Mountain Biking in Nashville and Franklin
Mountain Bike Trail Guide: Franklin & Nashville
We get asked about riding in Middle Tennessee almost as much as Chattanooga these days, so here's the rundown of where to go, what kind of riding to expect, and links to pull up the maps.
Franklin
Wilkins Branch Mountain Bike Park
This is the main event in Franklin. It sits on 156 acres out in the Leiper's Fork community, about 20 minutes from downtown, and it's mountain bike only — no hikers, no dogs, no joggers. Phases one and two give you 13 trails over roughly 6 miles, built with real flow: berms, jumps, step-downs, the works. Salamander Slide, Moonshine Run, and Stache N' Cash are the trails people talk about most. There's beginner terrain to start on and enough advanced downhill flow to keep experienced riders happy. Heads up: this is a day-use park with set hours, and it can close for wet weather, so check status before you drive out.
Middleburg Trail (Cool Springs)
A smaller, city-built beginner system right in town at The Standard at Cool Springs, so you don't have to drive out to Leiper's Fork for a quick lap. It's a beginner loop with a beginner alternate, plus a connector into the adjoining Columbia State property. Good option if you're staying in Cool Springs and just want an hour on dirt.
Nashville
Percy Warner Park
Nashville's flagship system, in the northwest part of the city just past Belle Meade. About 8 miles of purpose-built trail split into two areas. On the north end you've got Toybox Hill (green, fast and flowy) and Hookman Hill (blue, more rocks and roots). On the south end, Wabash Climb takes you up to three downhill options — Flume, Cannonball, and Screamin' Delta Demon — all short, punchy, and genuinely fun. It's a well-marked system with something for every skill level, which is part of why it's the trail locals ride the most.
Hamilton Creek
This is the original Nashville mountain bike destination, out on J. Percy Priest Lake past the airport. Over 11 miles of technical singletrack — limestone rock, exposed roots, short punchy climbs and descents that demand real focus. It's split into the Lakeside Trail (intermediate, hugs the lake with some nice views) and the Pinnacle Trail (advanced, the technical test piece). This is not the place to bring a beginner looking for flow — it's the place to bring someone who wants to get better at technical riding.
Cedar Hill Park
A newer, jump- and flow-focused system that's become a local favorite fast. Pedal Tavern, Copperhead Road, and Bluegrass are the standout trails — mostly green and blue, with plenty of berms and tabletops and a phase 2 addition that brought even more flow online. It's not a big-mileage day, but it's a fun one, and it's become one of the highest-rated systems in the city on a trail-by-trail basis.
Cane Ridge Park
Out in southeast Nashville near the Rutherford County line. This one's built as a stacked-loop progressive system — four loops totaling around 9 miles, built by SORBA Mid-TN and a long list of volunteer groups. There's a dedicated Kid's Loop at the trailhead for anyone brand new to riding, and the rest of the system stays beginner-to-intermediate friendly with some more challenging features worked in for experienced riders who want them. A good one for group rides with mixed skill levels.
Bells Bend Park
The most beginner-oriented system on this list, out along the Cumberland River northwest of downtown. About 4-5 miles of easy singletrack — small rock formations, some exposed roots, open fields, rolling hills, nothing technical. Metro Parks even offers free bike and helmet rentals at the Bells Bend Outdoor Center, which makes this the easiest possible way to introduce someone to mountain biking for the first time. Closes in wet weather.
Worth the Extra Drive
Lock 4 (Gallatin)
About 40 minutes north of Nashville on Old Hickory Lake, and one of the most popular trail systems in Middle Tennessee for good reason. Roughly 9 miles of well-maintained singletrack split into east and west sides — east (green) is flatter and beginner-friendly, west (yellow) is more technical and usually closed through winter since it doesn't drain as well. There are also several advanced off-shoots, including a rock garden and a couple of ledge drops, if you want to push it. No significant elevation change, but the trail builders make up for it with terrain features.
Chickasaw Trace Park (Columbia)
About 45 minutes south of Nashville, on the banks of the Duck River. This 8.5-mile loop is genuinely built for every level — the first 3.5 miles are flat and fast along Knob Creek and the Duck River, then you hit the "Trail of Tears" section and the back half turns technical fast. Multiple entry and exit points mean you can ride just the easy front section with kids or commit to the whole technical loop. There's also a Pump & Jump skills track at the trailhead if you want to work on fundamentals before heading out.
A Few Notes
All of these are well covered on Strava — search the park or trail name and you'll find the local segments. Trailforks also tracks the most popular Strava segments and recent ride logs for each system, worth a check before you head out, especially at Hamilton Creek and Lock 4's west side, where wet weather makes the technical sections a lot harder to manage.
If you're new to the area or just want a route dialed in for your fitness and what you're looking to get out of the ride, reach out. Happy to help you navigate any of these systems or put together a route that fits what you're after that day.
