Loop Trail System. The trails wander around an old quarry taking you past gated caves and uniquely carved marble shelves, then over the rock bridge and underneath the “keyhole” before looping back to the main trail. Trails in this area are a combination of shale and undisturbed soil and heavily manipulated soils and rock. Several easy bridge crossings will enhance your way through the Ross Marble Quarry where trail builders used discarded rock to create a unique trail experience. Hiking-only trails take you past the historic Stanton Cemetery to the top of the ridge where you’ll find an overlook of the turquoise Mead’s Quarry Lake.
See Also: Urban Wilderness Section
KNOX BLOUNT GREENWAY
UT Cherokee Farm Innovation Campus: 2450 E J. Chapman Dr. Marine Park: 2201 Alcoa Highway Paved Trail: 2.1 miles linear Connects: Neyland Greenway, Marine Park The Knox Blount Greenway is still under construction.
South Loop Trail System: 42 miles Main Loop: 12.5 miles Baker Creek Preserve: 7.1 miles Type: single track, dirt roads, greenway Difficulty: beginner to advanced
Connects: Ijams Nature Center, Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, Anderson School Trails, William Hastie Natural Area and Marie Myers Park, Baker Creek Preserve, and Will Skelton Greenway Just three miles from downtown, Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness presents a unique playground for hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners.
Lake Loop Trails
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7752 Martin Mill Pike Paved Trail: 0.5 mile linear Connects: French Memorial Park
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KNOXVILLE’S URBAN WILDERNESS TRAIL SYSTEM
Beginner Trails
HOWARD PINKSTON GREENWAY
This half-mile stretch of the Howard Pinkston Greenway begins at French Memorial Park, and passes by the Howard Pinkston Branch Library, on its northward march to Bonny Kate
Currently, the Knox Blount Greenway spans from Marine Park, along the shore of the Tennessee River, passes the UT Practice Golf Course and Cherokee Farm Innovation Campus and connects to the Neyland Greenway via the J.E. “Buck” Karnes Bridge. The next phase will be to continue the greenway south from Marine Park to join the Alcoa-Maryville greenway system. The final phase of the greenway will eventually continue through Townsend to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Expert Trail
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accessed from either entrance to Fort Dickerson Park. From the main entrance off Chapman Highway, the trail starts near the powerline and descends through the hills down to the Fort Dickerson Greenway. Steep in places, this multi-use trail drops down to the Augusta Street entrance where it connects with the Fort Dickerson Greenway.
Elementary School. The greenway parallels the busy Martin Mill Pike, providing a safe route for pedestrians.
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Everest Loop
Middle Hill
Kimble's Ladder
I.C. KING PARK TRAILS For more info, please visit OutdoorKnoxville.com.