Field guide
Nashville running routes: Shelby Bottoms and greenways
Plan your run in Nashville. This guide covers Shelby Bottoms Greenway's paved and primitive trails and sections of the Cumberland River Greenway.
Visitors looking for running routes in Nashville can choose between extensive park trails and shorter urban greenway sections. Shelby Bottoms Greenway provides a large park setting, while the Cumberland River Greenway offers segments near downtown and other city landmarks.
For longer runs or hikes on different surfaces, Shelby Bottoms has approximately five miles of paved trails and five miles of primitive trails. For shorter routes or connections, sections of the Cumberland River Greenway run through the downtown core and near other attractions.
| Place | Distance (official) | Hours | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby Bottoms Greenway | Not listed | Not listed | primitive; paved ADA accessible |
| Cumberland River Greenway | 0.09 miles; 0.12 mi | Not listed | Not listed |
Shelby Bottoms Greenway
Located in East Nashville, Shelby Bottoms Greenway is a large urban park of more than 950 acres. It is situated less than 4 miles from the downtown area, including Printers Alley and Lower Broadway. The park contains approximately five miles of paved, ADA accessible trails and a separate system of approximately five miles of primitive hiking trails.
Visitors can access the greenway from multiple points. There are two Nashville B-Cycle stations for bike rentals, one near the Davidson St. entrance and another at the Cornelia Fort Airpark trailhead. The park also has a nature center for environmental education and recreation at 1900 Davidson St.
- Shelby Bottoms Nature Center type
- environmental education and recreation facility
- Shelby Bottoms Greenway size
- more than 950 acres
- Location
- urban East Nashville; less than 4 miles from Printers Alley, The District and historic Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville
- Shelby Bottoms Nature Center address
- 1900 Davidson St. Nashville, TN 37206
- Primitive hiking trails length
- approximately five miles
- Paved ADA accessible trails length
- approximately five miles
- Primitive hiking trails surface
- primitive
- Paved ADA accessible trails surface
- paved ADA accessible
Source: Shelby Bottoms Nature Center (nashville.gov). Official page, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Cumberland River Greenway
The Cumberland River Greenway consists of multiple sections throughout the city. Some segments are very short, such as the 0.09-mile section adjacent to the Ascend amphitheater and the 0.12-mile Modera Nations section. The greenway system also connects to the Opry Mills campus via the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge.
A downtown section runs along 1st Avenue between Church Street and Korean Veterans Boulevard. Visitors planning to use this area should be aware of potential closures during large events. For example, during NFL Draft events, pedestrians must follow sidewalk closure maps and cyclists must check for road closures.
- Downtown section location
- On 1st Avenue between Church Street and Korean Veterans Boulevard
- Greenway adjacent to Ascend amphitheater section length
- 0.09 miles
- Modera Nations section length
- 0.12 mi
- Downtown section pedestrian rules during events
- Pedestrians must use sidewalk closure maps during NFL Draft events.
- Downtown section cyclist rules during events
- Cyclists must note road closures and plan ahead when traveling through this area during NFL Draft events.
- Opry Mills Greenway connection
- Connects the Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge, Cumberland River Greenway, and Stones River Greenway to the Opry Mills campus.
Sources: Greenway Plans and Projects (nashville.gov), nashville.gov (nashville.gov). Official pages, checked Oct 21, 2026.
Before you go
- Check for special event schedules before using the downtown section of the Cumberland River Greenway, as closures may be in effect.
- Note the operating hours for park facilities like the Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, which has different hours on different days and is closed on Sunday and Monday.
- Paths are shared with cyclists, especially at Shelby Bottoms where bike rentals are accessible from the greenway.
- Select your trail based on surface preference, as Shelby Bottoms Greenway has both paved ADA accessible paths and primitive hiking trails.
More cities: City running and hiking guides.