Trails-Greenway – Crossville Trails

Hiking the Crossville Green way trails

1. The Crossville Greenway

Trails are used more when they are constructed near population centers and that is why the Friends of the Trails is concentrating its efforts on building the Greenway within the Crossville City limits.

While most people are familiar with city or county parks, a new type of park, called Greenways, have been developed across the nation over the past several decades.

Greenways are corridors of land recognized for their ability to connect people and places together. These ribbons of open space are located within linear corridors that are either natural, such as rivers and streams, or manmade, such as abandoned railroad beds and utility corridors.

Greenways, as vegetated buffers protect natural habitats, improve water quality and reduce the impacts of flooding in floodplain areas. Most greenways contain trails, which enhance existing recreational opportunities, provide routes for alternative transportation, and improve the overall quality of life in an area.

Greenway trails can be paved or unpaved, and can be designed to accommodate a variety of trail users, including bicyclists, walkers, hikers, joggers, skaters, horseback riders, and those confined to wheelchairs.

The number of miles of natural surfaced trails are increasing in Crossville due to the efforts of the Friends of the Trails, a non-profit volunteer group working in partnership with the city.

Hikes on the Crossville Greenway

Centennial Park Trail, Paved, 1.5 miles, Easy
Wood Lawn Loop, 1.2 miles, Easy
Little Obed River Trail, 0.7 miles, Easy
Woodlawn Loop & Little Obed Trail, 2.6 miles, Easy
TCAT Trail, 0.5 miles, Easy
Obed River Park Trail (Extra), Paved, 1.5 miles, Easy
Maryetta Trail, 1.7 miles, Moderate
Meditation Trail, 1.0 miles, Easy
Habitat Trail, 2.1 miles, Easy
Airport North Trail, 2.3 miles, Moderate
Airport South Trail, 2.5 miles, Easy
Charleston Place Trail, 2.1 miles, Easy (CLOSED)

1.1 Centennial Park Trail

Description

This is an easy 1.2 mile hike. It is mostly in the sun, so a morning hike is recommended. This hike will take you through and around the softball fields and past the horseshoe building. It then circles up past the dog parks and back to the parking lot.

Park in the parking lot close to the dog parks. The starting point is at the small plaza where 3 flags are displayed. This is also the same lot used for the pickleball courts.
The hike begins at the flags. Walk up the paved trail through the building and between the softball fields. Continue straight
At the crosswalk, continue straight toward the restrooms and horseshoe building
Just past there the trail begins to circle back
In an eighth mile or so, take a right across the bridge. At the T-junction take a left toward the dog parks
Follow the trail to the second dog park. Take the sharp left at the trash can to begin your return to the parking lot
Cross the bridge and follow the path up to the starting point parking lot

Driving Directions

Centennial Park is located on Industrial Boulevard.

1.2 Woodlawn Loop Trail

Description
This is a delightful figure-of-eight woodland trail that was constructed in 2017. Part of the trail is along the Little Obed River but you only get glimpses of the river as you pass close by.

1.3 Little Obed River Trail

Description
To hike the Little Obed Trail, constructed in 2020, you will start off by taking the Woodlawn loop trail from the trail-head parking lot. Turn right at the first junction in the woods. A short distance later turn right again to get on to the Little Obed Trail. It is a nice easy trail that gets closer to the river in places. The trail ends at Old Jamestown Highway. Eventually we hope to continue the trail on the other side of the road but for now we recommend that you turn around when you see the road and return to the trail-head where you started.

1.4 Woodlawn Loop & Little Obed Trail

Description
This hike combines the two trails to make a longer hike. The Woodlawn Loop is a delightful figure-of-eight woodland trail that was constructed in 2017. Part of the trail is along the Little Obed River but you only get glimpses of the river as you pass close by.

To hike the Little Obed Trail, constructed in 2020, you will start off by taking the Woodlawn loop trail from the trail-head parking lot. Turn right at the first junction in the woods. A short distance later turn right again to get on to the Little Obed Trail. It is a nice easy trail that gets closer to the river in places. The trail ends at Old Jamestown Highway. Eventually we hope to continue the trail on the other side of the road but for now we recommend that you turn around when you see the road and return to the trail-head where you started.

1.5 TCAT Trail

Description
This short 0.5 mile trail has been constructed mainly for the use of the college students and staff but it is open to the public. It was opened in January 2023. It is an easy trail that offers a calm walk in the woods.

Driving Directions
Parking for this short trail is in the GarrisonPark parking lot at the corner of Miller Avenue and 4th Street in downtown Crossville. Please do not park in the college student parking lots as spaces are very limited.

1.6 Obed River Park Trail

Interactive Map of the Arboretum

Description

This is an easy 1.7 mile paved trail that is shaded for about ½ the hike. Along the hike you will see the Obed River, the failed G.E. Harrison and J. Ridley Mitchell Dam, the location of the closed Tennessee Central Railroad Trestle and Corridor, and many Bluebird houses.

Park in the second parking lot on the left (third entrance) after turning into the Obed River Park
Look for the sign marking the trailhead toward the left
Follow the paved trail along the river
In about a half mile the trail turns up the hill at the failed G.E. Harrison and J. Ridley Mitchell Dam
Continue up to the field and continue on the paved trail for about another quarter mile
Take the first paved trail to the right
From here you will hike the entire loop around the field to return to this intersection
The second time around the loop you will take the next right down the hill
Continue on the paved trail until you come to a parking lot

1.7 Maryetta Trail

Description
This trail opened in 2020. It is a 1.7 mile “lollipop” trail in the woods pretty close to downtown Crossville. One leg of the loop is along the Obed River. The return is higher up the hillside.

Driving Directions

Take Sparta Highway from West Avenue at Krogers. After half a mile turn right onto the driveway of the Crossville Wastewater Treatment Facility. Before reaching the gates, turn left on the gravel track down to the trail-head parking area.

1.8 Meditation Trail

Description
Please do not hike this trail on a Sunday morning as the parking lot will be full with the congregation’s cars. Enter the Meditation Trail and enjoy an easy walk in this quiet spot close to the bustling activity in Crossville. As you walk over the bridge you can visualize how much water gets in the creek after heavy rain…..enough to wash this bridge away three times in recent months!

Driving Directions
Head out of Crossville along Sparta Highway, Route 70. After three quarters of a mile pass Ace Hardware on the right. Approximately a quarter of a mile after Ace turn right into the parking lot of the St Raphael Episcopal Church. Park behind the church close to the trailhead.

1.9 Habitat Trail

Trail Closed

This trail was closed in September 2025 due to the construction of a new subdivision. The closure should be temporary until the layot of the subdivision is complete and the trail can be rerouted. The trail is expected to reopen by the end of the year.

Description
This trail opened in July 2022. The trail-head parking is on Deerfield Road. The trail starts across the road from the parking lot. This is an easy lollypop trail along the Obed River.

Head into the woods from the parking lot. Pass the start of the Town Branch Spur on the right. Keep going crossing the creek itself using stepping stones. Look for the large Hilltoppers Bridge on the left. Cross the bridge over Spiers Branch Creek and follow the trail for about half a mile along the Obed River. At the end of the trail is a short loop which you navigate before returning the way you came. The main trail is 0.7 miles long.

On the way back after crossing the Hilltoppers Bridge and stepping over the Town Branch creek, take the trail on the left and check out the Town Branch Spur. It is an additional 0.2 mile, each way in and out, spur trail We recommend that you take the time to check out this extra section of trail. The in-out distance if you do the main trail and the Town Branch spur, 2.1 miles.

Driving Directions

Take Miller Avenue to the stop light at the TCAT college. Take 10th street alongside the college. Follow the road to the stop sign on Deerfield Road. Turn right and the trailhead parking lot will be on your left.

1.10 Airport North Trail

Description

NOTE: The Airport Trail parking lot is used as the trail-head for both the North and South Trails.

The North Trail opened in August 2023. It takes you through the “deserts” and along the airport perimeter fence for views of aircraft taking off and landing.

Driving Directions:

From Crossville, take Sparta Highway from the Kroger store. Head west for three miles, past the airport termial building and runway. At the end of the runway turn left, just before the recycling center and almost immediately turn left again on to Earl Jones Roard. After about a quarter of a mile you will see the trailhead parking lot on the left.

1.11 Airport South Trail

Description

NOTE: The Airport Trail parking lot is used as the trail-head for both the North and South Trails.

The South Trail is Crossville’s newest trail, completed in July 2024. It is a very pleasant walk through the woods but with very few natural featues along the way.

Driving Directions:

1.12 Charleston Place Trail

Trail Closed

Description

This trail is closed due to excessive overgrown vegetation along the trail. Discussions are taking place to determine what steps can be taken to pave this trail.

==================

The trailhead is in the second parking lot. The route passes along the paved trail (0.9 miles) towards the old dam on the Obed River, turn left onto the dirt Plantation trail (0.9 miles). Enjoy this trail as it winds along the Little Obed River. At the end of the trail retrace your steps back to paved trail and return along the Obed River to the trail-head.

Driving Directions
Head out of Crossville on Route 70N, West Avenue, after 1.5 miles from the Kroger’s Plaza, turn right into the Obed River Park. Take the third turn on the left into the parking lot which is the trail-head. (0.9 miles)