Long Hunter Day Loop Hiking Guide
Long Hunter State Park sits on the shore of Percy Priest Lake on Nashville's eastern edge, and the Day Loop is its most popular hike. It is flat on paper and rougher underfoot than you expect: limestone ledges, sinkholes and cedar glades where prickly pear cactus grows in the thin soil, with bluff-top glimpses of the lake through oak and hickory. Tennessee State Parks calls it wild and rocky, which is exactly right.
The Loop
The Day Loop starts on the Volunteer Trail and then splits off into its own circuit. Distances vary by source — about 3.8 miles on mapping apps, 4 miles in the state's listing, 4.5 in the Friends of Long Hunter guide — with only around 260 feet of gain. The state rates it difficult because of the terrain rather than the climbing: rocks, roots and uneven limestone slow you down more than the hills do.
Cedar Glades
The open, rocky clearings along the loop are cedar glades, a rare Middle Tennessee habitat where limestone lies so close to the surface that only specialised plants survive. Friends of Long Hunter points out the prickly pear cactus and sinkholes along the way. The glades are hot and exposed in summer and quietly beautiful in spring, when glade wildflowers bloom.
The Lake
Bluff overlooks give views of Percy Priest Lake through the trees, best in winter when the leaves are down. Birders watch for pileated woodpeckers in the forest and, over the water, ospreys and — in the colder months — common loons. For something easier, the park's paved Couchville Lake Trail, a 2.1-mile loop, is one of the most popular walks in the whole state park system.
Dogs
Dog rules at Long Hunter are trail-specific. Leashed dogs are allowed on the Volunteer Trail and, per Friends of Long Hunter, on the Day Loop. They are banned on the Bryant Grove Trail. Check the signs at the trailhead, keep your dog leashed, and bring water for them: the limestone heats up in summer.
Practicalities
There is no entry fee at Tennessee State Parks. Carry water; the loop has none. Summer humidity and heat are the main hazards, and the glades offer no shade, so go early from June through September. Ticks and poison ivy are common in the forest margins. The park's boat house and fishing pier were closed until further notice in 2026, which does not affect the trail.
Hiking tips for Long Hunter Day Loop
- Wear real hiking shoes — the limestone and roots make this loop slower than its gain suggests.
- Hike it in winter for the clearest lake views from the bluffs.
- Go early in summer; the cedar glades are fully exposed and hold the heat.
- Check trailhead signs for dog rules — pets are allowed here but banned on the park's Bryant Grove Trail.
- Try the paved Couchville Lake Trail if you want an easy, accessible option nearby.
Nearby trails to explore
- Radnor Lake Trail
- Burgess Falls Trail
- Mossy Ridge Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
The Day Loop is Nashville's east-side escape, and a rocky trail is better with someone who knows the way. Use TrailMates to find Nashville hikers heading to Long Hunter. Download the TrailMates app to connect.