18th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike Set for Saturday, Oct. 12th, 2024

The 18th annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike has been scheduled for Saturday, October 12th at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage.

As always, the plan is to hike all of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored and organized by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The goal is to complete the hike before sunset, although there's a slight chance hikers could still be on the trails after dark - so participants should bring a light source just in case.

Please sign up for the hike at https://tnstateparks.com/parks/event_details/long-hunter/#/?event=friends-of-long-hunter-sp-mega-hike-2024

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles, or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles, no worries - you can stop whenever you please. Some participants hike only a mile or two with us. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles or all 26.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or online. At one of our recent mega-hikes, The Tennessean newspaper showed up for the event, and the following day the paper featured a story about the mega-hike, along with a photo gallery.

Remember to bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water -- and perhaps extra clothes, depending on the weather.

No pets, please. Children are welcome.

Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, no need to carry heavy backpacks. You can leave food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a few locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed since attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult -- and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will always start at Couchville Lake.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park, donations to the group are welcome. Many of the park's hikes and events are organized by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers, and many supplies for the park's educational programs are purchased by the Friends group. 

To donate to the Friends of Long Hunter State Park or become a member, visit http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Friends of Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.

17th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike Set for Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023

The 17th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike has been scheduled for Saturday, October 14th at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN. 

As always, the plan is to hike most of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored and organized by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The goal is to complete the hike before sunset, although there's a slight chance hikers could still be on the trails after dark - so participants should bring a light source just in case.

Please sign up for the hike at https://tnstateparks.com/parks/event_details/long-hunter/#/?event=friends-of-long-hunter-sp-mega-hike-2023

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles, or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles, no worries - you can stop whenever you please. Some participants hike only a mile or two with us. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles or all 26.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or online. At one of our recent mega-hikes, The Tennessean newspaper showed up for the event, and the following day the paper featured a story about the mega-hike, along with a photo gallery.

Remember to bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes, depending on the weather.

No pets, please. Children are welcome.

Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, no need to carry heavy backpacks. You can leave food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a few locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed since attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult -- and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will always start at Couchville Lake.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park, donations to the group are welcome. Many of the park's hikes and events are organized by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers, and many supplies for the park's educational programs are purchased by the Friends group. 

To donate to the Friends of Long Hunter State Park or become a member, visit http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Friends of Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.

16th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike Set for Saturday, October 22, 2022

The 16th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike has been scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN. 

As always, the plan is to hike most of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored and organized by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The goal is to complete the hike before sunset, although there's a slight chance hikers could still be on the trails after dark - so participants should bring a light source just in case.

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles, or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles, no worries - you can stop whenever you please. Some participants hike only a mile or two with us. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles or all 26 miles.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or online. At one of our recent mega-hikes, The Tennessean newspaper showed up for the event, and the following day the paper featured a story about the mega-hike, along with a photo gallery.

Remember to bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes, depending on the weather.

No pets, please. Children are welcome.

Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, no need to carry heavy backpacks. You can leave food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a few locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed since attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult -- and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will always start at Couchville Lake.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park, donations to the group are welcome. Many of the park's hikes and events are organized by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers, and many supplies for the park's educational programs are purchased by the Friends group. 

To donate to the Friends of Long Hunter State Park or become a member, visit http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Friends of Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.

15th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike Set for Saturday, October 23, 2021

The 15th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike has been scheduled for Saturday, October 23rd at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN. 

As always, the plan is to hike most of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored and organized by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The goal is to complete the hike before sunset, although there's a slight chance hikers could still be on the trails after dark - so participants should bring a light source just in case.

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles, or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles, no worries - you can stop whenever you please. Some participants hike only a mile or two with us. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles or all 26 miles.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or online. At one of our recent mega-hikes, The Tennessean newspaper showed up for the event, and the following day the paper featured a story about the mega-hike, along with a photo gallery.

Remember to bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes, depending on the weather.

No pets, please. Children are welcome.

Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, no need to carry heavy backpacks. You can leave food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a few locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed since attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult -- and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will always start at Couchville Lake.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park, donations to the group are welcome. Many of the park's hikes and events are organized by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers, and many supplies for the park's educational programs are purchased by the Friends group. 

To donate to the Friends of Long Hunter State Park or become a member, visit http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Friends of Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.

2020 Long Hunter Mega-Hike -- Updated information

Changes for 14th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike

Following discussions with park staff and others regarding current safety regulations, the Friends of Long Hunter State Park have decided to do something a bit different this year.

In order to keep everyone safe, we won't be having our normal Mega-Hike gathering this year on Oct. 24, 2020. Instead, Friends of Long Hunter members are putting together a new hike challenge for this year that will give participants an opportunity to hike all of the park trails on their own over a two-month period.

Those hikers who complete the course and provide proof will receive certificates along with other recognition. You can get all of the details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/346385483447438  

You can also keep up with the latest news on the Friends of Long Hunter State Park Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark)

Thank you all for your continued interest and support for this event. Hopefully in October of 2021 we will be able to get back together for the 15th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike. In the meantime, happy autumn and happy hiking!

13th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike Set For Saturday, Nov. 2nd, 2019

It's that time of year again! The 13th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2nd at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN. (Note: The event was previously scheduled for Oct. 26th, but due to rainy weather has been postponed until Nov. 2.)

As always, the plan is to hike all of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored and organized by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The goal is to complete the hike before sunset, although there's a slight chance hikers could still be on the trails after dark - so participants should bring a light source just in case.

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles, or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles, no worries - you can stop whenever you please. Some participants hike only a mile or two with us. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles or all 26 miles.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or online. At one of our recent mega-hikes, The Tennessean newspaper showed up for the event, and the following day the paper featured a story about the mega-hike, along with a photo gallery.

Remember to bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes, depending on the weather.

No pets, please. Children are welcome.

Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, no need to carry heavy backpacks -- you can leave food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a few locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed since attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult -- and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will always start at Couchville Lake.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park, donations to the group are welcome. Many of the park's hikes and events are organized by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers, and many supplies for the park's educational programs are purchased by the Friends group. 

To donate to the Friends of Long Hunter State Park or become a member, visit http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Friends of Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.

12 Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike Set for Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018

It's that time of year again! The 12th Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 27th at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN.

As always, the plan is to hike all of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored and organized by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The goal is to complete the hike before sunset, although there's a slight chance hikers could still be on the trails after dark - so participants should bring a light source just in case.

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles, or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles, no worries - you can stop whenever you please. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles or all 26 miles.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or online. At one of our recent mega-hikes, The Tennessean newspaper showed up for the event, and the following day the paper featured a story about the mega-hike, along with a photo gallery.

Remember to bring lunch, snacks and plenty of water -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes, depending on the weather.

No pets, please. Children are welcome.

Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, you can leave food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a couple of locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed since attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult -- and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will always start at Couchville Lake.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park, donations to the group are welcome. Many of the park's hikes and events are organized by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers, and many supplies for the park's educational programs are purchased by the Friends group. 

To donate to the Friends of Long Hunter State Park or become a member, visit http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Friends of Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.