Radnor Lake State Park is located in Davidson County in the midst of the Overton Hills, south of Metropolitan Nashville in the Oak Hill Community. This natural area provides a variety of scenic spots and a diversity of natural habitats ranging from the lake, to streams and placid sloughs. Wildlife and numerous species of plants are in abundance. It is a place that provides scenic, biological, geological, and passive recreational opportunities not found in other metropolitan areas of Nashville's size.
Recent Park Event
Friends of Radnor Lake Present Governor Phil Bredesen with Environmental Award
(Click link above to read more and for a photo slideshow)
Hiking Trails
Radnor Lake is observed as a nature sanctuary, so the trails are strictly
used for hiking and wildlife observation.
From
The Tennessee Conservationist's Great Hikes With Fran Wallas:
Radnor Lake State Natural Area Offers an Easy Hike for People Wild About Wildflowers
Trails are off limits to pets and no jogging is allowed.
Hiking Trail Map
Natural Area
Radnor Lake State Park provides a variety of scenic areas and a diversity
of natural habitats. It even has some of the highest hills in the Nashville
Basin. Wildlife is amazingly abundant. One can observe geese, herons, coots,
and other birds as well as many species of salamanders, frogs, snakes, lizards,
turtles, and mammals. Hundreds of species of wildflowers, mosses, fungi, ferns,
and other lesser plants as well as trees, shrubs, and vines add to the natural
ecological diversity of the area.
Radnor's geology is also fascinating and complex. The rocks, which form its
hills and valleys, were deposited on the floor of a shallow, tropical, inland
sea 500,000,000 years ago.
The 85-acre lake for which the site is named was impounded in 1914 by the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad Company to furnish water for steam engines and livestock
at nearby Radnor Yards. It was intended that the site would provide a private
hunting and fishing preserve for L & N officials and their guests. Soon
after construction of the lake, many birds discovered it and began to feed and
rest there during their annual migration. In 1923, the executive vice-president
of L & N stopped all hunting and declared the area a wildlife sanctuary
at the request of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. In 1962, the area was
purchased by a construction firm and plans were made to subdivide the property
for a housing development. Shortly thereafter, public sentiment arose to preserve
the area as a park. In 1973, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation,
with the financial assistance of the Federal Government and thousands of concerned
citizens, purchased the Radnor site as the first official state natural area.
Hiking, nature study and observation, photography, and research are the major
activities presently enjoyed by Radnor's many annual visitors. It is a place
that provides scenic, biological, geological, and passive recreational opportunities
not found in other metropolitan areas of Nashville's size.
Visit the Natural
Areas web site.
Programs
Several programs are planned throughout the year. Some include canoe floats, wildflower walks, astronomy night hikes, nature hikes, programs on snakes, cave ecology, and birds of prey, plus a whole lot more. Call park for more information.
Friends Group
Please take a moment to visit the Friends of Radnor Lake web site!
Tour Buses
Buses not appropriate for east entrance. Call park for more information.