Greeneville's Creation Nature Trail

The good news is that there is now a hiking trail, within the town limit of Greeneville, on which you can walk with a dog! Now for the bad news.

• There just isn't much to see along the trail. 
• Lots of invasive plants like bush honeysuckle and English ivy.
• Constant signs featuring christian religious messages. 

Still, it is nice to be able to go for a short drive and go for a hike with Parker. When we moved to Greeneville and I looked on Google maps, I saw Forrest Park and had assumed that there must be some kind of hiking trail in those dark green woods. There was not when we moved here but there is now! 

Today Noelle, Sierra and the extended family headed over to the park to enjoy the nice weather. We parked at Forrest Park (soon to be renamed Veteran's Park) and hit the trail.

I had read a story about the trail in the Greeneville Sun that described the trail as moderately hilly. I have to admit the trail was a bit more strenuous than I had anticipated.

It wasn't a problem for me or anyone else in my group, but I would imagine the walk could be tough for some hikers. There are plenty of benches to rest on though!

The trail was mostly wide as it had been created by bulldozer. There was one section of trail however, that got very narrow.

There was a sign for the Andrew Johnson Overlook which we took a spur trail to.

It turned out to not offer much of a view. You could see just a small portion of the National Cemetery through the trees. We hiked the 1.1 mile loop

and then spent some time resting in the grass in Forrest Park.

The most annoying part of the trail was the many signs referring to god and faith, etc. I have no problem whatsoever with people participating in faith-based activities. However, I prefer that my local government not spend my tax dollars to promote religion and not allow public spaces to be billboards for special interests. Still, it is nice to be able to go for a hike, on a nice dirt trail, through shady woods, close to home.