Just three miles from downtown, Knoxville's Urban Wilderness presents a unique urban adventure playground for hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners. Over 50 miles of natural surface trails host a variety of outdoor activities for all skill levels. The South Loop Trail System offers 42-miles of easy to moderate natural surface trails on varying terrain. A signed 12.5-mile loop connects Ijams Nature Center, Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, Helix Trails, William Hastie Natural Area, and Marie Myers Park. The Baker Creek Preserve has over 7.1 miles of trails ranging in difficulty from easy to downhill extreme. These trails connect to the rest of the Urban Wilderness by way of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across Redbud Road. Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness trails are signed with UW logos, tree blazes, and street stencils for convenient way-finding.
There are seven trailheads within the system that offer parking and kiosks with trail information. Restrooms and water are available at Ijams Nature Center and Mead’s Quarry, with more facilities to come. Plan ahead and be prepared! Legacy Parks offers a pocket map for the Trail System, which can be found at the Knoxville Visitors Center, the Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center, and at many outdoor retailers in town.
