With rolling Tennessee hills and beautiful waterside communities, Nashville is full of great neighborhoods for runners. The Music City Marathon draws a massive crowd every year, and the city coalesces around the athletes with neighborhood watch parties and live musical performances along the route. Nashville also boasts one of the largest metropolitan parks in the country full of rugged trails for off-road enthusiasts as well as shorter, paved paths for novices.

Suffice it to say, there are running routes all over the city for every ability level. The following is a roundup of some of the best trails Nashville has to offer, with rating data sourced from AllTrails.

Mossy Ridge Trail - Belle Meade

This moderately rated five-mile loop is nestled in the heart of the Warner Parks system in picturesque Belle Meade. Located just 20 minutes from the heart of the city, the park, with its dense woods, feels much further out. Residents love this park system for the forests and wildlife that accompany even the most casual adventure within its gates.

The Mossy Ridge Trail is popular among hardcore hikers and, even more impressively, runners with its nearly 900 feet of elevation gain. On more than one occasion I have found myself huffing and puffing up a switchback on this rocky terrain only to be briskly surpassed by what seems like a deer, but on further inspection turns out to be an expert runner bouncing down the hillside before me like a foal.

Shelby Bottoms East Loop Trail - East Nashville

Among the most popular running trails in the city, the Shelby Bottoms East Loop comes in at 8 miles long, making it the perfect place for marathon trainees and more advanced runners as well as hobbyists. The beauty of this route is that it's ADA accessible and offers an opportunity for people who use wheelchairs to enjoy the terrain.

The loop includes a slight elevation gain, but not enough to throw off the momentum of a long run. It seems as though everyone in East Nashville flocks to this trail on sunny days, and half of them opt to bring their dogs along (on a leash, of course).

Centennial Park Loop - West End

Centennial Park is a favorite destination among urban runners jogging to and from home to do the picturesque loop around the Parthenon. This “easy” rated paved trail comes in at just over one mile long and takes runners around the scenic pond at the center of the park.

This spot is popular among runners who want to take the kids out in a stroller as well as long-distance runners who use the park as a detour from their training route. The park is situated along West End Avenue, which features prominently in the Music City Marathon, so it’s not uncommon to see legions of runners along this stretch every day. Understandably, the beauty of the park draws them in for a quick loop.

Cumberland River Greenway - Downtown Nashville

Perhaps the most well-rounded trail in town, the Cumberland River Greenway is a fantastic option for casual runners and distance runners alike. At 12 miles long, the greenway starts Downtown and weaves along the path of the Cumberland River for 6 miles before a quick turnaround that follows the same path back. On a map, the trail looks just like a question mark, but there’s no question about the quality of this route. 

Unlike some other running paths on this list, the Cumberland River Greenway is not a loop, so it's really a “choose your own adventure” in terms of the distance, but experienced runners like it because it provides a great 12-mile option. The whole track has an elevation gain of just over 200 feet, but it's still rated “easy” as the incline is slow and the path is paved. Did I mention the stunning view of Nashville’s Downtown skyline and the riverfront? Oh yes, it has that too.

BONUS

Stones River Greenway - Hermitage

This one isn’t technically located in metro Nashville, but it’s always good to show the suburbs some love. The nearly six-mile trail winds alongside the scenic Stones River until the path spills onto the banks of Percy Priest Lake. The route features multiple “put-ins” for water activities such as canoeing or paddleboarding, and visitors love the long, wooden deck that runs alongside the river for large portions of the path.

The newly renovated trailhead and parking area make for a warm welcome, and the path includes a breathtaking view of the immense Percy Priest dam. This family-friendly park welcomes leashed dogs, strollers, and cyclists as well as runners.