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Head down the road from Alcoa, TN, and Knoxville, TN in a Toyota Grand Highlander, Camry, or RAV4, to go on an outdoor adventure at the most beautiful natural areas in the region. Get in touch with nature by hiking, mountain biking, and paddling, and catch glimpses of native Tennessee wildlife.
1. Alcoa-Marysville Greenway
The Alcoa-Marysville Greenway is a scenic nine-mile paved foot and cycle path that meanders through various Alcoa and Marysville parks. You can follow the Greenway from Alcoa’s Richard Williams Park on the corner of Lincoln Road and Aluminum Avenue or Springbrook Park, a beautiful tree-lined green space at 636 Vose Road featuring a picturesque pond and rolling lawns.
The path then winds its way past Alcoa Elementary School and Alcoa High School and runs along pretty Pistol Creek through beautiful natural areas all the way to Sandy Springs Park in Marysville, where it joins the Bicentennial Greenbelt Park trail.
2. Ijams Nature Center
Immerse yourself in nature at the breathtaking Ijams Nature Center at 2915 Island Home Avenue in Knoxville. Explore 318 acres of lush woodlands and rolling meadows down more than 12 miles of natural surface hiking trails and over nine miles of mountain biking trails. Follow the Burnett Ridge Trail to climb Ijams Crag, cool off in Toll Creek, and rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard to paddle on the historic Quarry Lake.
You can even get a workout in nature at the unique Primal Playground, a green workout space with natural rock and wood equipment. You can also learn more about the area’s fauna and flora by joining one of the popular naturalist-led programs featuring Bat Nights, Wildflower Walks, and Owl Prowls.
3. Pistol Creek Wetland Center
The Pistol Creek Wetland Center at 1951 Montvale Station Road in Marysville, 17.5 miles from Knoxville, spreads over a pristine natural area and is the perfect place to find peace and tranquility away from the city. Stroll down the wide wooden boardwalk, dotted with informative signs, over the wetland and encounter an array of native plants, birds, and animals along the way.
4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Escape into nature in the vast 522,427-acre Great Smoky Mountains National Park, about 34 miles from Knoxville via the E. Lamar Alexander Parkway and TN-33 North. The park covers an astounding 800 square miles in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and its extraordinary diversity led to the designation as a United Nations World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
The park boasts an extensive network of paved and natural surface roads and hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian riding trails spanning nearly 1,000 miles through a breathtaking landscape of old-growth forests, mountain streams, and cascading waterfalls where over 200 species of birds, 68 species of mammals, and 67 native species of fish thrive.
Explore the great outdoors on foot or in the saddle and discover Tennessee’s magnificent natural beauty. Before you leave, contact Rick McGill’s Airport Toyota today to schedule a maintenance service and ensure your vehicle will get you safely anywhere you want to go.
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