Take a hike: Get fresh air and social distance on less-traveled Tennessee State Parks trails

It seems like many people think Radnor Lake State Park is the only place to go hiking.

Don't get me wrong. I love Radnor and the beauty of its lake and hills trails and its convenient location. But the ultra popular natural area is often so busy that you can't find a place to park.

With so many people eager to get outside these days, social distancing properly to avoid spreading the coronavirus can be a challenge, even on the trails.

Plenty of other state parks offer less crowded but wonderful walks through nature. Now is a good time to explore some other hiking and walking options.

State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath offered these suggestions for trails with fewer users in state parks located within a 90-minute drive of Nashville.

Johnsonville State Historic Park has about 5 miles of trails through wooded hills overlooking Kentucky Lake. "The trails lead to historic features of the supply depot located here during the Civil War. They also feature Oak-Hickory forests, excellent birding and interesting scenery," Hedgepath said.

He said the trails are rated moderate because of steep, but short, upgrades. This park is about an hour west of Nashville off US Highway 70 in Humphreys County. https://tnstateparks.com/parks/info/johnsonville

Edgar Evins State Park, near Cookeville, overlooks Center Hill Lake. Hedgepath recommends both the 2-mile Highland Rim Nature Trail that starts at the park office and the 0.6-mile Evins Ridge Trail that starts at the park's Interpretive Center. 

"These trails offer a short introduction to the lush hollows and rocky ridges that made up the park," Hedgepath said. "For the more ambitious hikers the Millennium Trail and the Merritt Ridge Trail offer a challenging 8-9 miles of moderate trail." tnstateparks.com/parks/info/edgar-evins

Henry Horton State Park is located near Chapel Hill, on the shores of the historic Duck River, which, according to the park's website, is known as "one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world." 

"The least used trail is the Wild Turkey Trail, which starts from the maintenance area along Warner Road. It is an easy 1.7 miles of Oak-Hickory and Cedar forest," Hedgepath said.

He also suggested the Hickory Ridge Trail that starts from the camp store and "offers a pair of loops totaling about 3 easy miles featuring interesting rock formations. The Hickory Ridge Trails connect with the Adeline Wilhoit River Trails, the Wetland Trail, and the Wilhoite Mill Loop for another 5 miles of interesting scenery and excellent wildlife observation."

This park also has an elevated observation platform and a wetland shelter along the Wetland Trail. tnstateparks.com/parks/henry-horton

Montgomery Bell State Park, in Burns near Dickson, has nearly 19 miles of trails. Hedgepath recommended several short trails that originate in Church Hollow or at the park office.

"The trails at Montgomery Bell are quite easy and feature historic iron ore pits, a historic church and clear streams cascading off the limestone ledges," he said. tnstateparks.com/parks/montgomery-bell

Standing Stone State Park, near Livingston in Overton County, has a moderate 5-mile Lake Trail featuring one of the most picturesque small lakes in the state. Spring wildflowers are abundant in the lush shady hollows. tnstateparks.com/parks/standing-stone

Natchez Trace State Park is a large park within a large state forest in Wildersville, with trails that wind through the forest and along the lake shores and streams of the park. 

 Hedgepath says the Pin Oak and Oak Ridge Trails near the Pin Oak Lodge are "beautiful, easy walks through the native West Tennessee forest. The Cub Lake Trail features historic facilities from the 1930s, two boardwalks across the lake and lush forests teeming with wildlife along the 4.8-mile moderate loop."

Many of the park's buildings were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration. It is located off Interstate 40 an hour and a half west of Nashville. tnstateparks.com/parks/natchez-trace

Trail maps and other information are available for each park at tnstateparks.com. Just click on "Find a park."

Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”