7 Jaw-Dropping Hikes Near Knoxville

Are you a local or a visitor searching for the best hikes near Knoxville?

Knoxville, Tennessee has some unbelievable hiking opportunities in and around the city. Since I’ve lived in the Knoxville area for several years and have hiked many trails in and around the city, I decided to compile the best ones for you!

girl sitting on cliff edge at house mountain east overlook in tennessee

In this guide, I’m revealing the seven best hikes near Knoxville. Whether you want to chase waterfalls, summit a mountain, or meander around a river, you’ll find something for you on this list. And since all of these hikes are an hour or less from Knoxville, these are perfect day hikes for locals and visitors alike!

Table of Contents

7 Jaw-Dropping Hikes Near Knoxville

girl standing in front of triple falls in tennessee

girl hiking on the boardwalk trail at ijams nature center in knoxville

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1. House Mountain Loop

Length: 3.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,169 feet
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Hard
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Distance From Downtown Knoxville: 30 minutes

House Mountain State Natural Area, located just 30 minutes northeast of downtown Knoxville, is a wildly underrated hiking destination in East Tennessee.

The main hiking trail in this natural area is a 3.6-mile loop that winds steeply up the west side of House Mountain, travels along the ridge to the east side, and snakes steeply back down the mountain.

Getting to the crest of House Mountain from the parking area is a commitment, but once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular birdseye views of the surrounding towns and mountains.

The most epic part of the route is the Crest Trail, which separates the West Overlook from the East Overlook. Since the trail is quite literally cut into the ridgeline, there are portions of this trail where the narrow path drops steeply on both sides, giving you insane mountain views from the north and the south.

The most jaw-dropping viewpoint on the route is the view from the rocky outcropping at the East Overlook. It’s also much quieter on the east side than the west!

2. Panther Branch to Emory Gap Trail

Length: 2.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 413 feet
Type of Trail: Out & back
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Distance From Downtown Knoxville: 1 hour

girl standing in front of debord falls at frozen head state park

girl standing in front of emory gap falls at frozen head state park

Frozen Head State Park, about an hour northwest of downtown Knoxville, is another hidden gem in East Tennessee. This state park is so lovely that I’m going to recommend two epic trails for you.

The first trail is Panther Branch to Emory Gap. This 2.4-mile roundtrip trail travels mildly down the creek for about a half-mile before descending a steep set of wooden stairs to the first waterfall, Debord Falls.

girl sitting in front of debord falls at frozen head state park

After Debord Falls, the trail gradually gets steeper as it winds up and around to the second waterfall, Emory Gap Falls. Some minor scrambling is required at the end, but nothing too crazy.

PRO TIP: If you want to see the waterfalls flowing (as they are in these photos), hike in the winter or early spring, preferably after it has rained. The waterfalls are merely a trickle in the drier summer and fall months.

3. Triple Falls Trail

Length: 1.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 685 feet
Type of Trail: Out & back
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Distance From Downtown Knoxville: 40 mins

girl sitting at panoramic overlook at the end of triple falls trail in tennessee

Triple Falls, tucked behind a neighborhood just 40 minutes northwest of downtown Knox, is one of my favorite trails in the Knoxville area. This hike boasts waterfalls and a mountain summit, all in one epic, short 2-mile hike. Those kinds of stats and features are hard to beat!

The trail is relatively unmarked and unassuming from the road, but as soon as you step away from your car, you’ll enter a waterfall paradise! This extremely scenic trail parallels Bruce Creek and all of its gorgeous waterfalls. While the main event is Triple Falls, there are many others in the first quarter-mile of this hike.

girl standing in front of waterfall on the triple falls trail in tennessee

If you choose to keep going past Triple Falls, the trail will get harder but even more exciting. You’ll hang on to ropes, cross bridges, and scramble rocks to get to the summit, which provides panoramic views of the surrounding towns and mountains.

girl standing at panoramic overlook at the end of triple falls trail in tennessee

You might even discover a secret, off-the-beaten-path waterfall.

If you’d like to read more about this epic hike, including how to find the secret waterfall, check out my Triple Falls trail guide!

4. Newmans Island Bridge Trail + Seven Islands Loop

Length: ~3 miles
Elevation Gain: ~100 feet
Type of Trail: Lollipop
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Distance From Downtown Knoxville: 30 minutes

hiker standing on bridge at seven islands state birding park in tennessee

bridge at seven islands state birding park in tennessee

Seven Islands State Birding Park, located about 30 minutes east of downtown Knoxville, truly surprised me. What I adore most about this park is its diverse trail system. Whether you want to hike beside a river, stroll around an island, or meander through a meadow – and whether you want to be tucked in the forest or exposed on a ridgetop with expansive mountain views – there’s something for you here.

My favorite route is the Newmans Island Bridge Trail combined with the Seven Islands Loop. The route looks like a double lollipop! I traced the route in hot pink on the map below to show you.

seven islands hiking map with custom route — CREDIT: tnstateparks.com (with my custom route overlay)

This route starts on a wide, paved path but after turning, quickly descends on a narrow, dirt path. It then crosses the river via a newly constructed bridge, circles the island, and plunges into a meadow before meeting back up with the paved path.

hiker standing by river on the island at seven islands state birding park in tennessee

BONUS: We found the best picnic spot in the park! There’s a cute little riverside picnic table on the island, just past the bridge. You can sit at the picnic table or plop on the ground right by the French Broad River. We prefer to sit on the ground beside the river – it’s incredibly peaceful listening to the river rapids and the birds singing in the trees above.

5. North & South Old Mac Trail

Length: 7.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,039 feet
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Distance From Knoxville: 1 hour

Okay, let’s circle back to Frozen Head State Park, shall we?! There is another jaw-dropping trail at this park that’s worth highlighting: the North & South Old Mac Trail.

This trail leads to one of the most iconic structures in East Tennessee: the lookout tower at the top of Frozen Head Mountain. Any hiker who makes it to the top is treated to panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

There are a few different routes you can take to get to the lookout tower, but the one I’m going to recommend is the North and South Old Mac Trail loop. You’ll ascend Frozen Head Mountain to the tower via the South Old Mac Trail and then descend the mountain via the North Old Mac Trail. It’s quite a steep hike, but don’t worry; you’ll forget about the grueling climb as soon as you see the views from the tower! Since the lookout tower sits just above the treeline, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views.

NOTE: You can also choose to hike the South Old Mac Trail as an out & back (6.4 miles RT) OR approach the tower from the east by parking at Armes Gap and hiking about 5 miles round-trip via the East Lookout Tower Trail (easiest and quickest option).

6. Ijams River Trail Loop

Length: 1.4 miles
Elevation Gain: 108 feet
Type of Trail: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Dog-Friendly: Yes
Distance From Downtown Knoxville: 15 minutes

Ijams Nature Center, a recreation area inside Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness, is an outdoor adventure paradise. With hiking, biking, swimming, paddling, and climbing opportunities, this urban park provides an escape into nature without having to venture too far outside the city. Even though it sits only about 15 minutes from downtown Knox, you’ll feel like you’re an hour away as you slip into nature.

There are literally dozens of trails to hike here, but my favorite is the River Loop Trail. This trail is unique because it follows a wooden boardwalk cut into the side of a rock, hovering right above the Tennessee River.

If you want to extend your hike, there are plenty of interconnecting trails along the way. Just make sure to download offline maps using AllTrails because the trail system is actually quite complex and can be confusing at times. You don’t want to get lost!

7. Ozone Falls Trail

Length: 0.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 121 feet
Type of Trail: Out & back
Difficulty: Moderate
Dog-Friendly: Yes, but not recommended
Distance From Downtown Knoxville: 1 hour

girl standing in front of ozone falls in tennessee

Last but not least on this list is the infamous Ozone Falls! Ozone Falls State Natural Area, located about 1 hour west of downtown Knoxville, is known for its exciting waterfall scramble and sparkling swimming hole. So while this is less of a hike and more of an adventurous rock scramble, it’s worth the drive out there to trek to the base of the waterfall.

The trail is unassuming from the start, but once you begin your rocky descent and start scrambling your way down to the base of Ozone Falls, the real adventure begins! A 110-foot waterfall, beautiful cove, and shimmering emerald swimming hole are waiting for you at the bottom.

Looking to extend your hike? Consider hiking a section of the nearby Cumberland Trail. Click here for an interactive map of the Cumberland Trail.