Montgomery BellState Park Guide
Plan your trip
Montgomery Bell State Park is close enough to Nashville for an easy day outside, but large enough that arriving without a plan can cost you the best part of the morning. The park spreads its trails, lakes, historic sites, lodge, golf course and recreation areas across a wooded landscape near Burns, Tennessee. Use this guide … Read more
Current conditions: Check the official park hiking page and trailhead notices before starting. Tennessee State Parks lists Ore Pit Trail at 1.52 miles; recorded mileage can vary with the exact start and connections. A wooded footbridge along Ore Pit Trail. Ore Pit Trail is where Montgomery Bell’s forest and iron-making history occupy the same ground. … Read more
Current conditions: Confirm trail and shelter access with Tennessee State Parks and posted signs. The official trail inventory lists Woodland Shelter Trail at 0.29 mile. Orientation graphic only—confirm current routing with the official park map and posted signs. The Woodland Shelter Trail is a short connector with an outsized role. In less than a third … Read more
Current conditions: Confirm the route and closures with Tennessee State Parks. The official inventory lists Wildcat Trail at 1.25 miles. Morgan Shelter is a distinctive stop along the Wildcat Trail route. Wildcat Trail enters one of Montgomery Bell’s most interesting forest settings. The northern Wildcat Ridge tract is part of the state-designated natural area, where … Read more
Current conditions: Confirm access and routing with Tennessee State Parks and posted signs. Official distance is 1.23 miles; GPS readings can vary. Autumn color beside the water along the Creech Hollow Trail route. Creech Hollow Trail follows the quieter logic of Montgomery Bell: down into shade, alongside water, then back through woods where the next … Read more
Current conditions: Check the official park hiking page and posted signs before starting. Distances follow Tennessee State Parks’ trail inventory; GPS recordings can vary. A quiet creek scene along Spillway Trail. The Spillway Trail is a compact 0.56-mile walk shaped by Lake Woodhaven, moving water and the cool green folds of the surrounding forest. It … Read more
Current conditions: Check the official park hiking page and posted signs before starting. Distances follow Tennessee State Parks’ trail inventory; GPS recordings can vary. The shaded creek corridor on Jim Bailey Nature Trail. The Jim Bailey Nature Trail is Montgomery Bell’s small, well-made introduction: a 0.52-mile natural-surface walk that slips quickly from the developed park … Read more
The Montgomery Bell Trail is the park’s long walk—the route for hikers who want the hardwood ridges, creek bottoms, lakes and history to unfold over hours rather than minutes. Tennessee State Parks lists the trail at 10.24 miles. That distance makes it a serious day hike even though the terrain never becomes mountainous. Trail signage … Read more
Montgomery Bell State Park is a strong all-around choice near Middle Tennessee, but it is not the best park for every trip. The right destination depends on whether you want a resort-style base, a natural-area walk, river access, cave and cultural interpretation, or a different landscape. This comparison is a decision guide—not a claim that … Read more
Montgomery Bell State Park works especially well for families because you can build a day around short walks, lake views, a picnic, history, or a longer outdoor adventure without spending the whole visit in the car. The best plan is not to do everything. Choose two or three experiences that fit your group, leave time … Read more