Awesome, real hiking & camping near Nashville?
 

Some friends and I are looking to take a weekend trip from Memphis to the Nashville area to spend 2 nights camping and do some hiking. I'm having trouble finding a place relatively close to nashville (within about 45 minutes or so) that includes a lot of great scenery, preferably some mountains, along with some moderately difficult hiking that has plenty to see - waterfalls, bluffs, etc....no paved trails, etc. Camping spots in the park or close to the hiking trailhead are preferred obviously. I'm guessing there's some state park out there for us.

I know there are a lot of places out there but I don't have any experience in the Nashville/Mid-TN area. Any ideas?

For truly awesome, continue your trip 180 miles East and hike in the Smokies. You can hike part of the Appalachian Trail there.

In Nashville: Percy Warner Park and Radnor Lake, but I wouldn't call them awesome in terms of hiking or camping.

90 miles outside of Nashville: Savage Gulf area, Stone Door, Fiery Gizzard, etc.

Check out Fall Creek Falls.....may be slightly further than 45 minutes though.

Also thought of Fall Creek Falls & Land Between the Lakes.

Well, there aren't big mountains anywhere very close to Nashville. I'd second the Smokies/Appalachian Trail recommendation if you can keep driving that far - I think that's the closest to the "awesome" that you want. Otherwise, I think Fall Creek Falls near Crossville will be your best option. It's really nice as well.

The South Cumberland State Park, which includes Savage Gulf, Stone Door, Fiery Gizzard, Greeter Falls, and Foster Falls, on the Cumberland Plateau has everything you are seeking- awesome, real hiking, waterfalls, bluffs, only a tiny bit of paved trail off the parking lot at Stone Door (so the park can claim to be handicapped accessible for the first 1/4 mile). It is located between Nashville and Chattanooga.

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/p...uthCumberland/
http://www.secretfalls.com/hiking/21...-gizzard-trail
http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=14328
http://www.friendsofscsra.org/parkmap.htm

Stone Door is amazing as well! Several miles of trails. The trails are fairly rocky just be careful crossing any of them as they are good hiding places for snakes. I came dangerously close to stepping in the middle of 5 Copperheads when we were there.

Land between the lakes is beautiful but I prefer it for mountain biking rather than hiking.

Thanks everyone.

I have been to Fall Creek Falls as well as the Smokies but those are too far away for this weekend trip from Memphis.