The trails in Memphis have served as a special place in my healing journey since the end of the pandemic. I’ve found a safe place to cry, to laugh to pray and of course, to scream. Without driving more than an hour, I had discovered the most magical places in Metro Memphis to hike. Nature in their inherent beauty, but also outdoors is as much a part of that healing as the trees and shrubbery that’s surrounding it.
A calm and quiet practice of observing nature and breathing deeply is called shinrin yoku in Japan—It is said that this practice can reduce stress, improve mood, and boost the immune system. In my experience, I have found that walking in nature is an immediate relief from the stress and toxicity of my everyday life. When it seemed like everything was falling apart around me, being present in nature always seems to bring me back to my center.
Here at BLAC, we’re all about nature and relieving stress so here are some trails in and around Memphis that we’d love for you to try before it gets to cold to venture outdoors. More than anything, this is an invitation to discover Memphis in another light — for you to find your own safe places in your own neighborhood that bring you peace.
Wolf River Refuge Trailhead
Address: South Walnut Bend Road, Memphis, opposite Lowe’s on Germantown Parkway Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Distance: 12.5-mile loop along the Wolf River consisting of three trails
Village Creek State Park
Address: 201 County Road 754, Wynne, AR Hours: 8 am – 5 pm
Distance: 25 miles of a multi-use trail system winding through the forests on Crowley’s Ridge
Herb Parsons Lake
Address: 140 Herb Parsons Way, Collierville Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Distance: 7-mile loop around the 177-acre Herb Parsons Lake
Peterson Lake Nature Center
Address: 419 W.C. Johnson Park Drive, Collierville, in W.C. Johnson Park Hours: 6 am – 11 pm
Distance: 3.9-mile loop through the 135-acre park containing 75 acres of wetland areas.
Riverwoods State Natural Area
Address:Wolf River Blvd. and Kimbrough Rd., Germantown
Trail Info: 0.8-mile unpaved loop through a 21-acre natural area
Overton Park
Address: 1914 Poplar Ave., Memphis
Trail Info: 4 miles of dirt trails and 1.4-mile limestone loop through the 126-acre Old Forest
Shelby Farms Park
Address: 6903 Great View Dr., North, Memphis
Trail Info: 40 miles of paved and unpaved trails traversing one of the largest urban parks in the country