Close to a million people visit The Warner Parks every year. Located in the Bellevue and Belle Meade neighborhoods, the parks have more than 3,100 acres between them, making it one of the largest park areas contained in a single city in the U.S. Named after two brothers and first opened in 1927, The Warner Parks have two sections divided by Old Hickory Blvd.: Percy Warner and Edwin Warner. Today we're exploring Edwin. If you've got suggestions for a future guide to Percy, email me!
My kid likes to hike the creek. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🚗 Tips
- Parking is located in two main areas. When you turn by the stone pillars off Hwy. 100, you can either turn left and park behind the Nature Center, or turn right for parking by several trails. When the park is busy, a field between the two serves as extra parking. Parking for the Burch Reserve is across the street. You can also park at picnic shelters located on Vaughn Road.
- Check out this trail map. There’s also a trail map located behind the Nature Center.
- It’s usually quite busy. People will be walking dogs, trail running, riding bikes, chasing after children, bird watching, and more. Be aware that you share this space with others. There’s still plenty of space for everyone, and the wildlife doesn’t seem to mind.
- Bathrooms are located at the Nature Center and picnic shelters four and seven, on the other side of the park.
- The Nature Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- While some hikes are sunny, most are quite shaded, so it’s still hikeable in the summer heat.
- Keep an eye on its events page for group hikes and festivals.
The tunnel at the Burch Reserve. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🥾 Where To Hike
I’ve hiked every trail at Edwin Warner Park; you can’t go wrong. My favorite way to hike is to choose routes at random, but if you like a more planned hike, here’s some advice.
- If you’ve never hiked here before, I recommend the Harpeth Woods Trail, which takes you deep into the park, both on paved and unpaved paths. Get started behind the Nature Center.
- I also like beginning on the Harpeth River Greenway, a paved trail by the right-side parking lot, and then switching to the Harpeth Woods Trail after passing Ensworth. It’s also great for strollers and bikes.
- Most of the trails take about an hour, though they can be combined for longer treks. If you want a quick hike, try the Nature Loop, Hungry Hawk, or Storywalk directly behind the Nature Center. While you’re at it, check out the stone amphitheater, in the same general area.
- The Burch Reserve is on the other side of Hwy. 100. It’s a protected natural area with no running, biking, or dog walking. It’s less busy than the main trails, and has a cool little tunnel beneath the train tracks. The trail gets very muddy after rain, but it’s a wonderful hike otherwise.
The nature play area is behind the Nature Center. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🧒 Kid-Friendly Spaces
- The nature play area behind the Nature Center has a little cabin, water pump, wooden tunnel and slide, rope spiderweb, sandbox, and my daughter’s favorite — loopy vines from trees to climb and swing on. Spending hours here is easy, and a picnic shelter beside it is perfect for lunch. Plus, there’s easy access to bathrooms at the Nature Center. It can get hot in the summer, but a trail leading to the shaded creek behind it is perfect for cooling off.
- Speaking of creeks, the shallow creek behind the play area is perfect for kids to spy crayfish, chase tadpoles, and follow the creek to new park areas. There’s also creek access at Shelter 6.
- The Nature Center has children’s play areas, perfect for rainy days or to cool down indoors in the summer.
- Check out the story book trail, now located beside the nature center on the paved loop by the library and pond.
- There’s another small, more traditional playground by Shelter 4, with a bathroom.
A recent deer spotting. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🦌 Wildlife
I regularly see deer, and I’ve also seen beavers, frogs by the pond, owls, and all kinds of other birds. Several trails have places to stop and bird watch, and feeders are right by the Nature Center. The Warner Parks participate in avian research and public engagement with its B.I.R.D. Program. Go check out a public bird banding one day!
Edwin Warner Park’s vegetable garden. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🧑🌾 Other Areas
- The park’s 11 picnic shelters can be rented for birthday parties or get-togethers. They’re also available to the public when not rented. Most of the shelters are off Vaughn Road.
- Warner Dog Park, also located on Vaughn Road, is a fenced area where dogs can roam free.
- A fenced vegetable garden, library, small cemetery, and pond are right by the Nature Center.
