Steele Creek Park Your weekend starts here. Hike or bike along 24 miles of trails spread across more than 2,200 acres of pristine woodland in the heart of Bristol. Test your skill on our challenging 9-hole golf course and driving range or on the 18-hole disc golf course. Relax with a paddle boat rental on our 52-acre lake, then let the kids cool off at the Splash Pad. Explore the exhibits and meet the live animals in the 5,000-squarefoot Nature Center, and cap off the day with everyone’s favorite; a ride on the Steele Creek Express replica steam engine. Enjoying the park with a group? Rent one of our picnic shelters to serve as your home base for an afternoon of family fun.
BRISTOL S teele Creek Park
Steele Creek Park
Comprised of more than 2,200 acres, Steele Creek Park is one of Tennessee’s largest municipal parks, featuring more than 150 acres of developed recreational area, a 54-acre lake, and another 2,000 acres of undeveloped forested knobs. Originally planned as a state park in 1936, the project was abandoned before completion and, in 1961, then Mayor Stacy Grayson announced plans to move forward with a massive City park. Steele Creek Park opened to the public on June 6, 1964. Today the park is a peaceful location for both serious and casual nature enthusiasts with areas for hiking, biking, fishing, boating, and enjoying the flora and fauna that are native to the park. Paddle boats are available for rent during the summer months, and a wide variety of fish – including bass, sunfish, and catfish – are plentiful in the lake. Over twenty miles of hiking and biking trails traverse the undeveloped knobs, providing an up-close look at the native species that make the park their home. Picnic tables, grills, and rental shelters are located throughout the park, making Steele Creek the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely lunch and a favorite community spot for family and friends to gather. Playgrounds, ball fields, and a one-mile fitness course are available for park goers of all ages. One of the favorite attractions at the park, however, is the Steele Creek Express, a miniature replica of a real steam engine that has chugged along the shores of Steele Creek Lake since the park’s earliest days. In 2019, with financial assistance from the Junior League, the City constructed a Splash Pad, another popular attraction that is the perfect area for youngsters to cool down on sweltering summer days.
Steele Creek Nature Center
For golf enthusiasts, Steele Creek offers a nine-hole course near the entrance of the park that encompasses 65 acres and is open to the public throughout the year. Those who prefer disc golf can gather at the park’s 18-hole course that offers both pro and amateur tees and nine additional holes that require more challenging trick shots in wooded areas. The disc course can also be rented for tournaments or private play. One of the most visited areas within the park is the Steele Creek Nature Center, a two-story, 5,000-square-foot educational facility that showcases the natural history and beauty of the Southern Appalachians. The Nature Center houses live animals and interactive exhibits designed to interpret the natural history of the park and the surrounding region. Guided hikes and other programs are offered year-round and can be customized for school groups and other organizations. Gardens near the Nature Center are maintained by Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park, a support organization comprised of community members, who also help maintain a tree trail featuring more than 30 different species of native trees. The area has been certified as a registered arboretum by the State of Tennessee. Steele Creek Park is located at 4 Little Lane, just a few miles from historic downtown Bristol. Plan your next visit at bristoltn.org/steelecreek.
All about Bristol: Visit bristoltn.org/visit for more information and the events calendar.
Plan your weekend at bristoltn.org/SteeleCreek 20
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Steele Creek Park
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