Radnor Lake State Park

We got up early for our daughters photography class at Radnor Lake. Whole an early Saturday hike isn’t something that I would choose - I wouldn’t have missed this. It was cool and so beautiful. We had two separate deer sightings and a large owl. We chose to do a loop of one of the more difficult trails and enjoyed the views it provided. At 7:50am the parking lot was already packed. This place is truly a gem!

This is a beautiful state park! We saw so much wildlife! The trail was easy enough with multiple young kids. Thankful they had an indoor bathroom as well. Definitely a must while visiting the Nashville area!!

Giving it a 5 star as it met my expectations. We usually adventure with our dogs and not all areas at Radnor Lake State Park are dog friendly. Knowing that going in I chose a day that I had time to wander without the pups. The paths were well marked and maintained. The biodiversity is present as soon as you are on the trails. An abundance of birds and other wildlife. Be sure to bring your binoculars! Will definitely return for additional walks on these grounds. What a gem amongst the busy backdrop of Nashville.

Word of caution… 1. Only park in the parking lot and do NOT go up the hill. It dead ends and is basically a one way street. We got stuck at the top due to traffic coming up the hill only to stop. 2. This park is NOT dog friendly. I’ve attached the STOP signs all over the trails which will limit your dogs to only the paved roads which ain’t much. The views are pretty but we spent more time in the car than anything else. If you’re coming to hike, get here super early due to limited parking.

It's a pretty park but I won't go out of my way to return. Parking was really crowded and challenging- had to park on the side of the road in the mud (a bit sketchy in a compact car), and there are too many rules. I've never been to a state park that's so strict about 'picnicing' that they have ZERO tables at the visitors center, and we couldn't even sit on the ground near the visitors center in a clearing to eat sandwiches with our kids without being hassled by a park ranger to leave. If you bring lunch you better plan to eat it in your car. No dogs allowed on the trails. No stepping off the tail. Yes there are lots of turtles around the eutrified lake, but too many rules for further enjoyment with young kids.

Awesome hike! We went ahead and did the Ganier Trail as well which took us to the top of the mountain then around! It was moderately difficult but worth it!! You can’t take dogs on the trail, but there was a ton of wildlife out there!!! The hike was clean and well marked!! Never knew this was only an hour away from me.

This is a lovely park with lots of shade, making it ideal for a stroll no matter the time of day. We spotted plenty of birds and even a snapping turtle! The only downside is that parking can be tricky on weekends, so it’s best to arrive early or be prepared to circle a bit. Still, a great spot to relax and enjoy nature.

What a peaceful and beautiful nature area surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the Nashville metro! The trails are well maintained and perfect for a day hike. We went in the middle of July after a campus visit to Vanderbilt and saw turtles, snails, deer, butterflies, hawks ducks, geese, and so many other local birds. You can’t hear any city noise, so the bird calls are abundant. We did the Ganier Ridge Trail and the lake trail in a couple of hours.