As venture into the last leg of summer, activities flourish and the heat of summer continues to sizzle. If you find yourself looking for things do outdoors, consider spending it out on the trails of some of Middle Tennessee’s beautiful state parks. Not only is Tennessee’s wildlife the most prosperous during this time of year, but it’s a great opportunity to get the entire family together and spend some time outdoors.
One of the great things about the state of Tennessee is the ample state parks and hiking trails available to its citizens. With most trails, a collection of information and history of the grounds is available to visitors upon request. And as one might assume, at the Parke Company, we like learning about species, history and life of the trees within the trails. Here are a few state parks that dedicate trails exclusively for tree species:
Edwin Warner State Park (Nashville, Tennessee) — The highly-rated park has their tree specimen trail right along the “Old Roadway” in Edwin Warner and is labeled for hikers to read as they walk. For a map of the park, click here.
Percy Warner State Park (Nashville, Tennessee) — This tree specimen trail is nestled through a one-way vehicular road and a mossy ridge trail, that is both easy and moderately challenging, so you can decide on the level of adventure. For a map of the park, click here.
Long Hunter State Park (Hermitage, Tennessee) — The Couchville Lake Arboretum is right on the state park’s property and they have a self-guided tour! With over 40 identified species, this hiking trail is great for a day out with the family. For the self-guided trail, click here.
Other state parks in Middle Tennessee include (but not limited to):
- Radnor Lake in Nashville, TN
- Long Hunter in Hermitage, TN
- Cumberland Mtn. in Crossville, TN
- Cedars of Lebanon in Lebanon, TN
- Harpeth River in Kingston Springs, TN
If you have a tree that you’re unsure of the species, take a photo of the tree you want identified and give the Parke Company a call. They will be happy to assist you in identifying the tree and how to properly care for it. For more information, please call (615) 405-6548.