Just because you're 55 years old and then some doesn't mean you're over the hill. If you live in or near Maryville, Tennessee, keep your hiking shoes nearby. The Great Smoky Mountains, Tellico Lake, and a four-mile Greenway Trail offer hiking opportunities. Public lands such as the Cherokee, Pisgah and Jefferson National Forests are nearby. The Great Smoky Mountains are a great place to go. There are all kinds of hiking clubs and most welcome all ages; they do, however, rate the trails according to level of difficulty.
Maryville, Tennessee
Located in the rolling foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Maryville, Tennessee, is attractive to retirees because of the natural beauty, recreation activities and laid back way of life. Tellico Lake, Rarity Bay and Norris Lake, home for many retirees, are within the vicinity. The Larry Cox Senior Center on Ocoee Trail in Knoxville, Tennessee -- 17 miles away -- sponsors a hiking trail group and members pick a new destination every month.
The Ijams Nature Center
The 275- acre Ijams Nature Center in Knoxville is a perfect place for a leisurely hike through meadows and woodlands. The center is a bird sanctuary and, within the surrounding area, the Tennessee River teems with wildlife. Greenways connect this urban park with residential areas and other parks; biking trails, boardwalks and scenic views, such as the one at Mead Quarry, make this a special place.
The Watershed Association of the Tellico Reservoir
Near Knoxville, Tennessee, the Watershed Association of the Tellico Reservoir constructed the East Lakeshore Trail with volunteer labor. The trail has six different loops or branches of varying lengths: The Coyote Loop is the shortest at 1.6 miles, and the Sinking Creek Branch is 4.4 miles. There are scenic views with benches and a boat landing. Some parts of the trail are designated for environmental education. Volunteers meet at the Tellico Visitors Center three times a month to work on some worthwhile project and have fun.
The Tennessee Trails Association
The East Tennessee Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association organizes activities for Knoxville, Oak Ridge and Norris, Tennessee. Oak Ridge and Norris are about 10 miles from Maryville. People of all ages belong to the association, but some of the hikes are more difficult than others. Check the calendar for upcoming events. The Cove Lake Chapter of the association in the Caryville area, just north of Knoxville, is another alternative. Cove Lake State Park and Big Ridge State Park provide miles of hiking trails.
Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club
Based in nearby Kingsport, Tennessee, the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club is run by the Eastman Recreation Club for Eastman Chemical Company employees and retirees, but welcomes folks with no connection to Eastman. Their website lists upcoming events and a map rates the hikes with color-coded markers. Green is for easy hikes, yellow means medium-level hikes and red is for strenuous hikes.
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