Ijams Nature Center
Need a quick escape to the great outdoors? Ijams Nature Center is located just a mere three and a half miles from downtown Knoxville
Ijams Nature Center & Ijams Quarry
A recreation area within Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness
Knoxville's very own wildlife sanctuary just minutes from downtown, Ijams provides more than 300-acres of beautiful, gently sloping woodlands flowing southward from the Tennessee River and contains an array of habitats and exhibits, a museum store, miles of natural trails, the Navitat Canopy Adventure, a climbing crag, and access to a quarry lake and the river for paddling and fishing activities.
Ijams also encompasses Ross Marble Quarry and Mead’s Quarry Lake, remnants of Knoxville’s history featuring unique natural elements. The paved Will Skelton Greenway connects Ijams to Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area, and the Quarry trails connect Ijams to Marie Myers Park.
Entrance: 3209 Island Home Avenue
Park Size: 315 acres
Paved Trails: 4 miles
Natural Trails: 12.3 miles
Type: single track, old roads
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Hours: dawn till dusk
Features: Leashed dogs, hiking, trail running, mountain biking, wildflowers, birding, wildlife watching
Trailhead Parking: 2915 Island Home Avenue
Directions: Take I-40 to the James White Parkway and cross the river. Take the Sevier Ave/Hillwood Dr exit and turn left onto Sevier Ave which becomes Hillwood Dr. At the end of Hillwood, turn right onto Island Home Ave then take the first left to stay on Island Home Ave. Ijams will be approximately one mile ahead on the left.
Ijams Crag Entrance (climbers only):
Trailhead Parking: 2525 Aberdeen Lane
Directions: Take I-40 to James White Parkway and exit on Sevier/Hillwood Ave. Turn left then continue through 4-way stop. Turn right on Island Home Blvd and stay left at next split to stay on Island Home. Pass Island Home Baptist Church on left then take next right on Gilbert Lane. Drive under R.R. bridge & turn left on Belvedere Ave then right on Aberdeen Ln. Stay right at split to stay on Aberdeen. Drive through first gate & park in gravel area.
Ijams River Landing:
Trailhead Parking: 3518 Island Home Pike
Directions: From Ijams, continue south on Island Home Ave which becomes Island Home Pike. After the railroad tracks, turn right into the parking area for the quarries and trails.
