Radnor Lake Day hike
Bryan January 28th, 2007
Radnor Lake is Tennessee’s very first natural area. Ironically, the lake is not natural at all. It was built in the 1910’s to provide water for the railroad steam engines at nearby Radnor Yard, and as a hunting preserve. The hunting was ended in the 1920s. For over 50 years, the L&N Railroad managed Radnor Lake as a natural area.
Modern locomotives don’t use steam power, and L&N sold the area to a development company in the early 1960’s. Radnor Lake was almost lost to development forever, but lots of grassroots work and Tennessee’s Natural Areas act saved this treasure in 1973.
Trails hiked: Spillway trail from Nature Center to spillway. Then across the dam to Otter Creek Road to the South Cove Trail to Otter Creek Road again. Then to the Lake Trail and back to the Nature Center via the spillway trail.
Distance: 4.5 miles
Time: 2 hours
Elevation change: I didn’t bring my GPS, but not much. Maybe a 100 ft difference, most on the South Cove trail.
Trail type: Varied from gravel to concrete to dirt (not muddy) to mulch.
Temperature: I didn’t check, but it was cold and windy. Guessing 34 degrees
Significant features: Several beautiful lake views
This is a nice hike, especially since its so close. But others know that too and it can be hard at times to watch the wildlife on Otter Creek Road, the Lake Trail, and the Spillway Trail. They are the most used and frequently people who aren’t there to watch the wildlife are rather loud. But it isn’t so bad on the other trails.
I saw 3 ducks in the lake on the south side of Otter Creek Road, but I couldn’t get my camera out fast enough. Other than that, all I saw were the birds in the pictures in the photo album HERE. Anybody know what they are? I think it’s a warbler, but they’re not supposed to be around this time of year… maybe the weather has then fouled up just like me!
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