There is no need to go far to experience the natural wonders of spring in Knoxville! Downtown Knoxville offers multiple forested parks that span over 1,000 acres right along the south waterfront in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. There are over 50 miles of trails consisting of everything from paved greenways to rocky dirt mountain paths.
We encourage everyone to be safe but don’t hesitate to reach out to us at ORTHOKnox if you or a friend takes a tumble while mountain biking or twists an ankle while hiking. We offer Urgent Orthopaedic Care so you can come visit without an appointment! We hope you have a blast in the Urban Wilderness while biking, hiking, climbing, paddling, and playing!
The goal is to span the Urban Wilderness from Alcoa Highway in the west to the head of the Tennessee River on the east and down to I.C. King Park in the south. Currently, the top sites include the following:
- Ijams Nature Center: with over 315 acres of woodland, Ijams offers exhibits, unique habitats, climbing, paddling, fishing, and hiking!
- Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area: over 10.8 miles of trail and greenway. The McClure Lane trailhead is home to the stunning sunflower fields that bloom in July!
- Anderson School Trails: 10.6 miles of trails through wooded valley from easy to difficult.
- William Hastie Natural Area: forested area perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running on 6.3 miles of trail with some old side roads.
- Marie Myers Park: public nature sanctuary.
- Baker Creek Preserve: 7 miles of hiking with three downhill-only mountain biking trails—great for experienced riders!
- Baker Creek Play Forest: aimed at youth around middle-school age, offers large structures to play on underneath a tree canopy.
You can even earn an Urban Wilderness Patch if you hike 47 miles of trail! The trails will range from easy to difficult but should be worth the stunning views and nature experiences. There is also an Urban Wilderness Map app to help guide you and make sure you don’t miss a thing!
We hope you have a great time exploring Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, but we are here for you at ORTHOKnox if you sustain an injury. For more information about how the board-certified surgeons, orthopaedic team, or physical therapists at ORTHOKnox can treat you, call (865) 251-3030, or fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form. We look forward to hearing from you!