The Warner Parks, along with Radnor Lake, are, in our time, geographical oddities. No, they’re not two weeks from everywhere as pondered by Everett in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? But they are 2,684 acres of mostly wilderness located in the middle of the overdeveloped 3 B’s area of Nashville (Brentwood, Bellevue, Belle Meade). It’s simply amazing for me to think that someone had the vision to set aside that much property for parks. Percy and Edwin Warner Parks are technically mixed use parks with horse trails, ball fields, and hiking trails. But much of the parks remain wilderness and Metro Nashville Parks are to be commended for that. I can’t find much on the history of the park, but information at park mentioned dates in the 1920s. Be sure to check the websites for the Nature Center and Friends of Warner Parks.
Trail: Harpeth Woods Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles (3.7 actual travel according to my GPS)
Max Elevation: 921 feet
Total Elevation climb: 446 feet
Trail Type: single track dirt
Temperature: 80s and balmly for March
Time: 1 hour 16 minutes moving with 30 minutes of lolly gagging
Significant Features: just forest
On this beautiful Sunday, I admit, I was feeling a bit lazy. I really didn’t want to drive that far after church, so I chose a nearby location. The Harpeth Woods Trail at Edwin Warner Park was just the ticket. A busy trail on this pretty weekend, I could still catch moments of wilderness and solitude. The wildflowers just starting to bloom and the split in two tree where probably the highlights of the hike. The nice rest in rocking chair at the Nature Center didn’t hurt either. Overall this is a moderate hike, but I would rate sections borderline strenuous. Harpeth Woods Trail is a great hike if just need to get some fresh air and exercise.
Pictures are HERE and for directions from anywhere, click HERE.
