The Most Beautiful Memphis-Area Hikes We'll Be Taking This Summer

We tell you where to find themost beautiful places to explorein urban Memphis … but what about outside the city ? With temperatures quickly rising and no sign of them cooling down anytime soon , we want to show you where you’re able to come up nerveless , shady relief … in the grade of tree - line trails and breezy summits . Whether you have a day or a weekend , these are the best hikes in and around Memphis .

Crowley’s Ridge

Village Creek State ParkDistance from Memphis:50 milesArkansas ' secondly - largest state parking lot is fundamentally right over the Mississippi Bridge on Crowley ’s Ridge . Crowley ’s Ridge – a geological anomaly – is the most unusual of Arkansas ’s six major physiographic state , or lifelike divisions . It ’s covered with a riotous mixed hardwood woodland include oak tree and hickory , as well as hardwood trees such as American beech , carbohydrate maple , butternut , linden , cucumbertree , Kentucky coffeetree , and Tuliptree ( or yellowed poplar ) . The tramp Benny Hill and hardwood forest are perfect for hiking , lot biking , and even taunt horses . There are beautiful perspective , a swinging bridge circuit , and the longest preserve department of the Trail of Tears .

Cedar Falls Trail

Petit Jean State ParkDistance from Memphis:200 milesConsidered by most as " strenuous " , the Cedar Falls Trail is a two mile round - trip-up . It start behind the breezeway at Mather Lodge , a proud Civilian Conservation Corps countryfied - style muckle order , and winds down into Cedar Creek Canyon . monolithic stone boulder and bombastic trees grace the trailside . The lead then follow Cedar Creek to the 95 ft Cedar Falls , one of the marvelous continuously flowing falls in the state . This is a lensman ’s paradise .

Old Forest State Natural Area

Overton ParkDistance from Memphis:1 mileOverton Park ’s old - maturation ( like , 10,000 years old ) forest – which also happens to be a State Natural Area – may be one of the metropolis ’s considerably kept mystery . The track are guaranteed to be at least 10 degrees cool than the remainder of the city and Citizens to carry on Overton Park Tennessean go innocent nature walk on the 2d Saturday and last Sunday of every month ( but you may catch a map and head out on your own any time you wish ) . You like flora and brute ? ! Hell yeah ! Thanks to the Overton Park Conservancy , you may get at an online theater of operations guide to 350 flowering plants in the old woods .

Lucius Burch Natural Area

Shelby Farms ParkDistance from Memphis:5 milesYou’ve been to the resort area and the Canis familiaris car park , but have you ever been on a boost ? The trailhead is locate just to the south of the Agricenter off of Germantown Rd at the Wolf River , and ends at the Walnut Grove bridge over the Wolf River . There are three intersecting track ( yellow , drab , and white track ) that are great for running game , walking , and biking . You ’ll see people of all years out there enjoy the eight mile loop , so this one is great for beginners .

Red Trail

Meeman - Shelby Forest State ParkDistance from Memphis:20 milesShelby Forest is loaded with lots of corking trails , but the Red Trail is the most challenging . A “ hilly ” three - geographical mile loop , it is great preparation for mountain runs , and just outrageous enough to get your essence rate up even when walk . The trail head is a short walk from the visitors center . ( And be certain to fire up and/or reward yourself with a grill cheese at the nearby General Store . )

Base Trail

Pinnacle MountainDistance from Memphis:151 milesPinnacle Mountain , which rises more than 1000 ft above the Arkansas River Valley , is essentially within Little Rock and offers beautiful river vale views ( there ’s a bike path that run from Downtown to the pot ) . Its cone - form peak has long been a central Arkansas landmark and drawing card for outdoorsy type . Two of the Mungo Park ’s hike trail lead hikers to the mountain ’s beautiful summit . The easy way up is by way of switchbacks at the main trail pass . A more challenging way is to hike up the base trail and go up the backside of the tidy sum by bouldering . It takes about an hour , and can get intense .

North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail

Blanchard SpringsDistance from Memphis:205 milesLocated in Mountain View , the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area is loaded with awesome thing to do : visitant can saunter on the paved track to where the Blanchard Springs gushes as a waterfall from the hillside , swim in the clear Ethel Waters of the North Sylamore Creek , and hike into the Ozark woods for an hour ( or a weekend ) . The North Sylamore Hiking Trail also link all three unpaid areas .

VIllage Creek State Park