Day trips from Nashville · Hiking
Radnor Lake
8 miles from downtown Nashville · about 15 minutes
Radnor Lake State Natural Area, Davidson County, Nashville
Radnor Lake is a 1,367-acre wildlife observation area with more than six miles of trails, fifteen minutes from downtown Nashville. It is a Class II Natural Area rather than a recreation park, and the rules reflect that.
- Size
- 1,367 acres
- Trails
- More than 6 miles
- The climb
- Ganier Ridge
Permits, fees and access
Free, day use only. The rule that catches almost everybody: dogs are allowed on paved surfaces only and are not permitted on the trails. No hunting, fishing, camping or swimming, because this is a wildlife refuge rather than a park.
Swimming
Not permitted. This is a wildlife observation area.
One thing to know first
Parking fills by mid-morning on any pleasant weekend and there is nowhere else to put a car. Go early. And leave the dog at home unless you plan to stay on the pavement.
Access rules, fees and closures verified August 15, 2026 against the agency that manages this place. They change, sometimes without notice. Check before you drive.
The neighborhoods closest to it
If this is the kind of Saturday you want a short drive from your front door, these are the parts of Middle Tennessee that put you nearest to it.
I keep this list because it is genuinely how people spend weekends here, and because almost every guide to it is out of date. If you are weighing a move to Middle Tennessee and want to know which part of it puts you closest to the things you actually like, ask me. No pitch.