Quick answer: The best outdoor things to do in Nashville are ziplining through the forest canopy (at Fontanel in Whites Creek or Nashville West in Kingston Springs), hiking Radnor Lake and the Warner Parks, paddling the Harpeth River, biking the Shelby Bottoms Greenway, and exploring Cheekwood's gardens. Most are within a short drive of downtown.
Nashville is famous for honky-tonks, but some of the best days here happen outside — on forest trails, rivers and treetop ziplines within a short drive of Broadway. Adventureworks has been in the business of adventures since 1987. Here are our picks, including our own two zipline parks.
Nashville outdoor activities at a glance
| Activity | Where | Best for | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fontanel Express Zip (6 ziplines) | Whites Creek, north of downtown | First-timers, families, short visits | About 1 hour |
| Nashville West Big Adventure (10 ziplines) | Kingston Springs, Harpeth River State Park | Thrill-seekers, groups, a half-day outing | About 1.5 hours |
| Radnor Lake State Park | South Nashville | Easy hikes, wildlife watching | 1–3 hours |
| Percy and Edwin Warner Parks | West Nashville | Hiking, cycling, picnics | 2–4 hours |
| Harpeth River paddling | Harpeth River State Park, Kingston Springs | Kayaking and canoeing | Half day |
| Shelby Bottoms Greenway | East Nashville | Biking, running, strollers | 1–2 hours |
| Cheekwood Estate & Gardens | West Nashville | Gardens, seasonal events | 2–3 hours |
| Fontanel Mansion grounds | Whites Creek | History, trails, food and drink | Half day |
1. Zipline through the trees at Fontanel
Best for: first-time zipliners, families with kids 6+, and anyone short on time.
Fontanel — officially Adventureworks Zipline Forest at Fontanel — is our park on the grounds of the historic Fontanel Mansion in Whites Creek, just north of downtown Nashville. The Express Zip is a guided tour of 6 ziplines in about 1 hour, with short hikes between platforms.
- Price: $59.90 adults, $49.90 youth (17 and under)
- Address: 4225 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek, TN 37189
- Tours: first tour at 10:00 am; the last tour starts at 4:00 pm
- Ages and weight: recommended for ages 6 and up, 50–250 lbs
- Book: reserve a Fontanel tour online; reservations are recommended because tours often sell out
Make a day of it: the Fontanel grounds also have guided mansion tours, walking trails, Café Fontanella and the Woods Amphitheater. Adults can book the Zip & Sip ($84.95), which pairs the Express Zip with a Big Dog Bourbon tasting from The Nashville Distillery.
2. Take the Big Adventure at Nashville West
Best for: thrill-seekers, teens, groups, and a longer outing in the woods.
Nashville West is our original park, open since 1987. It sits inside Harpeth River State Park in Kingston Springs, about a 40-minute drive west of downtown. The Big Adventure zipline tour covers 10 ziplines in about 1.5 hours through old-growth forest.
- Price: $65.90 adults, $49.90 youth
- Add-on: the Aerial Adventure course (three routes of 7–8 obstacles in the trees, about an hour) is $38.00 on its own, or $80 as a Zip + Aerial combo
- Address: 1300 Narrows of the Harpeth Rd, Kingston Springs, TN 37082
- Booking: Monday–Thursday is by reservation only; walk-ups are accepted Friday–Sunday when space allows. Book Nashville West online.
Not sure which of our parks fits your group? See Fontanel vs. Nashville West side by side.
3. Hike Radnor Lake State Park
Radnor Lake is a protected natural area just south of the city. It's known for its calm lake loop, wooded ridges and frequent wildlife sightings: deer, owls, turtles and waterbirds.
4. Explore Percy and Edwin Warner Parks
The Warner Parks on Nashville's west side cover thousands of acres of forest and meadow. You'll find trails for every fitness level, scenic paved roads popular with cyclists, horse trails, and plenty of picnic spots. The Warner Park Nature Center is a good first stop for trail maps and kid-friendly nature programs.
5. Paddle the Harpeth River
Harpeth River State Park, the same park our Nashville West zipline sits in, is a popular place to canoe or kayak the Harpeth River. At the Narrows of the Harpeth you can also hike the short bluff trail to an overlook, and walk through the historic Montgomery Bell Tunnel. Combine it with a zip tour for a full outdoor day without changing locations.
6. Bike or walk the Shelby Bottoms Greenway
Shelby Bottoms is a long, flat, paved greenway along the Cumberland River in East Nashville. It's ideal for bikes, strollers and runners, with river views, wetlands and boardwalks. It connects into Nashville's wider greenway network, so you can ride as far as you like.
7. Wander Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
Cheekwood is a historic estate with landscaped gardens, woodland trails and an art museum. It's especially popular in spring, when the bulbs bloom, and for its seasonal fall and holiday events. Check Cheekwood's own site for current hours and tickets.
8. Spend a day at the Fontanel Mansion grounds
Even without ziplining, Fontanel is worth the drive. The grounds include the log mansion that was once the home of country star Barbara Mandrell, open for guided tours. There are also walking trails, a winery tasting room, a distillery, a café, and the Woods Amphitheater concert venue. Read more in our history of the Fontanel Mansion and our guide to Whites Creek.
What is the most adventurous outdoor thing to do in Nashville?
For pure adrenaline, a guided zipline canopy tour is hard to beat. Nashville West's Big Adventure covers 10 ziplines in about 1.5 hours, and you can add the Aerial Adventure obstacle course for $80 total. For a shorter thrill near downtown, the Fontanel Express Zip covers 6 ziplines in about an hour.
What are the best outdoor things to do in Nashville with kids?
Ziplining at Fontanel (ages 6 and up), the Warner Park Nature Center, the flat Shelby Bottoms Greenway, and an easy lake walk at Radnor Lake are all great with children. The Fontanel Express Zip is a shorter, beginner-friendly tour of about an hour. See our full guide to things to do in Nashville with kids.
What can I do outdoors in Nashville in the fall?
Fall is peak season for Nashville's outdoors: cooler air and changing leaves make it ideal for hikes, paddles and zip tours. Both of our parks also run a Moonlight Zip Tour once a month around the full moon — $65.90 at Fontanel and $70.00 at Nashville West, with dates on the booking calendar. See our Moonlight Zip Tour page and more fall ideas in Tennessee.
How far are these outdoor activities from downtown Nashville?
Most are a short drive. Fontanel is in Whites Creek, just north of downtown, and Radnor Lake, the Warner Parks, Cheekwood and Shelby Bottoms are all inside the Nashville area. Nashville West and Harpeth River State Park, in Kingston Springs, are about a 40-minute drive west of downtown.
Do I need reservations for ziplining in Nashville?
Reservations are recommended at both Adventureworks parks because tours often sell out, especially during busy seasons. At Nashville West, Monday–Thursday is reservation-only, and walk-ups are accepted Friday–Sunday when space allows. At Fontanel, walk-ups are welcome when spots are available. Book online from our Nashville zipline page.
Plan your Nashville outdoor day
- Short on time? Book the Fontanel Express Zip: 6 ziplines, about 1 hour, just north of downtown.
- Want the full adventure? Book the Nashville West Big Adventure: 10 ziplines, then paddle the Harpeth.
- Bringing a group? See our group activities and team building options.
- Celebrating? Check out birthday party ideas in Nashville.