• Welcome to #HIKETOBER

    Check out a new park, try a new trail, and GET OUTSIDE!

  • How #HIKETOBER Works

    This October we challenge YOU to get active in a park at least 12 times!

    1

    Hike

    Since it is #Hiketober, we encourage you to get in as many hikes as you can, but we only require you to check-in 12 times at ANY park or greenway in Tennessee in order to receive the #Hiketober Challenge Reward (Oct 1-31)!

    2

    Tag Us

    Tag us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter with #HealthyParksTN and #Hiketober to get a special shout-out!

    3

    Stay Safe

    With COVID-19 still prominent, make sure to take proper precatuions, read the requirements for the parks you plan to attend, and stay safe. There is no better way to social distance than being out in the great outdoors!

  • Trail Options

    Here are some different trail options to try out this October during #HIKETOBER!

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    East Tennessee

    East TN Trails

    * Byrd Creek Trail (pictured to the right): Crossville, TN; Cumberland Mountain State Park; Moderate- 1.9 miles; dog friendly (leashed); Great for viewing the creek, waterfall, fall colors, and birding

    * Lakeside Trail: Bristol, TN; Steel Creek Park; Easy- 2 miles; mostly gravel; great for viewing fall colors, a lake, a creek, a waterfall, a cave, wildflowers, wildlife, and birding

    * Cane Creek Blue and Red Trail: Cane Creek Part, Cookeville, TN; Easy- 1.8 mile trail; paved, wheel-chair & stroller accessible, dog friendly (leashed); great for walking, running, biking, viewing the lake and wildlife

    * Triple Falls Trail on Bruce Creek: Caryville, TN; Moderate- 2 miles dog friendly (leased); known for viewing wildflowers, 360 views, wildlife, and waterfalls; This trail is noted for having a few spots that are steep.

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    Middle Tennessee

    Middle TN Trails

    * Mossy Ridge Trail (pictured to the right): Percy Warner Park, Nashville, TN; Moderate- 4.9 miles; Dog friendly (leashed); Great for wildflowers, wildlife, trail running, or just to bring your dog on a hike. There are a few hills, but it is very shaded. This is a popular trail and is less crowded during the week!

    * Cotton Field & Boundary Trail, Stoner River National Battlefield; Murfreesboro, TN; Easy- 3 miles (2 trails combined), Partially paved, Dog friendly (leashed), Family friendly; Rich in history with monuments, a national cemetery, trenches, and wildlife along the way.

    * Richland Creek Greenway: West Nashville, TN; Easy- 5 miles; 5 access locations, Paved, Dog friendly (leashed), Stroller & Wheelchair accessible, biking, skating

    * Day Loop Trail: Nashville, TN, Long Hunter State Park: Easy/Moderate- 3.9 mile loop, Kid friendly, Dog friendly (leashed) and great for seeing wildlife, the Percy Priest Lake, and fall colors!

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    West Tennessee

    West TN Trails

    * Tour de Wolf (pictured to the right): Shelby Farms Park, Germantown, TN; Easy/Intermediate- 5.7 miles, Great for wildlflowers, wildlife, lake, and birding

    * Cypress Grove Nature Park: Jackson, TN; Easy- 1.4 mile out and back, Great for seeing wildlife, cypress swamp, lake, and birding; Access to the aviary exhibits

    * Oak Ridge Trail: Natchez Trace State Park, Wildersville, TN; Easy- 0.7 mile loop, All skill levels, Dog friendly (leashed); Great for seeing fall colors, a lake, a spring, and wildlife

    * Brian Brown Memorial Greenway: Martin, TN; Easy- 3.4 mile out and back, Paved, Wheelchair and stroller accessible; Good for biking, walking, running, birding, wildflowers, and wildlife

  • New Activities to try this Fall!

    This Fall, try out some new activities! While COVID-19 is still present, we do not know how many of our typical fall get-togethers, haunted houses, or vacations we will be able to attend. With this in mind, it would be a great time to start planning fun outdoor activites!

    Activity Ideas

    * Hiking in the fall is one of the BEST times to go! The views are gorgeous and the temperature is just right. See how many different trails you can hike this autumn!
    * Try out biking either on pavement or on a trail! Outside exercise is more bearable throughout the day in the fall than the scorching summer time, so it is a perfect aerobic exercise to start.
    * Take on a new activity like bird watching, kite flying, fishing, or even rock climbing!
    * Try a virtual 5K, 10K, or even marathon. While most races have been physically cancelled, a lot of them have switched to virtual. There's no reason to waste the training you've worked towards, sign up for a virtual run!
    * Eat seasonally! Buy seasonal produce from the Farmer’s Market or local vendors. This helps reduce your carbon footprint and obtain a higher nutrient value.
    * Garden yourself! Some produce to plant are broccoli, brussel sprouts, collards, green onions, radishes, and lettuce! You can also plant some spring bulbs to enjoy next year!
    * Go apple or pumpkin picking! There are a ton of U-pick farms that you can take the kids to or yourself to try something different.
    * Take the family to a corn maze! This requires less contact with people and still is a fun and active outing that you can take part in.
    * Visit some botanical gardens! Visiting botanical gardens are great for supporting conservation, seeing endangered or exotic plants, getting in a good walk, relieving stress, and learning about nature, culture, and history!
    * Stay active by raking leaves. Little tasks around the yard really add up and can be exercise in itself!

  • User Spotlight

    For our #UserSpotlight HPHP would like to introduce you to Stephani, Aveana, and Sirena Muller! Thank you for setting an amazing example for your kids and everyone around you! We appreciate you and are thankful that you are apart of the HPHP Community!

    The Mueller family is an outdoor-loving and active lifestyle family. Stephanie Mueller is a seasonal park ranger at Seven Islands State Birding Park in Kodak, TN where she has worked since 2018. The Muellers have called Tennessee home since moving here in 2013 from Wisconsin. Stephanie enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her family by camping, hiking, kayaking, running, and biking. Her daughters, Aveana (age 8) and Sirena (age 6), have become very knowledgeable about the birds, plants, and just about everything else in nature on their hikes with their mom. Stephanie homeschools her kids and they often incorporate different topics, such as math, science, reading, and art, as they spend time outdoors.

    Stephanie and her girls love to paddle down the French Broad River and explore the wildlife along the way. All members of the Mueller family are runners and have finished numerous races ranging from 1 mile up to 50 miles. Aveana and Sirena had a great time earlier this year completing the Honeybee Virtual 5K benefitting Tennessee State Parks' Honey Project. The girls even cheered Stephanie on and helped her finish her first full marathon in November 2019. Spending time outdoors is an important part of the Mueller family's everyday life because it allows them to get fresh air, exercise, learn about nature, and have fun together without the constraints that come with being inside. The things they can learn about and do outside are seemingly endless.

     

    The Muellers have really made an increased effort to spend as much time outdoors this year largely due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. When they are outside exercising they are not thinking about things like politics, health crises, or problems occurring around the country. They are focused instead on maintaining an active lifestyle together as a family and controlling the things in their lives that they can instead of worrying about things that they can't control. Stephanie has been an active user of the Healthy Parks Healthy Person program app since 2019.

  • A Note From Your

    Healthy Parks Healthy Person team

    We want to see you in action!

    We thrive on testimonials, pictures, feedback, and suggestions! We love photos of scenery, pets, or the family! Send us your favorite parks, trails, or activities you love to do through email at healthy.parks@tn.gov or message us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Let us know what you want to learn more about for our next blog, social media post, or newsletter. This program is dedicated to helping YOU, so let us know what you think or want to see!

    Thank YOU for supporting the Healthy Parks Healthy Person Program! We cannot wait to hear from you!
    - the HPHP Team

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