The Best Hikes Near
Center Hill Lake
From lakeside strolls to all-day ridge adventures — trails for every level, all within an hour of the house
Center Hill Lake didn't just create one of Tennessee's best swimming and fishing spots — it dropped you in the middle of some of the state's most spectacular hiking country. Within an hour of The Little Lake House, you'll find four-waterfall gorges, panoramic lake ridges, historic limestone canyons, and quiet forest hollows that feel a world away from the interstate. Here's what we recommend, sorted by difficulty.
All distances are from the house. Pack water, wear closed-toe shoes, and always check trail conditions before heading out — creek levels can change quickly after rain.
Quick-Pick Trail Guide
| Trail | Park | Distance | Level | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hook Trail | Appalachian Center for Craft | 1.3 mi loop | Moderate | ~10 min |
| Millennium Trail Loop | Edgar Evins State Park | 2.35 mi loop | Moderate | ~20 min |
| Millennium + Merritt Ridge | Edgar Evins State Park | 7.7 mi loop | Hard | ~20 min |
| Burgess Falls Trail | Burgess Falls State Park | 1.3 mi out-&-back | Easy | ~30 min |
| River Trail to Ridgetop | Burgess Falls State Park | 1.5 mi loop | Moderate | ~30 min |
| Downstream + Blue Hole Trail | Rock Island State Park | 2.2 mi | Moderate | ~45 min |
Trails at the Appalachian Center for Craft
The Appalachian Center for Craft — a Tennessee Tech University campus perched on a ridge above Center Hill Lake — is practically your backyard. The campus itself is worth a stop: resident artists work in clay, glass, metals, fiber, and wood, and the gallery is free to browse. But the real draw for hikers is the network of trails that drop from the ridge into hollows and along the lakeshore.
The Hook Trail
This loop is a local favorite and a great first hike to knock out when you arrive. Start at the Appalachian Center for Craft sign on the front lawn, head west toward the student garden, and look for the gate and trail sign marked with a hook. The path drops downhill through switchbacks into one of the most scenic hollows in the area — mossy, shaded, and quiet.
About half a mile in, the hollow opens onto Center Hill Lake, giving you your first shoreside view. The trail continues through a forest corridor and delivers two separate spots perfect for a swim or a cast. On the return, the path climbs a rocky hill back to the top of the ridge. Short but genuinely satisfying, with real terrain variety packed into a compact loop.
Start at the Craft Center front lawn sign, not the parking lot — the trailhead is easy to miss. Trekking poles help on wet leaves heading back uphill.
Pedigo Point Trail
Also starting from the Craft Center front lawn, Pedigo Point is the area's most rewarding short hike. The trail climbs 413 feet through forest to a point above Center Hill Lake with views that justify every step of the ascent. In late spring, the hillside is carpeted with wildflowers.
Fair warning: the return trip is steep. What goes up comes down, and the descent is where hikers earn this trail's "strenuous" reputation. But the swimming area at the point makes it easy to take your time and dry off before the climb back.
Go through the parking lot, back down Craft Center Drive, and turn left up the hill just before the rock wall — not the most obvious start, but the trail is well-worth finding.
Edgar Evins State Park
Edgar Evins State Park sits directly on Center Hill Lake and is the area's premier hiking destination. The park has over 15 miles of trails total, but two stand out — one moderate loop perfect for a morning hike, and one full-day ridge traverse for those who want to earn their dinner.
Millennium Trail Loop
The Millennium Trail is the park's signature hike and earns its 4.2-star AllTrails rating easily. The trail begins with a gentle descent almost to lake level, then winds along the lakeshore before climbing through old hollow lands. About a third of the way around, you'll pass the site of the Lon Christian Homeplace — one of several old homeplaces and stone fences visible from the trail, silent reminders of the farms that occupied this land before the dam. Note: trail registration is required at the trailhead.
Spring and fall are the best seasons — winter hyacinths, spring wildflowers, and fall foliage all make appearances along this route. Summer works too, but the forest canopy that shades the trail is at its fullest then, making the midday heat more manageable than you'd expect.
There's a "high water" bypass roughly half a mile in — take it when the lake is up after heavy rain. The main path can be muddy and submerged at the lakeshore section.
Millennium + Merritt Ridge Loop
For hikers who want a real challenge, add the Merritt Ridge Trail to the Millennium loop and you've got one of the best full-day hikes in Middle Tennessee. The Merritt Ridge connector branches off the Millennium Trail about 1.5 miles in and immediately starts climbing — steeply. At the top, the ridge opens up with panoramic views of Center Hill Lake and the surrounding hills that are genuinely spectacular, especially in early spring and winter when the leaves are down.
The ridge itself has several surprises: two acres of wild hyacinths in spring, patches of yucca, and — one of the park's great mysteries — a wall of massive stacked stones high on a bluff along the trail. No one is sure who built it or why. The total elevation gain is 1,489 feet, so plan for a full morning and early afternoon, and bring plenty of water and snacks.
Hike Millennium out, take the Merritt Ridge connector, do the full Merritt Ridge loop, then return via the other half of the Millennium Trail. Trekking poles make a real difference on the ridge descents.
Burgess Falls State Park
If you do one hike from The Little Lake House, make it Burgess Falls. The park protects a dramatic stretch of the Falling Water River where four waterfalls — a 20-foot cascade, a 30-foot upper falls, an 80-foot middle falls, and the crown jewel, the 136-foot Burgess Falls itself — plunge through a forested limestone gorge in quick succession. It's been called one of the most spectacular waterfall sequences in Tennessee, and that's not an exaggeration.
Burgess Falls Trail
The main Burgess Falls Trail is the park's easiest option and still delivers breathtaking payoff. The well-maintained path follows the river through the gorge, passing each of the four waterfalls with viewpoints along the way. The trail ends at the overlook above Burgess Falls — 136 feet of water dropping into a natural gorge that earned it the nickname "Queen of the South." A set of stairs mid-trail is the only real challenge; everything else is shaded, accessible, and genuinely beautiful.
This is the right trail for families with younger kids, or anyone who wants a scenic walk without a demanding climb. The 4.8-star AllTrails rating from over 3,000 reviews tells you everything you need to know.
Arrive early on summer weekends — this park fills up. Wear shoes that can get wet; the rocks near the water are slippery. The top of Burgess Falls requires extra caution near the edge.
River Trail to Ridgetop Loop
The River Trail takes you down to the Falling Water River and past all four waterfalls on a natural-surface path that requires some scrambling. The round-trip route involves 18 creek crossings — no bridges, only cables and stepping stones — which is part of what makes this feel like a real adventure rather than a casual walk. Most hikers return via the service road rather than re-crossing the creek. The Ridgetop extension adds elevation and sweeping gorge views.
This route is genuinely weather-dependent. After heavy rain, creek levels rise quickly and the park may close the trail. Always check conditions before you go.
Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet — flip-flops are not allowed on this trail and will get you turned around by rangers. Keep your hands free on the creek crossings.
Rock Island State Park
Rock Island is where the Caney Fork, Collins, and Rocky Rivers converge — and where the geology gets truly dramatic. The park sits around Great Falls Dam (built 1916) and features two distinct waterfalls, a historic limestone gorge, natural swimming holes, and a sandy beach on a section of Center Hill Lake. Plan a half-day: there's enough here to fill it easily.
Downstream Trail + Blue Hole Trail
Start from Twin Falls Overlook at the end of Powerhouse Road, where you can take in man-made Twin Falls emerging dramatically from a cavern in the gorge wall — there's no trail to them, just the overlook, but it's worth the stop. Then pick up the Downstream Trail, which follows the bluff line along the river. The trail delivers views of Twin Falls, Little Falls, natural springs seeping from rock faces, spring wildflowers, and the occasional bald eagle soaring over the gorge.
About 1.7 miles in, the Blue Hole Trail branches off — a steep, rugged half-mile descent down to a beautiful natural pool in the gorge. The Blue Hole is a popular fishing spot and one of the most scenic points in the park. The descent involves many steps and wet rocky terrain, but the views looking up at the gorge walls make it feel like you've discovered something.
While you're at the park, don't skip the sandy beach section on the Center Hill Lake arm — it's one of the only proper lake beaches in the area and a perfect place to wind down after the hike.
Swimming downstream of the TVA Powerhouse is prohibited year-round regardless of water releases — check TVA's website for current conditions before your visit. The gorge closes at sundown.
This is just a starting point. Edgar Evins alone has over 15 miles of trails — including the short Evins Ridge Loop, the Dunham Cemetery Trail (a tenth of a mile to a lakeview cemetery), and the Storybook Trail for kids. The Appalachian Center for Craft adds the Loop Trail and the Berry C. Williams Overlook walk to the roster. And once you've done these, Cummins Falls State Park — about 40 minutes away — is a worthy next chapter.
When you're back at The Little Lake House, you'll have earned the hammock.
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