Dog Friendly Hikes Near Knoxville

Knoxville is extremely dog friendly and offers plenty of restaurants, activities, and hikes that we can take Kiya to. One of our favorite weekend activities is to take Kiya on a local hike to start our day.

I will include maps of and too each of the hikes, but the best way to find hikes in Knoxville and your local area is through the All Trails app. I use this app to find great hikes whenever we go out of town, as it’s a great way to explore a new area!

1. Ijams Nature Center

Ijams is located in South Knoxville, less than 10 min from downtown. There are multiple trails to take from here, and all are dog friendly. Trails range from easy to moderate for hiking, but be alert as some trails are shared with mountain bikers. Most trails are loops, but you can do an out and back to shorten the distance too. Despite its location in the heart of Knoxville, Ijams is still one of my favorite hikes because it makes you feel like you are in the heart of nature! There is also a quarry with kayaks/paddle boards, ropes course, visitor center, and beer vendor at Ijams too.

2. East Lakeshore Trails

East Lakeshore trail is located in Lenoir City, about 45 min from Knoxville. There are multiple trailheads you can start at, but my favorite access is near the Wind River Marina. This gives you a 2.5 mile hike out to the rock overlook for a 5 mile out and back hike. Kiya loves this trail because of its lake access throughout the entire hike which is a great way for her to cool down. Check local hunting laws before you take this trail during hunting season as there is open hunting grounds in close proximity.

3. I.C. King Trails

IC King has vastly improved from it’s old reputation. Located off highway 120, the entrance can be easily missed. You can only access the entrance from the north bound side of the highway. However, once you find the tucked away parking lot and set off on the trails surrounding the lake, you’ll quickly forget how close you are to the busy highway. These trails are also shared with mountain bikers, so be alert, but the lake access here also makes it a great trail system for dogs!

4. House Mountain

House mountain is located 30 min northeast of Knoxville and is more of a “hike” than the others mentioned to this point. It is a 3-4 mile hike, depending if you want to add the out and back crest trail or not, with a gorgeous view at the top. Due to its proximity to Knoxville it’s a popular trail so you will most likely find other hikers along the way.

5. Triple Falls Trail

Triple Falls Trail is located in Cove Lake State Park about 30 min north of Knoxville in Caryville. This trail is rated as hard as it is a 2.2 mile round trip hike straight up the mountain. The begging of the trail takes you by the river where you see the multiple waterfalls, so if you’re not looking for a strenuous hike you could easily just complete this portion of the trail. Once you cross the bridge (pictured above) you begin your hike up. This portion can get hot and there is no shade at the top, so make sure you bring lots of water for you and your dog!

6. Forks of the River

These trails are located close to Ijams and there are multiple options. The Will Skeleton Greenway runs by the river and is a nice, easy path. There are multiple hiking and biking trails off the greenway and throughout the TWRA land if you’re looking for a wooded trail hike. And, in May/June you can catch fields of sunflowers.