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City Lake Natural Area
4.6 ★★★★★ 706 Google reviews · Running trail in Cookeville, Tennessee · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from City Lake Natural Area's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Charming park featuring a waterfall along with walking paths and picnic tables.
What runners say about City Lake Natural Area
“There’s a dock with a beautiful view and picnic tables nearby, making it a perfect spot to relax for a walk or some fishing.”
“The entire walk is under a canopy of lush, beautiful trees.”
“It’s not super big or fancy, but that’s exactly what makes it so great—it’s quiet, peaceful, and full of charm.”
“It's a relatively easy hike since the path is paved and/or gravel, but there is a slope.”
I can't believe I didn't already know about this beautiful little gem and quickly accessible, peaceful place! While it isn't really a hike, it was perfect for young children and honestly it was just what I needed on a difficult day. The trees are so tall and I can't wait to see them with all their leaves!
Beautiful waterfall at the end of the walking path. Wouldn't consider this a hike by any means, could be for all ages. Maybe 5-10 minutes to the waterfalls. The lake itself is very nasty but it's not for swimming or anything so I guess it doesn't matter.
City Lake Natural Area is seriously one of my favorite little hidden spots. It’s not super big or fancy, but that’s exactly what makes it so great—it’s quiet, peaceful, and full of charm. If you’re looking for a low-key place to get outside and enjoy nature without a crowd, this is it.
Out of all of the natural areas we visited, this was definitely the favorite. It was nice to be able to be up close and personal with the waterfall. There were little benches to sit on that are built into the patio that faces the falls.
Trail conditions & character
“The walking path was well groomed and led you to straight to a waterfall that had multiple streams running into it from all around the cliffs.”
“In the parking lot there’s a deck where you can stop and just soak in the view of the lake.”
“It's a relatively easy hike since the path is paved and/or gravel, but there is a slope.”
“It’s not super big or fancy, but that’s exactly what makes it so great—it’s quiet, peaceful, and full of charm.”
“It's a relatively easy hike since the path is paved and/or gravel, but there is a slope.”
“The entire walk is under a canopy of lush, beautiful trees.”
“Two mediocre large inclines but the rest of the trail is relatively flat.”
“I can't believe I didn't already know about this beautiful little gem and quickly accessible, peaceful place!”
Plan your run at City Lake Natural Area
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitecookeville-tn.gov
- Phone(931) 520-4386
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–9 PM |
Running trails near Cookeville
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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