Knoxville is a great place to live if you love the outdoors. We are just a short drive and day-trip away from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Big South Fork, Obed Wild and Scenic River, and the Hiwassee River Area (all full of camping, hiking, and amazing swimming holes). More locally, we have our very own urban wilderness, amazing parks, and developed green-ways that are practically in many of your backyards.
The Knoxville Urban Wilderness offers outdoor adventures right in the heart of the city. According to the Legacy Parks website, the Knoxville Urban Wilderness has more than 50 miles of trails and greenways that connect you to historic sites, lakes, parks, a bike-park, a 500-acre wildlife area, and more. It connects you to places like Baker Creek Preserve, a favorite for bikers of all ages, and Fort Dickerson Quarry where you can cool off in the summer.
Knox County also has an extensive park system. Many of these parks have amazing playgrounds, splash pads, picnic spots and other fabulous amenities that make them perfect places to take your family. Check out our favorite parks list and our general park list to help you find one to explore.
Knox, Blount, and Anderson counties offer paved green-ways that are perfect for bike riding. Some of our personal favorites include the Melton Lake Green-Way that connects to Haw Ridge in Oakridge, the North Boundary in Oakridge (possibly beavers and owls abound) and Gallaher Bend. Also, be sure to check out our guide to Best Knoxville Family-Friendly Bicycle Rides for even more places to bike.
I love all the outdoor fun Knoxville has to offer, but these three places hold a special place in my heart.
Ijams Nature Center
Ijams is a little slice of adventure that’s perfect for families. You can hike, bike, swim, play, explore, paddle, and more! We love the unique play areas that offer logs to climb and things like “twigloos” that allow for imaginative play and keep my kids entertained for hours. I also took my older girls to do the Navitat adventure and they had a blast. You can read all about it here.
Seven Islands State Birding Park
This place is perfect for a casual walk or a fun hike. Be sure to pack your binoculars and birding guide because this place is a true birding sanctuary. If you like to canoe or kayak, this is the perfect place to launch. Check out this map of the Blueways! Plus, one of our writers visited recently, so be sure to read all about her experience.
House Mountain
This is great for kids seven and older. This 500-acre natural area is located eight miles from Knoxville. From the 2,100-foot crest you can see the Unakas and Cumberlands some 30 miles away and to the northeast, you can see Clinch Mountain. House Mountain has four miles of natural surface trails, from easy .03-mile loops to more demanding hikes that can total nearly five miles (with backtracking from the trail’s end).
For even more outdoor fun, check out all the state parks in East Tennessee and our guide to 10 Natural Wonders in East Tennessee.
