Radnor Lake State Park, Davidson County, Tennessee

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     Radnor Lake State Park lies on the southwest verges of Nashville, and if ever there was such thing as an “urban oasis”, this is it. There’s several miles of hiking trails around a thickly wooded area and a pristine lake that once served as the watering hole for the old Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Some of the trails are easy and some are remarkably intense for their relative nearness to densely populated areas. And the area is well-protected too…there’s lots of “nos” listed on the sign at left, but hiking and photography are just fine, thank you…

 

          Trees, trees everywhere…and a hillside above that beckons you up the trail. This is a terrific hike that defies seasons and gives you a good preparatory workout for anything on the South Cumberland.

 

     Yes, it’s bark! I’m sorry, it just has so much character. Like a snowflake, it’s never the same.

 

     There are some mammoth trees at Radnor. This one reaches for the sky on the Ganier Ridge Trail.

 

          

Ganier Ridge is absolutely one of my favorite trails, anywhere, and while I certainly haven’t seen every trail in Tennessee, let alone America, I still think my opinion is well-considered. Left and center are typical views along the spur leading to the summit; at right, you can (if you look closely enough, anyway!) see bits of Brentwood and even Franklin. It’s quite a vista!

 

          

Up top, the terrain is virtually alpine in appearance. But there are gentle reminders (at center) to behave, and mostly people do…at right, the monument at the top to the namesake of Ganier Ridge.

 

          Coming down from the summit, there’s some nice views of downtown Nashville (you can see the Batman Building from up here) and a wonderful overlook of the peaceful hollow that feeds the lake. There’s a very nice seat up here that allows you a comfortable look both ways and a quiet place for contemplation and meditation. It is dedicated to this woman, who must’ve been very special, indeed, to have such a memorial.

 

          

Down, then, from the top, and in places it’s quite rocky, steep and slick but not at all dangerous if you take your time. And you’re never really alone at Radnor Lake, which depending on how you look at it is either a good thing or a bad thing. On this particular day I was being passed every 5-10 minutes, it seemed, but it shouldn’t be surprising that the place is so popular…

 

     …especially with views like this as you approach the lake on the return leg at sunset.

 

          

Peaceful views abound. And there’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy them too: there are lots of benches scattered throughout the park for a brief rest or a photograph or a place to quietly study the abundant wildlife.

 

          And then there are some benches that serve better as memorials. This one on a lonely spur trail I do not ever sit on, as it always seems to have something on it…here there is a rudimentary cross and an almost flower-like arrangement of pebbles. Sometimes there are flowers. If you’re as intrigued as I was, Google the name on the plaque, or just click here because I’ve done it for you. It’s still a mystery, but at least I know I am not the only one seeing this sort of thing.

 

          More big trees, this twin-spired tower down closer to the lake. It’s big!

 

          It had been a while since my last visit when I returned to Radnor in late 2008, and I was surprised to see a lot of felled trees down around the east parking area. A blight, perhaps? I have lots more pictures of this neat place and eventually I will get around to posting them too.

 

 

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