Edwin and Percy Warner Parks
These two green spaces are home to old-growth forests, miles of hiking trails and Nashville’s most exciting horse race.
The Edwin and Percy Warner Parks are two public parks adjacent to each other. Collectively known as the “Warner Parks,” they have a combined area of almost 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares). They were opened in 1927 on land donated by the Warner Family. Today the parks are an important nature reserve and home to 68 animal species, almost 200 species of birdlife, 134 varieties of trees and shrubs, and 80 acres (32 hectares) of old-growth forest.
Begin your visit at the Warner Park Nature Center, which runs education programs and activities for all ages. Included in the center is the Susanne Warner Bass Learning Center, a natural history museum, a greenhouse, learning pond and several native gardens.
Bring your running shoes; the parks feature nine hiking trails graded from easy to advanced, spanning 12 miles (19 kilometers). There are four separate trailheads, so be sure to collect a detailed map from the Nature Center. If running or hiking isn’t your thing, Percy Warner has a car route that promises some of the same views the hiking trails offer. There are also several designated scenic overlooks where you can pull over and enjoy the vistas.
Tee off on either the nine-hole Percy Warner Golf Course or 18-hole Harpeth Hills Golf Course. Both courses are public, however, proper golf attire is required. The park also features horse trails and an equestrian center.
If you’re visiting on the second Saturday in May, don’t miss Nashville's answer to the Kentucky Derby, the Iroquois Steeplechase. The annual horserace is one of the highlights of the Nashville social calendar.
The Warner Parks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are located approximately nine miles (14 kilometers) from downtown Nashville.