BIKES & BLOOMS
Co-Chairs: Mitchell Connell & Erin Donovan
Discover new routes on these family friendly bike rides through scenic neighborhoods and on local greenways. Riders must wear helmets and have a basic understanding of on-road riding. Riders should wear comfortable clothing and bring any water or snacks you might need.
Saturday, April 10th at 10AM
Suttree Landing Park (South Knoxville)
1001 Waterfront Drive, Knoxville, TN 37920
Registration Required
Join Two Bikes and Dogwood Arts for a casual bike ride aimed at beginner to intermediate level cyclists. The route will lead through scenic South Knoxville neighborhoods and along relaxing greenways, with a mid-ride break at the Ijams’ wildflower gardens (approximately 8.5 miles total). Riders must wear helmets and be comfortable riding on the road. Riders are encouraged to bring their own water and snacks.
Produced in partnership with Two Bikes and sponsored by Covenant Health​
Saturday, April 10th at 12PM
Suttree Landing Park (South Knoxville)
1001 Waterfront Drive, Knoxville, TN 37920
Registration Required
Join Two Bikes and Dogwood Arts for a casual bike ride aimed at beginner to intermediate level cyclists. The route will lead through scenic South Knoxville neighborhoods and along relaxing greenways, with a mid-ride break at the Ijams’ wildflower gardens (approximately 8.5 miles total). Riders must wear helmets and be comfortable riding on the road. Riders are encouraged to bring their own water and snacks.
Produced in partnership with Two Bikes and sponsored by Covenant Health​
HIKES & BLOOMS
Whether on a greenway through a historic park or on a natural trail through the woods, you will observe historic relics and beautiful wildflowers among the dogwood trees at Hikes & Blooms! The interactive hikes will highlight interesting facts, features, and flora in the unique locations. Hikers should wear comfortable clothing and bring any water or snacks you might need.
Pre-registration required.
Friday, March 26th at 9:30AM
Join us to explore the trails of Ijams Nature Center around Meads Quarry.
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Location: Meads Quarry
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Address: Meads Quarry, Knoxville, TN 37920 (meet in the parking lot)
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Led By: YMCA Knoxville Staff
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Registration required: Email Ellen Morar,
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Tuesday, March 30th at 10AM - AT CAPACITY
This is one of the best wildflower viewing areas in the state with masses of Trout Lilies, Hepatica,
Spring Beauties, Trillium, Violets, Celandine Poppy, Dutchman’s Breeches, Toothwork and Twinleaf.
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Location: River Bluff Trail, Norris
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Directions: Take I75 to Exit 122. Turn right on Hwy 61, then left on Hwy 441. You will pass the Lenoir Museum on right (green building) where bathrooms are. Go across the dam to the second road on left and immediately turn left again on to the road for the River Bluff TVA Small Wild Area which will wind down to the parking area and trailhead.
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Led by: Carlene LeCompte & Brenda Therry
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Registration required: email (limited to 25 people)
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Friday, April 2nd at 7:30-9PM
Explore Ijams Nature Center in a new light, or perhaps no light. Ijams Night Hikes get you out on the trails to experience the night using all of your senses. Each walk includes night games and activities as well as exploration for nocturnal creatures. Search for salamanders using the ears of a bat, or call for owls while staying as silent as possible. You never know what you might find or experience on a fun night hike at Ijams.
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Location: Ijams Nature Center
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Address: 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920
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Materials Participants Should Bring: Good walking shoes, water, flashlight, and weather-appropriate clothes
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Registration required ($10/per person): CLICK HERE
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Saturday, April 3rd at 9AM
Join Certified Naturalist Jeremy Clothier with Ijams Nature Center on a free wildflower walk at Founders Park. Explore the beauty of the park and view spring blooms on a guided tour.
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Location: Founders Park at Campbell Station
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Address: 405 N Campbell Station Rd, Farragut, TN 37934
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Led by: Jeremy Clothier, Ijams Nature Center Naturalist
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Registration required (limited to 15 people): http://bit.ly/3d0XMMz
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Saturday, April 3rd at 10:30AM
Join Certified Naturalist Jeremy Clothier with Ijams Nature Center on a free wildflower walk at Founders Park. Explore the beauty of the park and view spring blooms on a guided tour.
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Location: Founders Park at Campbell Station
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Address: 405 N Campbell Station Rd, Farragut, TN 37934
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Led by: Jeremy Clothier, Ijams Nature Center Naturalist
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Registration required (limited to 15 people): http://bit.ly/3bZh2L1
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Saturday, April 10th at 8:30-10:30AM
Ijams Beginning to Bird helps you as you take or re-take your first steps into the world of bird watching. This month, you'll open your ears to the calls, songs, chirps, and chats of birds. Their chorus can be overwhelming, with dozens of calls being made at once. YOu'll learn how to pick out one or two songs, and focus your attention. You won't learn every song, but you can start building your vocabulary.
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Location: Ijams Nature Center
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Address: 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920
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Materials Participants Should Bring: Good walking shoes, water, binoculars (Ijams can provide binoculars as needed), and bird field guide
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Registration required (Ages 11+ only, $8 per person): CLICK HERE
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Friday, April 16th at 8-10PM
Night holds many types of exciting animals, but none as magical as the owls. Join an Ijams naturalist and head out on the Ijams trails in search of owls. Screech owls, barred owls, and great horned owls are all on the table. As we walk, we'll learn about these creatures, their habits, and even how to call like an owl.
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Location: Ijams Nature Center
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Address: 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920
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Materials Participants Should Bring: Participants should wear closed-toe shoes that are okay getting muddy, water, weather appropriate clothing, and a flashlight.
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Registration required (Ages 10+ only, $15 per person): CLICK HERE
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Sunday, April 18th at 3PM
The Dogwood Community Trail is a trail system shared between Dogwood Elementary School and the public. The Dogwood Outdoor Coalition was formed in 2016 as part of the Community School Initiative to expand outdoor on-campus learning areas. The trail houses the award-winning Mac Post Arboretum, the Woodland Dolphin Trail (with 6 outdoor classrooms), access to the historic Davenport Cemetery, and mountain bike accessible connectivity to adjacent Lippencott Park. All participants must have a face mask to use at trailhead meetup, and as needed, when distancing on the trail from other hikers is not feasible
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Location: Dogwood Community Trail
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Address: 3101 Gerson Dr., Knoxville, TN 37920 (Meet at trail entrance across from Gerson Dr., parking on street. Total distance will be less than 1 mile on natural soil surface trail)
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Led by: Mac Post
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Registration required: email with subject line "Sunday Dogwood Community Trail Walk"
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Monday, April 19th at 11AM
The Dogwood Community Trail is a trail system shared between Dogwood Elementary School and the public. The Dogwood Outdoor Coalition was formed in 2016 as part of the Community School Initiative to expand outdoor on-campus learning areas. The trail houses the award-winning Mac Post Arboretum, the Woodland Dolphin Trail (with 6 outdoor classrooms), access to the historic Davenport Cemetery, and mountain bike accessible connectivity to adjacent Lippencott Park. All participants must have a face mask to use at trailhead meetup, and as needed, when distancing on the trail from other hikers is not feasible
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Location: Dogwood Community Trail
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Address: 3101 Gerson Dr., Knoxville, TN 37920 (Meet at trail entrance across from Gerson Dr., parking on street. Total distance will be less than 1 mile on natural soil surface trail)
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Led by: Mac Post
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Registration required: email with subject line "Monday Dogwood Community Trail Walk"
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More hikes coming soon! Call (865) 637-4561 with questions or concerns.
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Saturday, April 24th at 9AM-1PM
Learn 10 spring wildflowers and plant foods that you can find almost anywhere! Join the Ijams Education Director for a class to help you learn how to locate and identify many of the delicious edible plants growing wild in your community. You'll leave this program with new skills on basic plant identification, techniques for foraging and using spring edibles, and a new understanding of wild plant nutrition and medicinal benefits hidden all around us.
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Location: Ijams Nature Center
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Address: 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920
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Materials Participants Should Bring: Walking shoes, long pants, a journal to draw and take notes, clothes for rain or cold, water bottle, sunscreen (NOTE: We will be close to plants and their pollen-y parts, walking through fields with critters in them, and near muddy, uneven surfaces)
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Registration required (Ages 18+ only, $40 per person): CLICK HERE
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Friday, April 30th at 9AM
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Location: Frozen Head State Park (Map)
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Address: 964 Flat Fork Road Wartburg, TN 37887 (Meet at the Panther Creek Trailhead)
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Registration required: Ellen Morar,
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Friday, May 7th at 8-9:30PM
Explore Ijams Nature Center in a new light, or perhaps no light. Ijams Night Hikes get you out on the trails to experience the night using all of your senses. Each walk includes night games and activities as well as exploration for nocturnal creatures. Search for salamanders using the ears of a bat, or call for owls while staying as silent as possible. You never know what you might find or experience on a fun night hike at Ijams.
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Location: Ijams Nature Center
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Address: 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920
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Materials Participants Should Bring: Good walking shoes, water, flashlight, and weather-appropriate clothes (Information to Note: This is a night hike that covers trails with roots and rocks. Participants should be prepared to walk upwards of a mile in low-light conditions).
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Registration required (Ages 6+ only, $10 per person): CLICK HERE
WALKING TRIALS
OPEN YEAR-AROUND
Focusing on the idea of stepping out into our community, the trails are at least one-mile in length and folks are encouraged to walk, run, or bike these trails. Don’t forget to snap some pictures while you’re on the trail, and share them with us––we would love to feature them on social media. Just tag us in your posts (@dogwoodarts) or use #dogwoodtrails so we can see them!
