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Outdoor Project

The ultimate adventure guide

You'll find restrooms, a cold beer with YeeHaw Brewing, and stand-up paddleboard and canoe rentals with River Sports next to the parking lot at Mead's Quarry.
Mead's Quarry not only offers a spot for flatwater fun but also an area for swimming.
Explore the quarry by canoe or SUP during the summer months.
Mead's Quarry.
Knoxville's Urban Wilderness not only includes the Mead's Quarry area but also 30 miles of trails for exploring.
The mimosa trees that bloom in the summer give Tennessee a dash of tropical color.
Queen Anne's lace can be found all around the quarry.
Explore the trails around Mead's Quarry for different views.
Check out all of the signs along the way for interesting history and facts on the area.
Butterflies love to join in on the fun mid-day.
The trails at Mead's Quarry and in Knoxville's Urban Wilderness are open to walkers, runners, bikes, and dogs.
Signs of days long gone at the quarry can be found along the way.
Mead's Quarry.
Imerys Trail will take you to multiple spots of the quarry that are tucked away.
Trail to the Keyhole.
The Keyhole is an area that was built in the 1920s as a entrance for workers to the other side of the quarry. The area is now being taken over by nature and is one of the most unique spots in Knoxville.
The Keyhole.
Imerys Trail will take you to the Keyhole and Hayworth Hollow.
Stand-up paddleboard and canoe rentals are available for the quarry during summer months.
The quarry is a favorite among locals for a quick escape just a few miles from downtown Knoxville.
Steps can be found along the way to the Keyhole along with interesting overlooks of the quarry area.
Hayworth Hollow is one of the most interesting spots of the quarry, offering a sudden drop in temperatures in the summer months, moss-covered boulders, and a cave that's closed off to the public.
Hayworth Hollow.
Nature is slowly but surely taking over a once-booming area inside the quarry.

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