In Cheatham County, expansive forest landscapes, waterside trails and historic sites offer different ways to shape your stay. The Cheatham WMA covers about 20,810 acres. It consists mostly of hardwood forests in hilly terrain, with some stands of pine. The area's gated roads and ATV trails offer opportunities for hiking away from the main gravel roads.
Trails of Different Lengths
For a longer outing, consider the Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail as a guide: this approximately 6.5-mile Rails-to-Trails route is intended for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders, as well as birdwatchers and people interested in wildflowers. Its varied uses give it a different focus from a dedicated hiking trail.
Much shorter is the interpretive trail at TSU Farm near Sams Creek. It is three-quarters of a mile long and ends at an observation platform overlooking a wetland. When comparing trails by length, it offers a compact alternative with a clear destination alongside the longer route. In Harpeth River State Park, the Narrows Tunnel Trail, also called the Bluff Trail, is 1.5 miles long. It leads to a scenic gorge and a tunnel built by hand in 1818. The three routes have different highlights: distance, a wetland overlook, and the combination of a gorge and historic tunnel.
Water Landscapes and Activities
At its normal pool level, Cheatham Lake covers 7,450 acres and has 320 miles of shoreline. You can fish for largemouth bass, walleye, white bass and sunfish at the lake. The Cheatham Dam Right Bank Recreation Area also has a designated swimming area next to a sandy beach. Fishing and swimming are two different ways to include the lake in your trip plans.
The Harpeth River flows nearly 125 miles to its confluence with the Cumberland River near Ashland City. Its Blueway connects sections of Harpeth River State Park with the surrounding communities. The state park is a 650-acre linear park that stretches for 40 river miles. Activities offered there include paddling, hiking, fishing and cycling. Together with the area's designated hiking trails, these offer options for both land-based exercise and activities on the water.
Archaeology and County History
The Mound Bottom State Archaeological Area is a center of prehistoric Indigenous mound complexes from the Mississippian period, dated to approximately 1000 to 1350 CE. At least twelve earth mounds surround a seven-acre plaza in the central area. Access to Mound Bottom is prohibited without permission from Harpeth River State Park or the Tennessee Division of Archaeology. So if you plan to visit this site, be sure to include the permit requirement in your plans.
The histories of Ashland City and Cheatham County can also be viewed through different points in time. The Cheatham County Museum holds artifacts dating from before the county was established in 1856. The Cheatham County Courthouse has stood in the center of Ashland City since 1859 and is one of the county's best-known architectural landmarks. While the museum's artifacts predate the county's founding, the courthouse represents the area's later history.
Other historical connections range from Forest Hill Cemetery, established in 1836 as a community burial ground, or public cemetery, to the mouth of Marrowbone Creek. A steamboat-building operation was located there in the mid-19th century. River Bluff Park is on the site of Ashland City's former ferry, steamboat and flatboat landing. These places point to different aspects of the past without needing to be combined into a single historical stop.
Shape Your Stay Around Your Interests
When planning your trip, it helps to choose a focus first: longer trails, shorter interpretive paths, water activities, or archaeology and local history. Trail lengths offer a practical comparison, while their different themes show how varied a stay in Cheatham County can be. If you're looking for a hotel, first decide which of these interests will shape your trip; that way, you can choose destinations that match your priorities.
Discover more destinations: Kingston Springs, Pleasant View, Cumberland County, Johnson County, Hardeman County, Henderson County, Sullivan, Wilson.
For the broader travel overview: Tennessee.
