Get outdoors on Black Friday with over 77.6 miles of hiking trails in south-central Tennessee State Parks to enjoy on the "Day After Thanksgiving Hikes."
- Ryan P. French
- 10 hours ago
- 4 min read
Black Friday does not have to be loud or tiring. Tennessee State Parks hosts free ranger-led hikes the day after Thanksgiving. These walks give you a calm way to spend time with family and friends. You learn about the land. You meet people. You get a break from the holiday rush. Most hikes are gentle. Some take you a little farther into the woods. All of them help you slow down.
Here are the parks in South Central Tennessee that take part, featuring over 77.6 miles of total hiking trails.
David Crockett State Park
Lawrenceburg
David Crockett was a pioneer, soldier, politician, and businessman. He moved to Lawrence County in 1817. He served as a justice of the peace and a militia colonel. He also represented the area in the state legislature. Along Shoal Creek, he built a powdermill, a gristmill, and a distillery. A flood in 1821 destroyed all three. He later moved to West Tennessee and was elected to Congress. He died at the Alamo in 1836.
The park covers 1,319 acres. A museum operates in the summer and shows Crockett’s life in the region. There is also a working water powered grist mill. The park has more than ten miles of hiking trails with views of Shoal Creek, Crockett Falls, limestone bluffs, and steady forest. The Overlook Trail runs beside the Shoal Creek Trail.
Lake Lindsey is open for boating and fishing in the warmer months. Guests can rent paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and small fishing boats.
Seven modern cabins sit near the lake. Each one has two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, and a covered patio. They are built to high energy standards and are LEED certified. Campers can stay at one of 96 sites across two campgrounds. Each site has a table and fire ring. Hookup options vary across both loops.
The onsite restaurant looks over Lake Lindsey and stays busy with visitors. The park hosts several events through the year, including David Crockett Days and the Glow in the Park 5K.
This park features several trails totaling over 10 miles of hiking trails.
Henry Horton State Park
Chapel Hill
Henry Horton State Park sits on the former estate of Governor Henry Horton. The Duck River runs along the park and is known for its rich plant and animal life. The Wilhoite Mill Trail still shows parts of the old mill and bridge once used by the Wilhoite family.
The park offers many ways to stay overnight. There is a lodge, cabins, RV sites, tent sites, primitive sites, and backcountry sites. Groups can book larger campsites. The Restaurant and Lounge stay active year-round.
The park features over 10 miles of trails for hiking and biking. The trail system includes a variety of landscapes, such as riverbanks, cedar glades, and hardwood forests.
Tims Ford State Park
Winchester
Tims Ford State Park covers more than 3,500 acres along the Tims Ford Reservoir. The lake is part of the Bill Dance Signature Lakes and is popular for fishing and slow shoreline walks.
There are 6.8 miles of unpaved hiking trails and over 24 miles of bike trails that can also be used for hiking for over 30 miles of trails!
The park has 20 furnished cabins and two campgrounds for tents and RVs. Tent campers can also stay on six islands on the lake or at Turkey Creek. Golfers visit the Bear Trace at Tims Ford, a Jack Nicklaus designed course with lake views from most holes.
Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park
Manchester
The Old Stone Fort was built 1,500 to 2,000 years ago during the Middle Woodland Period. Native people used the land for ceremonies for centuries. When settlers arrived much later, the original purpose had been forgotten, which led to the name Old Stone Fort.
The main trail circles the ancient earthworks and passes the original entrance that lines up with the sunrise during the summer solstice. Twelve interpretive panels explain the site. Several waterfalls drop into the gorge around the trail, giving the walk a steady sound of moving water.
There are some 6.8 miles of hiking trails at the park.
Mousetail Landing State Park
Linden
Mousetail Landing covers 1,247 acres along the Tennessee River. Local history says the name came from a fire at a Civil War era tannery. When the building burned, so many mice fled the flames that the area became known as Mousetail Landing.
Fishing is a main activity. You can fish anywhere you can reach the water. People catch bass, bream, crappie, stripe, and catfish along the banks. The park has primitive campsites and sites with hookups for overnight visitors.
There are a total of 11 miles of hiking trails between Spring Creek Trail, Scenic Trail, and the 8-mile Eagle Point Trail.
Head of the Crow State Park
Sewanee
Head of the Crow State Park spans 4,258 acres. The land includes the headwaters of Crow Creek and a large karst landscape with hardwood forest, sinkholes, caves, and rare plants and animals. The Sewanee Natural Bridge rises 50 feet over Lost Cove. Buggytop Cave has one of the largest openings in Tennessee. The Painted Tigersnail lives only in this small region.
The park includes four state natural areas. Sherwood Forest protects threatened and endangered species, including the Morefield’s Leather Flower and the Painted Tigersnail. The Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lee Carter area holds a cave system that runs from Lost Cove to the head of Crow Creek. Water travels underground for more than a mile and returns at the entrance of Buggytop Cave. Natural Bridge is a one-acre site with a sandstone arch and a clear overlook of Lost Cove. Hawkins Cove protects the Cumberland rosinweed, a rare sunflower that grows only on the Cumberland Plateau.
Head of the Crow features over 9.8 miles of publicly accessible hiking trails across its three main areas that includes Buggytop Trail, Sherwood Loop, Tom Pack Hollow Trail, and Natural Bridge Trail.