Tennessee has a number of trails with minimal obstacles. Some are very easy and others are wheelchair accessible. Here are just a few of them.
These links were found through Internet search. I would love some first-hand information. With your help, we can share our knowledge with disabled people everywhere and also increase awareness of the need for more accessibility. Please e-mail me with your suggestions using the form in the sidebar.
Federal
State
Local
Private
Miscellaneous
Federal
Cherokee National Forest
The 650,00 acre Cherokee National Forest in Eastern Tennessee stretches from Chattanooga to Bristol along the North Carolina border and lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachian mountain range.
Here is the Forest website. Link to Maps & Publications List of Day Hikes
Phones: Unaka Ranger District 423-638-4109, Ocoee Ranger District, 423-388-3300, Ocoee Whitewater Center 423-496-0100, Tellico Ranger District 423-253-8400, Watauga Ranger District 423-735-1500
Appalachian National Scenic Trail #1 at Osborne Farm 0.5 miles “where Cross Mountain bridges Holston Mountain and Iron Mountain. This easy …slice of A.T. provides everyone an opportunity to enjoy the pastoral mountain views of Shady Valley”. Ocoee Ranger District
Rhododendron Trail #332 1.6-miles, The “one-way hiking and biking trail travels along the world famous Ocoee River. ” Ocoee Ranger District.
Indian Boundary Lake Trail #129 3.1 mile loop for hiking and biking. It goes “around the scenic lake with views of the mountains.” Tellico Ranger DistrictGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
“Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America’s most visited national park.”
Here is the Park website. Phone 865-436-1200 Maps
Trails accessibility information
Hiking In The Smokies.com – difficulty has a trail list with difficulty ratings. You can see that the rugged Great Smokies offer little in accessibility. You might try Randy Johnson’s Best Easy Day Hikes guide.
NORTH CAROLINA
Deep Creek Trail to Tom Branch Falls “The trail begins as a wide path as it traces Deep Creek upstream. The 80-foot Toms Branch Falls is located only three-tenths of a mile from the trailhead. The park service has provided several benches for visitors to admire these beautiful falls, which spill down into the creek from the opposite bank.”TENNESEE
Sugarlands Valley Nature trail is 0.5 mile round trip. Reviewed on AllTrails.com It is located on Newfound Gap Road, just south of Sugarlands Visitor Center.
Spruce Fir Trail is 0.35 miles with an elevation gain of just 25′ according to the author of Hiking In The Smokies.com.
Laurel Falls 2.6 miles Map EveryTrail.com says the trail is paved and is suitable for strollers, but considered ‘moderate” in difficulty. “wideopencountry.com” warns that the first half is uphill.
Metcalf Bottoms Trail 1.4 miles. A short nature hike through the woods to Greenbrier School. Map from EveryTrail
Middle Prong Trail Trip Advisor hikingproject.com maliasmiles 4 miles. The trial is a 12′ wide graveled railroad grade for the first two miles. Descriptions vary for the difficulty after that. Video by The Smoky Mountain Hiking Blog
State
Tennessee State Parks
General Brochure for Tennessee State Parks State Map showing State Park locations. Phone 615-532-0001
Accessibility information for Tennessee State Parks
Big Cypress Tree State Park
“The park is a quaint, clean and relaxing spot to enjoy nature’s purity and beauty. A variety of native wild flowers and trees may be seen such as showy evening primrose, black-eyed Susans, yellow poplar, bald cypress and dogwood. Along with plant life there is an abundance of wildlife at Big Cypress and the park is popular location for birdwatchers. “
Here is the Park website. Phone 731-235-2700 Map and Brochure
Boardwalk Trail 1,142′ paved. the boardwalk “leads the visitor into the park’s seasonally flooded hardwood bottomland forest.”
Tree identification trail 0.38 mile paved.Cove Lake State Park
“Cove Lake’s 717 acres are situated in a beautiful mountain valley on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau.”
Here is the Park website. Phone 423-566-9701 Map & Brochure
Accessible Trail 3.5 miles pavedIndian Mountain State Park
“Indian Mountain State Park is a multi-use facility in Campbell County near Tennessee’s northern border. Visitors to the 203-acre park enjoy fishing at the lake, picnicking, camping, and hiking on the three trails. “
Here is the Park website. Phone 423-784-7958 Map & Brochure
Indian Mountain Lake Trail 1.0 mile PavedLong Hunter State Park
“The more than 20 miles of hiking trails provide a variety of terrain and habitats and range from pleasant strolls to longer jaunts for the more adventurous.”
Here is the Park website. Phone 615-885-2422 Map & Brochure
Couchville Lake Trail 2.0 miles paved “This paved trail encircles 110-acre Couchville Lake. This is one of the most popular walks in the state park system due to its accessibility, lakeshore scenery, and abundant wildlife.”Radnor Lake State Park
“The park is perfect for nature enthusiasts to observe owls, herons and water fowl as well as many species of amphibians, reptiles and mammals such as mink and otter. Hundreds of species of wildflowers, mosses, fungi, ferns and other plants as well as trees, shrubs and vines add to the natural ecological diversity of the area. ”
Here is the Park website. Phone 615-373-3467 Brochure & Map
Lake Trail 1.3 miles mulch/gravel “The Lake Trail is accessible to people with all-terrain wheelchairs.
Otter Creek Road 1.1 miles pavedDam Walkway 0.2 miles gravelTims Ford State Park
“Located on the Tims Ford Reservoir, the 1,321-acre Tims Ford State park sits in the shadows of the Cumberland Plateau in south-central Tennessee. The Tims Ford Lake is considered one of the most picturesque lakes in Tennessee and is regarded as one of the top bass fishing and recreational lakes in the Southeast.”
Map & Brochure Phone 931-962-1183 Here is the Park website.
Overlook Trail 1.0 mile, pavedTims Ford Bicycle Trail 6 miles, paved. Call the park to see if part of this trail would be appropriate for your hiking ability or even for a wheelchair.Warriors’ Path State Park
This 950-acre park is located on the shores of the Patrick Henry Reservoir on the Holston River.
Here is the Park website. Phone 423-239-8531 Map and Brochure Hiking Trails Map & Guide
Lions Narnia Braille Trail is 0.25 mile with eight sensory stations that “tell visitors the story of Aslan of the Chronicles of Narnia”. There is also the Anderson Treehouse which is a fully-accessible tree house.
Overlook Trail 0.5 mile “This is the easy way to get to the top. Follow old farm lanes to enjoy rich forests and fine views across the lake.” Better check first to be sure this is easy enough for you.
The park has a “Boundless Playground – where children of all physical and mental abilities can play together.” There is also a fully accessible tree house.
Local
City of Fairview
Bowie Nature Park Phone 615-799-5544 Trail Map & Flyer
The park contains over 700 acres of forest, lakes & trails. Thank you Program Director Jenny Herrera for this helpful information: “We currently do not have an ADA accessible trail. We do have easy trails for the elderly or even for more adventurous wheelchair users when the trails are dry. I would recommend Loblolly Trail and the Twin Loop Trail. They are wide trails and when dry are very compact with fewer roots and rocks than some of our other trails.” Call before going to be sure of trail conditions.
Loblolly Trail about 1.2 mile loopTwin Lakes Loop Trail about .76 mileCity of Murfreesboro
Parks and Recreation phone 615-890-5333 Website
Murfree Spring Wetlands (from the city) is a 25 acre city park with easy access to the children’s Discovery Center Phone 615-890-2300 Trip Advisor There is an $8 charge for the Center, but none for the walking trails.
The trails travel through flooded willow swamps, mature hardwoods, and open water wetlands that provide for a wide variety of species to be found. Spring and fall songbird migration can be excellent.City of Nashville
Nashville has four nature centers which “…are open year-round and offer programs, special events, field trips, natural history information and literature, maps and naturalists to answer your questions.”
Nature Centers and Natural Areas. Parks and Recreation phone (615) 862-8750 Hiking Trails
Shelby Bottoms Nature Center Phone (615) 862-8539 Map and Brochure
“Shelby Bottoms offers a variety of trails including approximately five hiking trails, five miles of multiuse, accessible paved trails, and three trailheads.”
Warner Parks Maps of Percy & Edwin Warner Parks 615-352-6299 Hiking Trails Brochure
Edwin Warner Park Map There are three short trails in the Edwin Warner Park described as easy. The Little Acorn Trail and its interpretive stops are designed for children six years and under. I have known some pretty spry six year olds, so you had better call first to see if these trails are really easy enough.
Private
Reflection Riding Arboretum Nature Center
“This 317-acre property is home to hundreds of plant species. Today the organization supports an array of gardens and the Level IV arboretum. In addition, the miles of hiking trails present multitudes of wildflowers and some exotic species to be enjoyed in the natural state. ” The Center is 10″ from downtown Chattanooga.
Here is the Center’s website. Phone 423-821-1160 Nature Center Map Scenic Map Accessibility
Non-Members Adult $10, Senior $7, Children 4-11 $7
Reflection Riding Loop scenic driving trail 3 miles “experience a series of landscapes consisting of bucolic pastures, deep forests, meadows, bottomlands and sweeping vistas.”
Boardwalk 1,400′ through seasonal wetland
Miscellaneous
Nature For The Blind has a directory of Braille trails for almost every state in the US and for many other countries.
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy lists wheelchair accessible trails in Tennessee.