Hiking Trails & Parks in Tennessee
8,066 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 108 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across Tennessee. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in Tennessee
Tennessee has 8,066 mapped hiking trails and 108 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 119 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 119 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in Tennessee
A spatially-sampled view of 551 trail and park locations across Tennessee’s counties.
Tennessee Counties
Top 24 counties shown — 119 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in Tennessee
Parks & Campgrounds in Tennessee
Longest Trails in Tennessee
Curated Guides for Tennessee
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in Tennessee?
Yes — we have 8,066 mapped hiking and walking trails in Tennessee, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the longest hiking trail in Tennessee?
The longest mapped trail in Tennessee is CT - Rock Creek Loop Trail at 29 miles near Bakewell. This reflects only trails with a mapped distance in our OpenStreetMap-sourced data — longer routes may exist that aren't fully tagged yet.
What is the shortest hiking trail in Tennessee?
The shortest mapped trail in Tennessee with a known distance is Meadowlark Run at 0.1 miles near Graysville.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in Tennessee?
CT - Rock Creek Loop Trail near Bakewell is rated expert — the toughest classification among Tennessee's mapped trails over 29 miles.
What is the best hiking trail in Tennessee for families?
Meadowlark Run near Graysville is one of the best family picks in Tennessee — easy difficulty and 0.1 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for Tennessee?
Each of the 8,066 trails in Tennessee has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in Tennessee?
Tennessee has 108 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (15 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in Tennessee?
Yes — 15 of Tennessee's parks have mapped campsites, from first-come sites to Recreation.gov reservations. The largest is DEFEATED CREEK PARK with 158 sites. See the full campgrounds guide below for the ranked list.
Hiking guides & rankings for Tennessee
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Sergei AkulichThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in Tennessee, Ranked
Tennessee's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Tobias MrzykTennessee's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten Tennessee trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in Tennessee
Ten gentle, well-marked Tennessee trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in Tennessee
Tennessee's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Diego LozanoThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in Tennessee
Federal parks and recreation areas in Tennessee ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Sergei AkulichBest Waterfall Hikes in Tennessee: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
Tennessee's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.