Yahoo Autos Need some exercise after the big Thanksgiving feast? Check out these 3 challenging trails in the Middle Tennessee area
Now that you've had you share of Thanksgiving fare, you might be in need of some air and an outdoor adventure that will allow you to walk off some of those extra pounds.
With cooler temperatures and colorful foliage, the fall season is full of natural beauty.
Many may say fall is the best time of the year to explore hiking trails. There are stunning parks all across Tennessee and countless species of wildlife to keep the trails interesting.
Good walking shoes and a few layers of clothing, at the very least, are a necessity for any hike.
Don't forget to pack enough water, tick repellent spray and other essential hiking supplies that will align with how long you are planning to remain outdoors.
If you're looking to embark on a new Thanksgiving family tradition, here's a look at some of the area's local, nearby hiking trails and what they have to offer.
Hiking at Beaman Park, Nature Center
Beaman Park lies on the Highland Rim, just outside of the Nashville Basin, in the northwest edge of Davidson County.
With over 2,200 acres of land, the year-round day hiking park offers three hiking trails, including over 14.6 miles of trail and three trailheads. Park hours are sunrise to sunset.
Sedge Hill trail: Moderate, 0.7 miles
Henry Hollow Loop Trail: Moderate, 2 mile loop
Laurel woods loop trial: Difficult, 12 mile loop
Shortcut connector: Difficult, 900 feet (makes for a 6 mile loop.)
5911 Old Hickory Blvd Ashland City, TN Contact: 615-862-8580
Dunbar Cave State Park
The 144-acre park has over three miles of hiking trails. Every trail takes hikers past the cave entrance and around the lake.
Lake Trail: Easy, 0.7 miles, paved surface
Short Loop Trail: Moderate, 1.1 miles, natural surface
Recovery Trail: Moderate, 1.9 miles, natural surface
If you're too stuffed to walk that Thanksgiving turkey off so soon, the site offers more than hikes.
Programs that cover indigenous history, state and local history, geology, prairie restoration and more are available. Park hours are from 8 a.m., to 4:30 p.m.
401 Old Dunbar Cave Road, Clarksville, TN. Contact (931) 648-5526.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area
Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area is a 170,000-acre outdoor beauty between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in western Kentucky and Tennessee.
Many trails are multi-use at LBL, allowing for hikers and biking enthusiasts.
The trails that are for hiking only zigzag through forests, fields and across old roads along with views of the lakes.
Hematite Trail: Easy, 2.2 mile loop, paved surface. This trail also features a .25 mile long wetland boardwalk.
Short Loop Trail: Moderate, 1.1 miles, natural surface
Recovery Trail: Moderate, 1.9 miles, natural surface
Honker Lake and Trail: 4.5 mile loop trail, moderate.
Lastly, if you're a seasoned hiker this one is for you! The North/South Trail is 59 miles long and spans the entire length of the recreation area.
The southern leg of the trail, 29 miles, is exclusively for hikers.
It offers varying degrees of difficultly and an opportunity for those looking to hike several days to get a full experience. The northern leg at 31 miles is also available for mountain biking.
238 Visitor Center Drive, Golden Pond, KY. Contact (800) 525-7077
Alexis Clark can be reached at aclark@gannett.com or 931-217-8519.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Three challenging trails in the Middle Tennessee area
