Best Hikes Near Nashville
5 summit hikes within 100 miles of Nashville, Tennessee — sorted by straight-line distance. The closest is Big Falls (Old Stone Fort), about 60 miles away. Every trail links to a full guide with maps, elevation profiles and parking info.
Hiking near Nashville at a glance
Distances are straight-line miles from Nashville to each summit, so driving distance is longer. 1 trail is within 75 miles, and the farthest listed, Monte Sano Mountain, is about 99 miles out. The trails fall in Tennessee (3), Alabama (2).
This page lists 5 summit hikes within 100 miles of Nashville from the Summit Seeker trail database, across 2 states. Summit elevations run from 990 ft (Big Falls (Old Stone Fort)) to 1,750 ft (Foster Falls).
5 of the 5 routes have a distance we can quote (3 from a published source, 2 estimated from the mapped track). The shortest is Fall Creek Falls at 0.8 mi; the longest is Wade Mountain at 3.8 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 102 ft (Monte Sano Mountain) to 545 ft (Wade Mountain). Together the quoted routes add up to 9.0 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 1 moderate, 1 easy.
2 of the 5 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area; the others give the summit location and route line only.
Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.
Every trail, with distance from Nashville and route facts
| Trail | From Nashville | Summit | Route | Distance | Gain | Time | Difficulty | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) | 60 mi | 990 ft | Enclosure Trail | 1.4 mi loop | — | — | — | — |
| Fall Creek Falls | 87 mi | 1,580 ft | Base of the Falls Trail | 0.8 mi round trip | — | — | — | Fall Creek Falls Overlook parking, Scenic Drive Loop |
| Foster Falls | 92 mi | 1,750 ft | Fiery Gizzard Trail | 1 mi round trip | — | — | — | Foster Falls (Fiery Gizzard South) Trailhead |
| Wade Mountain | 93 mi | 1,493 ft | — | ≈3.8 mi round trip | ≈545 ft | ≈1.5 hr | Moderate | — |
| Monte Sano Mountain | 99 mi | 1,621 ft | — | ≈2 mi loop | ≈102 ft | ≈30 min | Easy | — |
Route notes
- Foster Falls (92 mi from Nashville) — 1 mi round trip via the Fiery Gizzard Trail from Foster Falls (Fiery Gizzard South) Trailhead.
- Monte Sano Mountain (99 mi from Nashville) — an estimated 2-mile loop, about 102 ft of elevation gain, about 30 min, rated Easy. The route passes Carter's Chalybeat Spring (mile 1.09). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
- Fall Creek Falls (87 mi from Nashville) — 0.8 mi round trip via the Base of the Falls Trail from Fall Creek Falls Overlook parking, Scenic Drive Loop.
- Wade Mountain (93 mi from Nashville) — an estimated 3.8 mi round trip, about 545 ft of elevation gain, about 1.5 hr, rated Moderate. Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
- Big Falls (Old Stone Fort) (60 mi from Nashville) — a 1.4-mile loop via the Enclosure Trail.
Fall Creek Falls
