Knoxville’s iconic Dogwood Trails date back to 1955 and today cover more than 90 miles in 13 neighborhoods throughout the city. Take a drive, a walk, or a bike ride and enjoy the scenic natural beauty of our region! Dogwood Trails are open annually from April 1-30th, just in time to showcase the beauty of spring in East Tennessee!

 

As the foundation of our organization, our Trails & Gardens program celebrates the vibrancy and beauty of the Historic Dogwood Trails every year thanks to the commitment of the homeowners who live along the trails working tirelessly to prepare their neighborhoods for the spring season. But the program has also expanded to include other initiatives that celebrate the natural beauty of our area, share private gardens in other parts of our city, and ensure that the Dogwood blooms remain plentiful throughout East TN.

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History: What began as a neighborhood beautification project in 1955 has blossomed into one of the longest-running nonprofit organizations in our region. Our story began in 1947 when a journalist visited and wrote, “Knoxville is the ugliest city I ever saw in America, with the possible exception of some mill town in New England. Its main street is called Gay Street; this seemed to me to be a misnomer.” Upon reading his account, the Knoxville Garden Club led by Betsy Creekmore, Martha Ashe, and Betsy Goodson decided they would prove him wrong and showcase the natural beauty of the city they loved so much. Thus, the seeds of the very first Dogwood Trail were planted.