One of my pandemic pastimes was taking my quarantine-rescue yellow lab Raja to as many greenways as possible. Among our favorites are the Trails at Fontanel, underused gems north of Briley Parkway. Raja doesn’t care that there is signage with tips for optimum pet health (she can’t read). She doesn’t care that the benches are shaped like bones (the iconography is lost on her). But she likes these dog-themed trails because they are well-shaded and have fun hills to climb up and run down. A creek makes for prime mud-play or cooling off in the heat of the summer. There are nearly two miles of well-maintained unpaved paths in this loop, which connects to the flatter, paved Whites Creek Greenway. You’ll walk past the shuttered stage for the Fontanel amphitheater (R.I.P. — I loved seeing shows there) and behind Fontanel Mansion, which was once the home of Barbara Mandrell and is perhaps the largest log cabin home in the world. But the glory of these trails is the way they allow you to get away from crowds and have a real in-the-woods excursion just 20 minutes from downtown. Between the entrance to the trails and the parking areas, you’ll see a large meadow, perfect for a post-hike picnic.
Best Dog-Walking Trails
The Trails at Fontanel
The Trails at Fontanel
