Bledsoe Creek State Park Main Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Lake

This route provides a great way to get outside that is easy to access. Though it leaves right from the boat dock, you'll quickly climb to ridgelines that feel secluded.

The trail is much more difficult in the counter-clockwise direction. The parks website rates this trail as difficult, but it's really just the one hill.

This run starts from the parking area at the boat dock, but the trail can be easily started from the parking lot at the guest information building right near the entrance for a shorter route.

From the parking area, head north on the Birdsong Interpretive Nature Trail. This section of trail climbs a very gentle grade along a paved (ADA) path. At the junction with Mayo Wix Trail, turn left to follow the loop clockwise. This section of trail is still paved up to where it meets Bledsoe Park Road. Cross the road to connect with High Ridge Trail.

The High Ridge Trail, which feels fairly secluded, heads east and at about 0.9 miles it climbs a somewhat steeper grade to the top of the ridge. Here, the trail makes a sharp turn north and follows the ridge to the northern point of the park. As the trail begins to head towards the lake, it descends a steep grade (going up this would leave an average person winded but is very doable though most people prefer to run down this, hence the directionality of this route).

The bottom of this hill marks the end of the High Ridge Trail and the beginning of the Shoreline Trail. As you might expect, this section of trail parallels the shoreline of Old Hickory Lake. This part of the run passes by the "back yards" of camper RVs camped here.

Follow the Shoreline Trail all the way back to the Mayo Wix Trail, turning left. Then take another left at the junction with the Birdsong Interpretive Nature Trail which heads south back to your car.

This is a nice loop and the trails have been well-maintained as long as I've visited. It would be a nice trail for trail running.

Every time I come here, I see a few deer or turkeys.