Most UT students learn campus, the Strip and the stadium. Fewer learn that the south side of the river is where the trails are. If your student housing is in South Knoxville, the city’s best outdoor spaces are closer to you than to almost anyone on campus. October is the month to use them. Here’s a guide from The Davy.
What’s near student housing in South Knoxville?
Woods, water and a lot of trail. South Knoxville is home to the Urban Wilderness, a large network of parks and paths. The river is nearby. And the Smokies are a day trip.
The Davy is at 222 East Blount Avenue, two miles from the University of Tennessee. Here are four outings, from easy to ambitious.
Easy: a riverfront walk
Suttree Landing Park runs along the south bank of the Tennessee River, with a paved path and a view of downtown across the water. It’s flat and close. Go at sunset with a roommate or with headphones.
This is the outing for a study break. Thirty minutes, back at your desk, head clear.
Half a day: Ijams Nature Center
Ijams is the best-known spot in South Knoxville. It’s a nature center with miles of trails, river overlooks and a boardwalk along the water. It’s good for people who don’t think of themselves as hikers.
Next to it is Mead’s Quarry, an old marble quarry that’s now a lake with trails around the rim. In fall, the trees around the water turn and the whole place photographs well.
Check hours and any parking fee before you go. Wear real shoes. Stay on marked trails near the quarry edges.
What is the Urban Wilderness?
It’s a connected system of trails, parks and greenways across South Knoxville, with dozens of miles for hiking and mountain biking. Ijams is one piece of it.
If you have a bike, this is where it earns its place. The Davy has bike storage, so keeping one is easy. Trails range from beginner to hard. Start on the easy ones and look at a map first.
If you don’t ride, the same trails are good for a run or a long walk. Go with someone, bring water and tell a roommate where you’ll be.
Ambitious: a Smokies day
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is within a day trip of Knoxville, and October is when the leaves put on the show. It’s also the busiest month of the year there.
So go early. Leave before sunrise on a weekday if your schedule allows. Check the park’s website for road conditions and parking requirements, since a parking tag is needed for longer stops.
Pick one trail and one overlook. Don’t try to see everything. Bring layers, because it’s much colder at elevation than in town. Pack lunch. Fill the gas tank before you enter the park.
How do you fit this around midterms?
Use short outings as breaks and save the big one as a reward. A riverfront walk fits between study sessions. Ijams fits a Sunday morning. The Smokies trip goes on the calendar for the weekend after your last exam.
On study days, The Davy’s 24-hour clubhouse gives you a place to work, and the 24-hour athletic club covers the days it rains.
What should parents know?
Know that this is a good side of town for a student who likes being outside, and a good reason to visit in the fall. Come on a non-game weekend. Walk Ijams together. Drive to the mountains.
Ask your student to share their location when they hike, and to go with a friend. Those are habits worth having.
What’s the timing?
Color starts at the high elevations in the mountains and works its way down to the city over several weeks. In Knoxville itself, late October into early November is usually the best stretch.
Halloween is a Saturday this year, October 31. The clocks fall back the next morning, Sunday, November 1. After that, sunset comes early, so start afternoon hikes sooner and carry a light.
Grab snacks and water at Ian’s Market downstairs before you head out. For more on the area, see the neighborhood page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do outdoors near The Davy?
Suttree Landing Park, Ijams Nature Center, Mead’s Quarry and the Urban Wilderness trail system are all in South Knoxville.
Can I keep a bike at The Davy?
Yes. The community has bike storage.
When is the best time to see fall color near Knoxville?
It varies by year and elevation. Higher elevations in the Smokies turn first; the city usually peaks from late October into early November.
Key Takeaways
- Student housing in South Knoxville puts trails and the river close to home.
- Suttree Landing is a quick break; Ijams and Mead’s Quarry fill a morning.
- Go to the Smokies early in the day and check park requirements first.
- After November 1, start hikes earlier and carry a light.