Radnor Lake State Park

Radnor Lake State Park is located in Davidson County, south of Nashville. The park and 85-acre lake is a nature sanctuary offering hiking and wildlife observation.

History

In 1914 the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company appropriated this property to furnish water for steam engines and livestock kept nearby. Later, it was used as a private hunting and fishing preserve. A short time after its construction, birds discovered it and began to feed and rest there. Public interest led to a campaign to save it from further development; in 1923, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary.

Hiking

There are four walking trails rich in ecological diversity. It is not uncommon to spot herons, geese, turtles, otters and muskrats. All four trails are experienced in one visit with a walk less than 5 miles in length. These trails are rich in wildflowers, and park rangers know what plants are in bloom and where to find them.

Programs

The park is for day use only; no picnicking or camping is permitted. The Junior Ranger Program provides students in middle school through college with an opportunity to intern with a State Park Ranger. Various work projects include hauling gravel, mulching trails and cleaning up the Buffalo River while on a canoe float. Guided wildflower and bird-watching walks are available. Canoe floats are a wonderful opportunity to educate visitors on the natural environment, and Radnor Lake is most beautiful when viewed from its surface.

Radnor Lake State Park offers an abundance of scenic and biological opportunities that are not found in any other area near Nashville. It has a 1,200-foot elevation and some of the highest hills in the Nashville basin. It is an ideal location to relax and enjoy nature.