Hiking is the perfect weekend escape from studying — or an alternative if football Saturdays on campus aren’t your thing. While the Great Smoky Mountains are less than an hour from downtown Knoxville, there are several locations less than half an hour away with great views and trails.
House Mountain
Time from Downtown: 30 minutes
Level of Difficulty: 3.5/5
House Mountain offers beautiful views just around half an hour outside of downtown. The 5.8-mile trail leads up around 2,100 feet, and the overlooks are phenomenal for how close it is to the city. Although the hike up is fairly difficult, once the overlook has been passed, the trail remains flat for about another mile before descending again. This unique trail allows for an almost constant overlook of the outskirts of Knoxville along that mile, as well as some nice spots to stop and take a rest or picnic on many of the boulders giving overlooks. Overall, House Mountain provides the wonderful atmosphere of the Smokies without the strenuous drive.
Seven Islands State Birding Park
Time from Downtown: 30 minutes
Level of Difficulty: Varies
Located around a half an hour outside of downtown Knoxville, Seven Islands State Birding Park offers a unique hiking experience for any level of hiker. The grassland habitat provides a different experience than most parks in the region; most trails are covered in thick forests, but Seven Islands has wide, open, grassy fields. For those not comfortable with long treks, the park offers a long, paved road which provides beautiful views of vast fields as well as a river. As for the more advanced hiker, one could take either the Inner or Outer Loops, leading up a large hill with views of the fields from above. The park is a wonderful place for birdwatching as the name suggests, and there is also access to the river for those interested in kayaking or canoeing.
Ijams Quarry: Tharp Trace
Time from Downtown: 10 minutes
Level of Difficulty: 2.5/5
A short drive for anyone on campus or downtown, Ijams offers dozens of miles of beautiful, winding trails for any level of difficulty. However, one trail in particular is worth the short walk it takes to complete. Measuring only 1.1 miles, Tharp Trace offers a beautiful view from atop the Ijams Quarry, overlooking the quarry and park itself. The loop is a bit steep from the start, no matter which direction you come from, but it would not be too difficult for an advanced hiker. Ijams is a beautiful and convenient place to see the sunset, and it is quick to get down afterwards before the sky gets too dark.
Fort Dickerson State Park: Quarry Trail
Time from Downtown: 5 minutes
Level of Difficulty: 1.5/5
Although it is an easier alternative to the Ijams Tharp Trace trail, Fort Dickerson State Park’s 0.4 mile Quarry Trail still offers breathtaking views. With an elevation of simply around 80 feet, and the steepness of the trail is nothing to worry about. Additionally, the park is located just a few minutes from downtown with a variety of other trails to explore. The length and accessibility of Fort Dickerson makes it an easy, fun trail for anyone who wants to ease into their hiking experiences.
Ijams Nature Center, located East of downtown, has many hiking trails.
