In the winter, the mountains and ridges of Tennessee transform.

Hike a rhododendron forest on this 19.1-mile loop.

Stretch your legs and wet your whistle on this 600-odd-mile journey through America's bourbon country.

Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee

Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

Loop through Savage Gulf and you'll be rewarded with 50-foot cascades, swimming holes, see-forever views, and an amazing campsite. BY ERIC HARRISON

Squeeze through house-sized boulders and pass tranquil waterfalls on this 4.6-miler in the rugged highlands of the Big South Fork River.

This 4.8-mile loop ranks as one of the best dayhikes on the Cumberland Plateau, thanks to whitewater cascades, giant twin arches, and a rustic lodge.

Stay found on this scantily marked 7.7-miler into hardwood forests and bird-filled swamps. This one-way trek ends at Poplar Lake in Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.

Birds (240 species) far outnumber hikers on this 4.3-mile circuit in the rolling hills of Radnor Lake State Natural Area, a real paradise for ornithology enthusiasts.

This 12-miler hits the best of Bays Mountain Park: waterfalls, high ridges with fire-tower views, a lake, and lush forests frequented by deer.

This figure-8 connects two parks on its 3.7-mile course under hardwood canopies and past a mini-wetland teeming with life.

Float under a peregrine falcon nest and paddle past several islands to the Tennessee River on this 4.5-mile trip through the heart of downtown.

Follow the bends of the great Tennessee River through a wildlife sanctuary on this 8.6-mile trip in the city's most-scenic green space.

Trace an old Native American trail, climb hills, and explore rich stands of cedar and oak on this scenic loop just 15 miles from downtown.

Sample the highlights of the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.

Climb to a cool oasis in the Citico Creek Wilderness on this 7-mile loop.

Perfect for a trail run, a mountain bike ride, or short dayhike, this 3.5-mile figure-eight in Long Hunter State Park roams reservoir bluffs outside Nashville.

This 7.8-mile point-to-point, just minutes from Chattanooga, follows the Cumberland Trail to a viewpoint high above the Tennessee River Gorge.

Climb two steep miles up Chimney Tops Trail, 10 miles south of Gatlinburg, to rocky outcrops overlooking Mt. Le Conte, Mt. Mingus, and Sugarland Mountain.

A perfect summer hike, this 7.5 mile in-and-back features a cool swimming hole at the halfway point in North Chickamauga Creek. Indian rock houses, wild blackberries, and remnants of the coal industry can be found along this trek.

Score cliff-top views just 10 miles from Knoxville on a 4.3-mile loop linking the West Overlook, Crest, and Mountain Trails.

Spend a weekend in Great Smoky Mountains National Park trekking through mossy hardwoods and scrambling up high peaks for quintessential views and supreme solitude.

On three classic dayhikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, follow fern-lined trails past rushing waterfalls and crest high peaks.

See Shenandoah's tallest waterfall, traverse secluded ridgelines, score cliff-top panoramas, swim beneath falls, and walk through wildflowers and oak stands on the Florida Trail.