Percy Warner Park

Percy Warner Park is one of Nashville’s most recognizable outdoor spaces, known for its rolling hills, wooded trails, stonework, scenic drives, and long connection to the city’s equestrian traditions. Located about nine miles from downtown Nashville, the park is part of the larger Warner Parks system, which includes Percy Warner Park, Edwin Warner Park, and the Burch Reserve. Together, the Warner Parks cover more than 3,100 acres of forest, fields, trails, and recreational space, making them one of the largest municipally managed park systems in Tennessee.

Many visitors enter through some of the most iconic park features in Middle Tennessee, including the stone gates and grand Allée Steps at the Belle Meade entrance. The steps, stone walls, and other historic structures reflect the craftsmanship of the Works Progress Administration era, when many of the park’s trails and built features were developed.

Percy Warner Park is especially popular for walking, hiking, trail running, horseback riding, cycling on park roads, and scenic drives. Its trails wind through shaded hardwood forests, open ridgelines, hillsides, and creekside areas, offering a mix of peaceful nature walks and more challenging terrain.

The park is also closely tied to Nashville’s equestrian culture. Percy Warner Park is home to the Iroquois Steeplechase, one of the city’s long-running spring traditions. Each May, the park’s racecourse becomes the setting for a day of horse racing, tailgating, hospitality tents, family traditions, and social gatherings, all set against the park’s green hills and wooded backdrop.

Beyond its recreational appeal, Percy Warner Park has a strong conservation and education role. The nearby Warner Park Nature Center serves as a starting point for exploring the Warner Parks and offers natural history programs, educational resources, and information about the area’s plants, wildlife, and trails.