[ Pinnacle Trail ]

Check it out. Our first blog on a local trail here in the Nashville area. Grab your day bag and your hiking shoes and hit this trail with a buddy or three.

Directions : Between I-40 and hickory hollow mall off of bell road.
Take exit 219 from Nashville and then take a right onto Stewart ferry road.
At the first stoplight stewards ferry road mergers into bell road.
Continue on Bell you will pass Elm Hill Marina on left
The road forks. Take that right fork on to Ned Shelton Road.
Travel a very short distance until you see a chained gate on left.
This is the parking area.

Location: For some reason, the area to pinnacle is chained off. The trail is used for both hiking and mountain biking. The day that we here at The VentureTree went for a hike we saw several mountain bikers enjoying the trail. As you leave the comforts of your vehicle you walk up a path road to the sign that reads “Pinnacle Trail”. There are no maps available. But, I am here to tell you that the trail is a loop trail is only 5 miles through a beautiful scenic area. ** Here's a link to the area were the trail is located. Pinnacle Trail Map

Here's a link to the trail itself: Pinnacle Trail

Need 2 know: The day that we hiked the trail we started on the side that the mountain bikers took. It was a nice start but beware, the trail starts to get a little step within the first few hundred yards. The rest of the trail is winding back and forth. Try to avoid the switchbacks, the trail has been maintained very well though we took a the short cut trail and ended up cutting the trip in half. Needless to say, we finished a bit early! We took the first left from the mountain bikers start, and upon doing this we ended up back at the paved road that you see at the beginning. On the other side, there is a short winding trail that drops you off at a wooden trash can in where I think is the original parking area before the area got chained off. I prefer to call this side the hiker’s side.

If I planned to hike this trail again I would start off at the hikers side. That way you are hiking you can be aware of your surroundings and yield to the mountain bikers that may not be able to stop or just might not see you!

Pros/cons: This is a great trial if you live in the Hermitage, Antioch, or Doneslon area. If you want to get away from the over traveled greenway, this is a great alternative. TIP: Don't forget to check for ticks when you are done.Take water and a lunch if you plan to do all 5 miles at a leisurely pace. It's also a good trail to do a good trail running session. Or you can hit the trail with your mountain bike.

There are only a few negatives about this area. The parking is limited (suggest carpooling), area must have been chained off for some reason and not knowing that reason can be a little worrisome. VentureTree will have to investigate the reason for the chained area in a later blog.
Now get out there!
The Venture Tree | outdoors. gear. life.
source map: webelevation.com