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Field guide · Knoxville

Knoxville outdoors

Knoxville's outdoor centerpiece is the Urban Wilderness: over 60 miles of trails and greenways inside the city, connecting Ijams Nature Center, abandoned marble quarries, a wildlife management area, and a string of greenways down by the river. Here are the spots worth knowing; Legacy Parks stewards a lot of it.

The spots, by neighborhood

Ijams Nature Center
A 275-acre wildlife sanctuary on Island Home with ten miles of natural-surface trails, the Visitor Center, kayaking on the river, a ropes course, and an outdoor climbing crag. 2915 Island Home Ave.
South Knoxville
The Quarries at Ijams
Ross Marble Quarry and Mead's Quarry, abandoned 1900s marble pits now turned into a multi-use trail system: walking, biking, climbing on the limestone walls, and a swimmable lake at Mead's.
South Knoxville
Forks of the River WMA
A 500-acre state wildlife management area at the confluence of the French Broad and Holston, woven into the Urban Wilderness via the Will Skelton Greenway.
South Knoxville
Will Skelton Greenway
A paved 3.6-mile greenway running through Ijams and out to Forks of the River; flat, stroller-friendly, the easiest way to feel the Urban Wilderness on foot or bike.
South Knoxville
Urban Wilderness South Loop
A signed 12.5-mile loop stitching the Quarries, Forks of the River, the Helix Trails, William Hastie Natural Area, and Marie Myers Park into one route. The keystone hike.
South Knoxville
World's Fair Park & Second Creek Greenway
Downtown's central green space (the Sunsphere lives here), connecting to the Second Creek Greenway and the river walk.
Downtown
The Cove at Concord Park
A West Knox waterfront park on Fort Loudoun Lake with paddling access, sand volleyball, and a dog park.
West Knoxville
Sharp's Ridge Memorial Park
A North Knox ridge park with overlooks of downtown and the Smokies, popular with hikers, bird-watchers, and motorcyclists.
North Knoxville

"Sixty miles of trail inside the city limits is not a metaphor: the South Loop runs more than 12 miles without leaving Knoxville."

No scheduled events in this category right now, but the spots above are open year-round.

Good to know

What is Knoxville's Urban Wilderness?

A 1,000-acre corridor of connected parks, trails, and natural areas inside the city limits, totaling over 60 miles of trails and greenways. It is the central organizing idea of outdoor Knoxville.

Where do I start if I have one afternoon?

Park at Ijams Nature Center. Walk the short Visitor Center loop, then take the trail back to Mead's Quarry; pack a swimsuit in summer. To extend the day, follow the Will Skelton Greenway out to Forks of the River.

Where can I bike?

The Will Skelton Greenway is paved and family-friendly; the Quarries trail system at Ijams has dedicated mountain-bike singletrack; the Urban Wilderness South Loop is a long mixed-use route.

Trail and area details from Legacy Parks Foundation, the City of Knoxville Parks & Recreation, and Ijams Nature Center. Verified June 2026.