Beaman Park is a 1,688 acre natural area located just 25 minutes from downtown Nashville. The area has quite the rich history. It was formerly known as Paradise Ridge, named after two early settlers, the Paradise brothers. Early uses of the land included farming, homesteads, orchards, logging and even moonshining. Later it became a hunting preserve before being sold to the Metro Nashville Parks Department in 1996.
The 12 mile Laurel Woods Trail opened in October of 2020 and is the latest addition to Beaman Park. This beautiful new loop offers hikers the chance to get further into the park’s backcountry and explore areas that, until now, were inaccessible. Those looking for an easier hike can still enjoy the park’s shorter trails including the Henry Hollow Loop.
The Laurel Woods Trail begins at the Highland Trailhead. Here you’ll find a lovely picnic area, as well as a map of the new trail system. The trail follows the Henry Hollow Trail for a distance until reaching a blocked off service road and a junction. This service road used to be the old Ridgetop Trail, but now the Laurel Woods Trail takes off from here. You’ll cross the service road several times as the trail continues in a westerly direction along the ridge.
As you near Long Hollow Creek the trail begins to switchback down into the valley. This is a beautiful area. After crossing the creek you’ll come to a junction with the Shortcut Trail. Take this trail if you wish to hike a 6 mile loop instead of the 12 mile loop. Otherwise, continue straight. The Laurel Woods Trail continues onward through the dense hardwood forest and crosses another stream before climbing back up to the ridge. In fact, the majority of this trail follows a pattern of descending to a stream, crossing the stream, climbing to a ridge, crossing a service road and repeating.
The best view of the trail will come when you cross under some power lines, the cleared area enabling one to see out of the thick forest for once. Shortly after the power lines you’ll reach the second junction with the Shortcut Trail. From here it is about another 4 miles of similar terrain before again reaching the very first junction and ending back at the Highland Trailhead.
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