Let’s start at Shelby Bottoms: From downtown Nashville, just take Shelby Avenue (heading away from Titans stadium) until it ends at Shelby Park. At the back of the park, high in the air, is the railway trestle. You can park your vehicle just below the trestle at the trail head. And if you’re lucky, you’ll even catch a train chunkin’ along overhead as you enter the Greenway.

This is one of my favorite times of year for the Shelby Bottoms Greenway because it’s just beginning to get warm and the trees are just beginning to leaf, but not enough to block the stunning views of the Cumberland River as you ride along the trail. At the head of the trail you always see plenty of walkers, roller bladers, kids on tricycles… it’s a real family affair! There are lots of nice riverfront overlooks and there’s even a nature center (free of charge) as you enter the trailhead. Not a bad idea, by the way, to rent a pair of binoculars at the nature center whether you’re on bike or enjoying the trail on foot.

Further down the trail you’ll find yourself intermittently immersed in shade and sunshine as you fly down the trail beneath a canopy of trees and then suddenly into an open glen where flocks of birds fly low overhead. This is not flowery prose; trust me, the flocks of bird fly very low overhead at times… it’s truly one of those Marlon Perkins moments (if you’re over 40, you know what I’m talking about).

Read Part I of this post here.

Posted By: Jack Miller

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