Henry Horton Hiking

Warning Alert

Ongoing Construction at Henry Horton State Park

Henry Horton State Park

In anticipation of our new lodge opening, there will be a significant impact on the roads and traffic patterns within Henry Horton State Park. We ask that visitors please use caution and follow all road signs while traveling throughout the park's day-use area. A fence will surround the main construction area.

Guests visiting the Visitor Center, Restaurant, Cabins, Shelters, and Conference Hall should expect modified traffic flow and clearly marked detour routes. With construction underway, guests may experience periods of loud construction noise.

Please note:

Some roads in the lodge area are temporarily closed.
All guests should follow posted DETOUR signage throughout the park.
Traffic patterns near the Lodge, Visitor Center, and Day-Use Parking have been adjusted.
A construction fence surrounds active work zones.
Guests may experience periods of loud construction noise.
Please drive slowly and use extra caution when traveling through the park.

Our team will be on-site assisting with directions and parking adjustments to help make your visit as smooth as possible.

We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we begin these exciting enhancements to Henry Horton State Park. We look forward to sharing more soon!

If you have any questions or need assistance during this time, please call the lodge at 931-364-2222 or the park office at 931-364-7724. We look forward to welcoming you!

Dirt trail winding through a forest with fresh green grass and budding trees.

A wooden footbridge leading to a dirt trail surrounded by bright green vegetation and leafless trees under a clear blue sky.

Hiking at Henry Horton  

Boasting over 20 miles of hiking trails, Henry Horton State Park is a wonderful place to get outside and into nature. The trails highlight a variety of terrain and rich ecosystems. Hikers have the opportunity to traverse through hardwood secondary growth forests, pine stands, along ridged sinkholes, barren limestone glades, and cedar thickets, near the Duck River, Spring Creek, and ephemeral ponds.

The trails are color-coded on our map, which is available in person or online. Updated signage and meticulous trail maintenance make the hiking experience user-friendly and easy to navigate. Whether you are interested in a short hike in the woods or a long adventure across varying terrain, Henry Horton State Park has trails for everyone to enjoy.

Trails

Blueway Paddling Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

0.50 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Water

Blueway Trail is a 2-mile water trail on the Duck River and is for kayaking/canoeing, tubing, or any water activity only.

Availability
Open

Allowed
paddle

Campground Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

1.15 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Duck River Outer Loop Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

2.05 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

This trail runs parallel to the ecologically important Duck River, making it a great place to find fishing spots. This trail climbs to low wooded bluffs, through old fields, cedar glades, and grasslands. At 1.35 miles, there is a 20-foot observation tower overlooking a native grass field and wetland. It is here that the trail connects to the Wetland Trail and the Adeline Wilhoite River Trail Loop.

Availability
Open Seasonal

Allowed
Hiking

Duck River Outer Loop Trail

Henry Horton State Park

This trail runs parallel to the ecologically important Duck River, making it a great place to find fishing spots. This trail climbs to low wooded bluffs, through old fields, cedar glades, and grasslands. At 1.35 miles, there is a 20-foot observation tower overlooking a native grass field and wetland. It is here that the trail connects to the Wetland Trail and the Adeline Wilhoite River Trail Loop.

Distance

2.05 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

Allowed

Hiking

Trail Type

Information unavailable

Elevation

Gain 209.70'

Loss 288.50'

Grade

Typical 4.2%

Max 27.4%

Cross Slope

Typical 2.1%

Max 22.6%

Tread Width

Typical 36"

Minimum 16"

Surface Type

Soil 92.5%; Rock 4.5%; Gravel 2%; Wood decking 1%

Obstructions Exist

Step: 13 in tall; Tree roots: 8 in tall; Tree: 16 in of tread remaining

Duck River Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

1.80 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

The trail follows the ecologically important Duck River, which makes it a great place to find fishing spots. At 1.35 miles, there is a 20-foot observation tower overlooking a native grass field and wetland. It is here the trail connects to the Wetland Trail and the Adeline Wilhoite River Trail Loop.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Duck River Trail

Henry Horton State Park

The trail follows the ecologically important Duck River, which makes it a great place to find fishing spots. At 1.35 miles, there is a 20-foot observation tower overlooking a native grass field and wetland. It is here the trail connects to the Wetland Trail and the Adeline Wilhoite River Trail Loop.

Distance

1.80 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

Allowed

Hiking

Trail Type

Information unavailable

Elevation

Gain 136.30'

Loss 143.70'

Grade

Typical 3.0%

Max 28.6%

Cross Slope

Typical 2.7%

Max 22.6%

Tread Width

Typical 58"

Minimum 20"

Surface Type

Soil 64.6%; Mowed grass 24.8%; Gravel 9%; Wood decking 1.6%

Obstructions Exist

Step: 14 in tall; Step: 9 in tall; Tree roots: 8 in tall

Henry Horton Greenway

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

1.30 mi.

Difficulty

Easy

Surface

Paved

The Greenway is a 1.5-mile accessible paved trail that winds through the park's most notable features.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Biking Hiking wheelchair

Hickory Ridge Loop Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

1.40 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

The trail showcases some of the park's most different ecosystems, sinkholes, and cedar glades. Both are places of rich diversity and contain plants and animals that are not found in any other type of landscape.

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Hickory Ridge Loop Trail

Henry Horton State Park

The trail showcases some of the park's most different ecosystems, sinkholes, and cedar glades. Both are places of rich diversity and contain plants and animals that are not found in any other type of landscape.

Distance

1.40 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

Allowed

Hiking

Trail Type

Information unavailable

Elevation

Gain 88.10'

Loss 130.70'

Grade

Typical 2.9%

Max 26.2%

Cross Slope

Typical 2.0%

Max 12.5%

Tread Width

Typical 41"

Minimum 12"

Surface Type

Soil 88.4%; Rock 7.6%; Gravel 2.4%; Asphalt 1.6%

Obstructions Exist

Large Rocks: 14 in tall; Rock: 12 in tall; Large rocks: 10 in tall

Hickory Ridge Outer Loop Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

1.85 mi.

Difficulty

Moderate

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Hootin' Holler Mountain Bike Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

4.70 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Mountain Biking

Inner Loop Multi-Use Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

4.15 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking Mountain Biking
Learning Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

0.25 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Paved

Availability
Open

Allowed
Biking Hiking storybook wheelchair all_terrain_wheelchair

Outer Loop Multi-Use Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

2.50 mi.

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking Mountain Biking

Spring Creek Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

1.70 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Spring Creek Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

1.70 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

Allowed

Hiking

Trail Type

Information unavailable

Elevation

Gain 208.10'

Loss 177.30'

Grade

Typical 3.7%

Max 37.4%

Cross Slope

Typical 1.8%

Max 14.9%

Tread Width

Typical 32"

Minimum 12"

Surface Type

Soil 90.4%; Bedrock 6.3%; Wood decking 2.2%; Stairs 0.7%; Rock 0.4%

Obstructions Exist

Rock: 19 in tall; Tree root: 18 in tall; Rock: 15 in tall

Wetland Access Road

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

—

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Wetland Road

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

—

Difficulty

—

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Wetland Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

0.30 mi.

Difficulty

Easy

Surface

Natural

Availability
Open

Allowed
Hiking

Wilhoite Mill Trail

Henry Horton State Park

Distance

0.80 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

This trail runs alongside the Duck River, into lowland woods along an old stream channel, open powerline cuts and scrubby young growth around parking area.

Availability
Open Seasonal

Allowed
Hiking

Wilhoite Mill Trail

Henry Horton State Park

This trail runs alongside the Duck River, into lowland woods along an old stream channel, open powerline cuts and scrubby young growth around parking area.

Distance

0.80 mi.

Difficulty

Difficult

Surface

Natural

Allowed

Hiking

Trail Type

Information unavailable

Elevation

Gain 35.40'

Loss 53.00'

Grade

Typical 2.5%

Max 20.0%

Cross Slope

Typical 2.2%

Max 24.5%

Tread Width

Typical 44"

Minimum 24"

Surface Type

Soil 91.7%; Gravel 3.6%; Rock 3.2%; Wood decking 1.5%

Obstructions Exist

Step: 14 in tall; Drainage dip: 12 in deep; Tree: 24 in of tread remaining

Trail Definitions

Cross Slope 

Describes the degree of incline from one side of the trail path to the other; measured as a percentage. Cross slope aids in water drainage and impacts the overall trail stability.  
Grade 

Describes the rise in elevation over a horizontal distance on the trail; measured as a percentage.  Higher percentages represent a steeper grade indicating a more challenging ascent or descent for hikers.   
Standard Ramp Grade

Serves as a reference guide for the grade of the trail.  Standard Ramp Grade is 8.3% across all trail assessments. 
Surface 

A characteristic of the trail expressed in terms of material type, grading, compaction, and roughness of the path. Possible surface types include soil, gravel, paved, and mulch.  
Tread Width 

Represents the horizontal distance from one edge of the trail path to the other; measurements can vary.  Tread width helps to determine the amount of space a hiker has to pass through. Obstacles on the trail can alter the remaining tread width.  
Trail Types: Loop

Trail returns at or near the point from which you started.
Trail Types: Network

Offers multiple route options within one trail, and each route is connected
Trail Types: Out and Back

This type of trail travels out to an endpoint where hikers turn around and travel back to the starting point.  
Trail Types: Stacked Loop

A loop trail contained completely within another trail.