Fall is officially here, which means hiking season is about to reach its peak.
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season → mean → peak
Hiking in the summer is fine and all, but autumn hikes feature perfect temperatures, fall colors, and crisp air that will have you remembering your treks for years to come.
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you → hike → years
With all due respect to college towns like Oxford and Lubbock, they have nothing on Knoxville when it comes to getting a true hike in.
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it → have → hike
Being able to pick trails around the University of Tennessee and its surrounding areas is almost like cheating, so if you're heading to Neyland for the game this weekend, you owe it to yourself to check out a few of these spots.
Ijams Nature Center
The best overall hike in the Knoxville area has to belong to the Ijams Nature Center.
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hike → pick → Center
Whether you're in town early or you have only a couple hours on Saturday morning before kickoff, this is the hike for you.
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this → have → you
Situated just three miles from downtown, Ijams Nature Center features more than 14 miles of hikeable trails across forests, meadows, ponds and an old quarry landscape, with routes ranging from easy to difficult.
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Center → situate → difficult
I highly recommend checking out Mead's Quarry, which has several trails that weave through a former industrial landscape around a gorgeous quarry lake.
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that → recommend → lake
If you're looking for a nice, relaxing hike, you can also check out the River Boardwalk, which features stunning views of the Tennessee River.
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which → look → River
There's something for everyone here and you don't even need to leave the city.
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you → be → city
While Ijams is the more versatile pick, if you're looking for the best "pure hike," House Mountain is the place to be.
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Mountain → look → hike
The House Mountain State Natural Area is about 15 miles northeast of the city, and it gives hikers both a workout and a view for their efforts.
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it → give → efforts
Seriously, this is the highest point in Knox county, featuring a 2,100-foot crest for those of you who are looking to actually climb something while you're in the Volunteer State.
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you → feature → State
Readers beware: this is an actual hike, not just a leisurely stroll around a greenway, so pack accordingly.
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this → beware → greenway
We're talking wooded areas leading to rocky overlooks, but the payoff of the breathtaking views of the Cumberland and Unaka Mountains is well worth it.
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payoff → talk → Mountains
The burning in your calves will be temporary, but the pictures from the summit will last a lifetime.
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pictures → last → summit
When I said Knoxville was basically a cheat code when it came to hiking spots, I wasn't lying, and Sharp's Ridge Veterans Memorial Park is a perfect example of why.
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Park → say → why
It's less than a 10-minute drive from the downtown area, meaning the views of both the Knoxville skyline and the Smokey Mountains are insane.
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views → mean → skyline
Sharp's Ridge features nearly five and a half miles of trails, and the observation deck at the top with the aforementioned views is the reward for getting the job done.
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job → feature → views
The observation deck even has signage pointing out the names of the different mountains in the distance.
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deck → have → distance
This is well worth your time, and it's just a short drive from where you are likely staying, meaning there's no excuse to miss out on this hike.
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you → stay → hike
You can see the Smokies without ever having to go out of your way, so check it out while you're in Knoxville.
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you → see → Knoxville
So, you're looking for a picturesque hike without being inundated by tourists?
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you → look → tourists
Consider this Knoxville's "hidden gem," as this hilly and wooded trail to the south of the city is the one only locals know about.
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locals → consider → city
The natural-surface trails weave through miles of heavily forested terrain, and it has hikes that will satisfy both beginners and seasoned veterans alike.
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that → weave → beginners
Trails like Mitchie's Way have been designed specifically with hikers in mind, meaning the whole area is optimized for those looking to just get a good hike in.
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area → design → hike
Enjoy this spot situated in Knoxville's Urban Wilderness network, close enough to downtown that you don't need to spend all day driving, but far enough away that you can be one with nature.
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you → enjoy → nature
The Aporia
