HomeTennesseeMurfreesboro › Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area

Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area

4.7 ★★★★★ 68 Google reviews · Running trail in Murfreesboro, Tennessee · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Loop distance
1 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State 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.

Mixed1 miLoopScenicTrailhead parkingMile markersQuiet

What runners say about Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (68 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 6 mentions

“The flowers were beautiful and there was a lot of uncommon plants.”

🪧 well-marked 2 mentions

“The trails are well marked and very clean.”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“It was really quiet and peaceful.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“The trails were relatively flat and easy walking with just a few really muddy spots.”

The flowers were beautiful and there was a lot of uncommon plants. The trails were relatively flat and easy walking with just a few really muddy spots. My only gripe is that they could use more blazes to help mark the trail more clearly.

★★★★☆ — Justin , Apr 2023

This is a very nice, easy trail. We clocked 3.8 miles. This is a good, convenient starter trail (or leisure hike trail). This trail is very rocky in parts, but not treacherous at all. Enjoy!

★★★★☆ — Rob , Apr 2019

beautiful nature preserve with nice and easy hiking trails. there’re a bunch of shallow caves (or sinkholes?) to look out for, too. it wasn’t busy while i was there on a sunday afternoon. i saw maybe 15 people there.

★★★★★ — Nicholas , Dec 2021

Very interesting biome with lots of unique and endangered plant life. It is a karst topography with several sinkholes and lots of limestone. The trails are well marked and very clean. It is also not busy at all.

★★★★★ — Luke , Nov 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 68 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 11 mentions

“I read the reviews regarding it being muddy, but that seems to be a spring time issue.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 7 mentions

“The flowers were beautiful and there was a lot of uncommon plants.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 7 mentions

“Originally gave a 5 star, the parking lot is getting a bit too rough.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“It was really quiet and peaceful.”

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📏 Mile markers 3 mentions

“The trails are well marked and very clean.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“hardly any people out there and it's not paved like the Greenway so be prepared for uneven ground.”

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🔁 Loop trail 2 mentions

“If you’re curious, if you take the entire loop it’s roughly 4 miles.”

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Plan your run at Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State 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
  • Loop distance1 mi back to where you parked
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Websitetn.gov
  • Phone+1 615-532-0431

Hours

Monday 8 am–5 pm
Tuesday 8 am–5 pm
Wednesday 8 am–5 pm
Thursday 8 am–5 pm
Friday 8 am–5 pm
Saturday 8 am–5 pm
Sunday 8 am–5 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens State Natural Area

Factory Rd, Murfreesboro, TN 37130

Get directions

Running trails near Murfreesboro

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Murfree Spring Wetlands

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Cannonsburgh Trailhead

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Hiking area featuring a historical site and Christmas lights.

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Overall Street Trailhead

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Trail leading to a creek, plus a picnic area and river views in a relaxing setting.

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Old Fort Park Trailhead, Murfreesboro Greenway System

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Old Fort Park Greenway

4.5 ★★★★★ 78 reviews

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Kid-friendly park with a playground where kids can run and hikers can explore trails.

6.4 miles away

Searcy Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 661 reviews

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PavedScenicDog-friendly

Greenway featuring waterfalls, an old hydro dam and a boat ramp.

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.