| 707 | Edwin Warner Nature Trails |
2012-09-24 |
We try to make frequent visits to Warner Parks in Nashville. The Park offers a bit of wild-ness in the Metro area. The Park is pure enjoyment for us. We go there to have fun.
Families also use the Park to share the outdoors with their children For our daughter (who is now 25), her first outdoor recreation activities were at Warner Parks. She walked the Nature Trails, played in the creek, participated in Nature Programs, and just enjoyed being in the woods.
There are three Nature Trails in Edwin Warner Park, all of the trails begin from the trailhead in the Nature Center Complex. Booklets for each trail are available at the trailhead kiosk.
Little Acorn
The Little Acorn Trail is a short hike through the woods close to the creek. The booklet includes 5 learning stations along the trail. It is a great short hike, if you can get the kids away from the creek! The trail is blazed green.
Hungry Hawk
The Hungry Hawk Trail leads north from the Nature Center to eleven learning stations. After crossing Vaughn's Creek the trail goes left and follows the creek for a short distance. The trail then branches from the Cane Connector trail and climbs steadily to the observation platform. From the platform there is a worthy view and a great place to rest. Leaving the observation platform the trail retraces it's steps down the hill and turns left at the first junction. In a short distance there is a bird blind and feeding station. We enjoy visiting the bird blind whether we are walking the rest of the trail or not. Just beyond the bird blind is the wildlife tracking station. This great loop is about .50 mile long and is blazed purple.
The Nature Loop
The Nature Loop Trail is .75 miles long and is rated as moderate. Beginning at the trailhead, cross the creek and continue straight at the first junction. The trail is blazed yellow. For the first .25 miles the trail follows the Warner Woods Trail (blue blazed) as it crosses the Old Park Road (no vehicles allowed) and climbs a hill. At the junction, the Nature Loop goes right and crosses a drainage on a bridge (near station # 4). The trail then traverses the slope to a quiet bench. Leaving the rest spot, the trail descends the slope (crossing the Old Road again) and returns to Vaughn Creek. The trail then returns to the trailhead following the creek and signs to the Nature Center.
A few notes ...
All three of these trails are great. We have used the Nature Loop Trail as an alternative start to the Warner Woods Trail.
The bird blind and observation platform are both great stops, whether you are walking the Nature Trails or not.
The Park also has more educational opportunities at the Susanne Warner Bass Learning Center (the Nature Center) and at the Nature Center Complex. A few services include a museum, library, a pond and wetland habitat, and a Nature Play area.
In Nashville, there are four Nature Centers. They all offer great nature oriented programming. (Warner Parks programming)
Enjoy the Fall, and all of the Park Trails!
Nappy Nature trails