Discover All Kinds Of Outdoor Adventure In Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness Just Minutes From Downtown Knoxville
Just across the Tennessee River from downtown Knoxville, mere minutes from busy Gay Street and bustling Market Square, you will find a nature escape in the 1,500 acres of the Knoxville Urban Wilderness.
All kinds of outdoor adventures are possible in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. Hiking, paddling, mountain biking, rock climbing, playgrounds, a ropes course, greenway biking, playgrounds, and picnics are some of the fun things my family has done in the Urban Wilderness.
As a local, it is one of our favorite places to go and I always recommend a day there to visitors as well.
Every trip is another opportunity for a great day spent outdoors and there are tons of activities for families with kids young and old.
Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness is one of the best things to do with kids in our hometown.
What Exactly Is The “Knoxville Urban Wilderness”?
This is a fairly common question people have, so first things first. The Knoxville Urban Wilderness is in South Knoxville, just across the Tennessee River from downtown.
Its 1500 acres contain 9 separate units comprising 5 city parks, 2 wildlife areas, one natural area, and one unit on a mix of public and private land with trail easements.
6 of the parks are connected by a 12.5 mile long South Loop Trail and the other 3 parks are called the Battlefield Loop because they include remains of Civil War era forts.
The 9 units in the Urban Wilderness are:
- Ijams Nature Center
- Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
- Anderson School/ Helix Trails
- William Hastie Natural Area
- Marie Myers Park
- Baker Creek Preserve
- High Ground Park
- Fort Dickerson Park
- the River Bluff Wildlife Area.
Each of the different parts of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness has different recreational opportunities on offer, such as hiking, mountain biking, climbing, historical sites, playgrounds, or water activities.
Why Is Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness So Great?
Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness is fantastic because you can partake in so many different outdoor pursuits only minutes from an urban area. You can have lunch in Market Square downtown at a trendy restaurant and 15 minutes later be on a trail in the woods or putting your paddleboard in the water.
Many of these parks are minimally developed so you really feel like you are out in nature.
As someone often trying to get kids outside in between school activities, work, sports, and life in general, I like having these great outdoor opportunities so close.
Plus, the Urban Wilderness is free to visit, which is a nice change from so many of our other family activities. Even going to the movies these days gets expensive.
I also like having the option of not having to pack all the food for a day out. South Knoxville has inexpensive restaurants just down the road from the Urban Wilderness so, if I don’t feel like packing a huge picnic, I don’t have to.
An ice cream post hike or bike ride (or beer for me) is an easy way to get everyone excited about spending a day in the woods!
Read our blog “Where to Eat Near Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness” for our favorite family- friendly destinations for grub post hike, bike, or paddle.
So put on your hiking shoes/sneakers, grab the dog, throw the bike or kayak on the car, and go explore this awesome amenity Knoxville is blessed to have right in our backyard!
About The 9 Parks In Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness
Here is a brief introduction. I’ll go in detail about each park after this intro.
Ijams Nature Center is the most well known of the parks and has the most amenities. It has a neat Visitor Center with animals, a naturescape playground, shorter hiking trails with interesting stops along the way, a challenging ropes course, a greenway, Ijams is the most geared toward families out of all the parks.
They also have a busy schedule of events, such as outdoor movie nights, concerts, guided nature walks, and all kinds of festivals.
Baker Creek Preserve is known for its mountain biking trails, pump track, Play Forest for kids, and mini-pump track for kids. Also has some great restaurants within walking distance.
Forks Of The River WMA is mostly a hunting preserve but there is a great greenway along the river and they have amazing sunflower fields every other year.
William Hastie Natural Area has trails for mountain bikers and hikers. Some of the most densely forested parts of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness.
Marie Myers Park– Trails for hikers and mountain bikers. The best wet weather bike trails are here.
Anderson School/ Helix Trails– Trails for mountain bikers and hikers.
Fort Dickerson – A Civil War earthen fort, the park also has hiking and mountain biking trails as well as Augusta Quarry, another abandoned quarry that is now a lake. It’s a popular place for swimming, paddling, and floating.
High Ground Park has the remains of a Civil War earthen fort and a paved 1 mile walking trail to a pretty overlook and sitting area.
River Bluff Wildlife Area has a trail to a large bluff overlooking Knoxville but it is the most undeveloped park in the Urban Wilderness so the trails aren’t signed and the bluff area has some steep drop-offs. There are some Civil War artifacts in this park also.
What You Can Do In Each Park In Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness
Ijams Nature Center
Activities Offered: Hiking, Greenway Biking, Kayaking/ SUP, Playground, Visitor Center, Ropes course, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing
Ijams Nature Center is the place where most people start their exploration of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. The park consists of 300 acres centered around the original homestead of the Ijams family.
Ijams has a history of promoting fun in nature in Knoxville since the 1960s. That legacy makes Ijams one of the key parts of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness.
Lots of local kids, myself included, have fond memories of summer camps at Ijams while Mead’s Quarry is one of the most popular paddleboarding spots in town.
Ijams is split into two main sections- the Wildlife Sanctuary and the Quarries- by Island Home Avenue which runs through the middle of it. The Wildlife Sanctuary includes the Visitor Center on the river side of Island Home Ave.
Ijams Quarries includes Mead’s and Ross Marble Quarries on the inland side of Island Home Avenue.
There are different parking areas and different activities for each section.
The Wildlife Sanctuary At Ijams
Great for families with young kids- easy hiking trails, wonderful nature playground, some animal exhibits, good picnic areas
The Wildlife Sanctuary is centered around the old Ijams family homesite and the Visitor Center. Stop first at the Visitor Center, which has maps and information plus some cool animal exhibits.
Right outside the Visitor Center, you’ll find Jo’s Grove, a wonderful nature playscape for kids. (Think logs to jump off and stick houses that look like bird nests.)
The adjacent large lawn adjacent to the Visitor Center is perfect for picnics, frisbee, and general hanging out. Don’t skip the large frog pond either. Make a game with the kids to see who can find the most frogs ribbiting. It’s a tried and true pastime in our family.
Easy hiking trails weave throughout the sanctuary, such as the scenic River Trail. All of the trails are especially suited for kids with their short lengths.
The paved 3.6 mile Will Skelton Greenway is good for greenway biking or walking, especially with a stroller. It runs through Ijams and onto Forks of the River, another park in the Urban Wilderness.
If you are looking for more excitement, Navitat runs a zipline and ropes course at Ijams. There is even a kayak/SUP launch on the Tennessee River if you bring your own boat.
Ijams keeps a busy calendar of events as well, from movie nights on the lawn to family-friendly hikes. (The kids love the Owl Prowl.) They also do guided paddles down the Tennessee River. If you are looking for ideas, check out the “Calendar of Events” on their website.
Ijams Quarries
Great for mountain bikers, hikers, climbers, and kayak/SUP rentals on Mead’s Quarry
This section of Ijams centers around the old marble quarries that made Knoxville famous in the 19th century and lead to its “Marble City” nickname at the time. Marble from these quarries is in the National Gallery of Art in DC and JP Morgan Library in NYC.
The quarries are on the National Register of Historic Places. Abandoned by the 1970s, Mead’s Quarry filled with water, making a 25 acre lake while Ross Marble Quarry has massive blasted blocks of marble stacked on top of each other.
Many of the trails in this part of Ijams are for mountain bikers, but there are several good hikes to be found too. Keyhole in Ross Marble Quarry and Tharp Trace around Mead’s Quarry are two of my favorite trails that I can do again and again.
Hayworth Hollow is another. All the activities in Ijams Quarries are accessed from the Mead’s Quarry parking lot, except the Ijams Crag (see below).
During warmer months, RiverSports has a kiosk set up and they rent kayaks, SUP, and canoes for the lake in Mead’s Quarry. This is a pretty perfect way to cool off after riding a trail or going for a long hike. RiverSports also rents a few mountain bikes here for adults only.
As an added bonus, YeeHaw has a seasonal trailer for beer, soft drinks, and snacks right there by the parking area of Mead’s Quarry. If you go paddling, be sure to look for the tiny freshwater jellyfish in the summer, they won’t hurt you and the kids find them fascinating.
Be Aware! Most of the trails in the Urban Wilderness are multi-use trails, meaning hikers, trail- runners, mountain bikers, and dogs on a leash are all welcome. If a trail is designated a downhill- only trail, then that is a one- way trail for mountain bikers only. Don’t try to hike those trails, especially with a dog, as the riders can be going fast and they won’t be expecting pedestrians.
The parking area at Mead’s Quarry has a small restroom building with running water. The single stall bathrooms are large enough to change into bathing suits or out of sweaty mountain biking gear.
The Ijams Crag, a self-climb crag, is also found near the Ijams Quarries, but you will need to bring all your own equipment. Read the website for more information and where to park for the crag. The kids have climbed the crag during their summer camps at Ijams but I have never done it.
Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area
Activities Offered: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Greenway Biking, Sunflower Fields
Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is 331 acres of mostly hunting preserve but it does have some biking and hiking opportunities. Part of the Will Skelton Greenway runs along the river through Forks of the River.
Also, the trails around the perimeter of the park are part of the South Loop, which is a 12.5 mile long trail that links many of the parks in the Urban Wilderness together.
* Forks of the River got its name because the Holston River and French Broad River meet here to form the Tennessee River.
The paved Will Skelton Greenway and the dirt perimeter trails are open year-round to bikers and hikers. Some of the interior trails are only open to non-hunters from June 1st to August 31st.
Mountain bikers will need a High Impact Conservation Permit for any interior trail but you don’t need one for the greenway and the trails around the perimeter.
In July of even-numbered years, look for the spectacular displays of sunflowers planted on 70 acres in the Forks of the River. The kids love it and we consider it a family must-do. This is one of the most popular things to do in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness.
For more information on the sunflowers, read our blog “Experience Spectacular Fields Of Sunflowers” At Forks Of The River.” Includes where to park, when to go, and my favorite loop hike to see the best fields.
Baker Creek Preserve
Activities Offered: Mountain Biking Primarily, Pump Track, Kids Play Forest and Mini Pump Track, Some Hiking
Baker Creek Preserve is one of the most popular spots to visit in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. Mountain bikers love the trails here, especially the 3 downhill only trails.
The double black Devil’s Racetrack is a pretty famous one among experienced riders and rightly so. It was built with a $100,000 grant from Bell Helmets (Knoxville beat Asheville and San Francisco for it).
But even less daring mountain bikers will enjoy the green and blue trails as will hikers. I love Baker Creek and I am not a super adventurous mountain biker myself (mostly because broken things don’t heal so fast anymore on this body).
Hikers and trail runners can use all of the trails at Baker Creek except the three downhill only trails. Those are reserved for mountain bikers only. If you are a beginner mountain biker or have little kids, then Sycamore Loop Trail is a fun and flat green trail.
Baker Creek Play Forest And Bike Park
Non-biking (or hiking) kids will enjoy the Adventure Playground (designed for little tykes) and the excellent Baker Creek Play Forest adjacent to the Preserve, with its huge slide and climbing net. I have teenagers that enjoy coming to the Play Forest, it is that fun.
Besides the trails and playgrounds, there is also a pump track at the Baker Creek Bike Park (and a mini-pump track for kids to try). I enjoy hanging back and watching much better bikers than me show off their tricks on the pump track.
Parking for Baker Creek Preserve is in the huge parking lot of the old Baptist Church adjacent to the preserve. Look for 71 South, a kid-friendly restaurant and taproom, in the old church building.
Just down the street from Baker Creek is SoKno Taco, an excellent and kid- friendly taco place with a great craft beer selection.
Read our blog “Where to Eat Near Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness” for our favorite family- friendly destinations for grub post hike, bike, or paddle.
Marie Myers Park
Activities Offered: Hiking, Mountain Biking
Marie Myers Park has had a complete makeover in recent years, making it one of the best mountain biking parks in the Urban Wilderness. Part of that is because 6 of the new trails are all weather trails, leading to the park’s nickname, the “Year Round Get Down.”
Just keep in mind that Marie Myers is basically the side of a big hill. The intersection of Red Bud Crest Trail (coming over from Baker Creek) and most of the downhill trails is near the top of the hill.
You are meant to ride the fun downhill trails and then use the fairly gradual Toll Road trail to climb back up. Not a lot of the downhill trails are beginner friendly either. (Remember a blue downhill-only trail is more difficult than a regular blue, bi- directional trail.)
So Marie Myers isn’t a great park for kids learning to mountain bike. But I like it even as a semi-adventurous, beginner-plus rider. It is where I like to go to challenge myself.
Parking is limited at Marie Myers. The best way to get to the trails here is to park at Baker Creek Preserve. Then use Red Bud Crest Trail to connect to Marie Myers, via the pedestrian/cyclist bridge over Red Bud Road.
William Hastie Natural Area
Activities Offered: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Trail Running
Some of the most densely forested parts of the Urban Wilderness are in William Hastie Natural Area. This park has also had a lot of work in recent years, with several new trails and all weather surfaces installed.
Hikers, trail runners, and mountain bikers use this park the most. I haven’t ridden a ton in this park, especially on the new trails, but my dog and I have walked through the park on Margaret Road. We found it quiet and enjoyable.
The best place to park to explore William Hastie Park is at Hastie Trailhead at the end of Margaret Road.
There is a small designated parking area there (marked on the map below with a orange marker). The other entrances to the park are in neighborhoods with room for only 1-2 cars to park at the end of streets.
A map of William Hastie Natural Area, courtesy of Visit Knoxville 
The best parking area for William Hastie is at the end of Margaret Road.
Anderson School/ Helix Trails
Activities Offered: Hiking, Trail Running, Mountain Biking
This park is known as either the Helix Trails or as the Anderson School trails because the main trailhead is near the old Anderson School. It is marked as the Helix Trailhead on the map below.
That is definitely the trailhead I would use as it has a good amount of parking and a water fountain. On weekdays, however, parking could be more difficult as the building is used for a Head Start program.
Many of the Helix trails cross a private land easement so be sure to stay on the trail if exploring out this way. I have only walked my dog on Lost Chromosome trail in this park which was nicely wooded and peaceful. I need to bring my bike here and explore the rest of the trails.
Fort Dickerson Park In The Urban Wilderness Battlefield Loop
Activities Offered: Historical Site, Hiking, Swimming, SUP, Kayaking, Fishing, Mountain Biking
Fort Dickerson, High Ground Park, and River Bluff Wildlife Area are all a part of the Battlefield Loop of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness because they all have Civil War archaeological sites. They are also grouped near each other a little bit aways from the other 6 parks of the Urban Wilderness.
There are two main parts to Fort Dickerson Park. The upper level is centered around Fort Dickerson, a Civil War earthen fort. The lower entrance leads to Augusta Quarry, an old marble quarry that is now a 350 ft deep lake.
Upper Section of Fort Dickerson Park
The upper section of the park contains the fort, several picnic tables, and an overlook of the quarry. Turn onto Fort Dickerson Road from Chapman Highway to get to the upper part of the park.
Exploring the old fort is pretty fun as you can still see the earthen walls and the trenches around them. Several cannons have also been placed strategically to help you imagine the scene during the Siege of Knoxville in 1863. The informational signs scattered around help too.
The fort is always a good stop for the kids even if the remaining walls are pretty unremarkable. But cannons never fail to impress. You won’t spend more than 20- 30 minutes here though, even if you read every sign. The overlook of the quarry is worth a stop too.
Augusta Quarry Lake and the lower section of Fort Dickerson Park
The lower section of the park has access to Augusta Quarry. The lake is great for swimming, floating, non-motorized boats like a kayak or SUP, and fishing.
There are plans to have kayak and canoe rentals here in the future but for now, people bring their own paddleboards, kayaks, and floats. It is a popular way to spend a hot summer afternoon.
There are trails around the park for mountain biking and hiking although I haven’t explored them too much. I mostly come to Fort Dickerson to show the kids some Civil War history and float in the quarry on a hot day.
Ready to fire on Neyland Stadium from Fort Dickerson 
Looking out on Augusta Quarry in Fort Dickerson Park
High Ground Park
Activities Offered: Historical Site, Walking
High Ground Park is set around the remains of Fort Higley, another Civil War era fort. The pedestrian-only, paved 1 mile trail takes you past some interesting archaeological sites including rifle trenches and cannon placements.
(Pro- Tip: Read the signs. I probably never would have seen some of the sites had the signs not pointed them out.)
The trail ends at a lovely seating area with a partial view of downtown Knoxville. (The view is winter only as you can really only see the view when the leaves are gone.)
High Ground Park is one of my favorite parks for a quick outing because I find the walk very pretty, I like the the history, and the sitting area at the end is a nice touch.
Don’t forget to explore some of the side trails off the main paved trail if you have time. They will take you to the earthen mounds of the old fort and down an old military road.
The side trails aren’t big excursions and the remains of the fort are not super impressive but the kids had fun exploring and playing Indiana Jones looking for archaeological signs.
Like all of the parks in the Urban Wilderness, High Ground is dog friendly as long as you have your pooch on a leash.
River Bluff Wildlife Area
I am not familiar with this park at all as it is a recent addition to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. The last time I was out on the bluff was in high school (more years ago than I would like to admit to) when hiking out there was a common thing to do among daring and bored teenagers.
I have seen the gravel parking area for River Bluff park across the street from the entrance to High Ground Park and you can often see a couple of people up on the bluff from many parts of UT’s campus.
So I know it gets used but until the trails get a little more defined and my kids are less likely to run off the side of the bluff, we will wait to explore.
But if you are feeling adventurous, check out Visit Knoxville’s page about the River Bluff Park.
I hope this answers some of your questions about the Urban Wilderness in Knoxville and inspires you to get out there and explore this weekend. This is one of Knoxville’s most unique amenities and our family loves to spend time there. Happy Trails! – Amanda
