Richland Creek Greenway with a stroller

Richland Creek is the neighborhood walk. It’s where Sylvan Park and the Nations families go before work, after nap and on Saturday mornings with a coffee in the cup holder. It’s paved, it loops back to where you started, and it has just enough creek, shade and little boardwalks to feel like a real escape.

The Richland Creek Greenway connects the Sylvan Park and Cherokee Park neighborhoods, wrapping all the way around McCabe Park and its public golf course. TrailLink lists the greenway at about four miles of asphalt, and with its three connector spurs it’s a little over five. The heart of it is the loop around McCabe, roughly two and a half to three miles depending on where you start.

At a glance

• LengthAbout 2.5 to 3-mile loop (about 5 with spurs)
• SurfacePaved asphalt and boardwalks
• ShadeGood on the creek side
• HillsMostly flat, a few gentle rises
• Best withAny stroller
• CostFree

Like other Metro greenways, it’s open daily from dawn to dusk. Dogs are welcome on a six-foot leash or shorter, and you’ll share the path with runners and cyclists.

Map

Open in Google Maps

The McCabe Trailhead is at 4617 Sloan Road, next to the McCabe golf clubhouse. The greenway loops around the golf course from here.

Stroller or carrier?

Richland Creek is an easy stroller walk. It’s paved, mostly flat and loops back to your car.

• 👶
  Best overallAny stroller

  A few gentle rises and the boardwalks are the only things you’ll notice.

• 👪
  Double strollersWatch the boardwalks

  They work, but the boardwalks can feel snug when bikes pass. Pull to the side and let them by.

• 🧸
  Quick lapBaby carrier

  The creek side is shady enough for a carrier walk on a cool morning.

Getting there and parking

By car

The McCabe Trailhead at 4617 Sloan Road, next to the golf clubhouse, is the easiest start, with free parking. Other places to hop on:

• McCabe Park Community Center, 101 46th Avenue North, near the playground. Great if the playground is part of the plan.
• 5100 Wyoming Avenue, on the west side of the loop.
• 26 White Bridge Road, at one of the spurs near the shops on White Bridge Pike.
• 201 54th Avenue North and 230 Kenner Avenue North, at the ends of the greenway.

By bus

Greenway guides list bus route 50 (Charlotte Pike) for Richland Creek. Check the WeGo trip planner for current routes and stops.

If you live in Sylvan Park, you can probably just walk over. That’s the best part.

The route

The easiest way to do Richland Creek is the full loop around McCabe Park, starting from the McCabe Trailhead.

1. Start at the McCabe Trailhead. Park at the golf clubhouse lot and fill your water bottle at the fountain.
2. Pick a direction. It’s a loop, so either way works. Going toward the creek first gets you into the shade early.
3. Follow Richland Creek. About a mile of the greenway runs along the creek, with little boardwalks and footbridges. This is the prettiest part.
4. Roll along the railroad stretch. On the other side, the path runs along the train tracks between White Bridge Pike and Cherokee Road. Toddlers love waving at trains.
5. Loop back to McCabe. You’ll come around the golf course and end back where you started, ready for the playground.

Watch for golf balls near the course edges, and keep an eye out for bikes on the boardwalks, which can feel narrow with a double stroller.

Make it longer

• 👶
  Short and sweetAbout 1 mile

  Walk out along the creek side and back. Shady and quick.

• 🔄
  The classicThe McCabe loop

  About 2.5 to 3 miles, all the way around. Plan on an hour with stops.

• 👣
  Long morningAdd the spurs

  The connector spurs add about a mile and a quarter each way, for a total of roughly five miles.

Mile by mile

Roughly what you’ll see on the McCabe loop, starting at the trailhead and heading toward the creek.

• The creek side. About a mile along Richland Creek, with shade, boardwalks and footbridges. The prettiest stretch.
• The railroad stretch. Along the train tracks between White Bridge Pike and Cherokee Road, with sunnier, straighter path.
• The White Bridge Road spur. A short side trip to the historical marker for Dutchman’s Curve.
• Back around the course. The loop curves around McCabe golf course and returns to the trailhead.

Restrooms and water

The McCabe Trailhead area by the golf clubhouse has a water fountain and restrooms, and the McCabe Park Community Center has restrooms when it’s open. There aren’t restrooms along the rest of the loop, so go before you start. Bring a portable changing pad and plenty of water in summer.

The playground

The playground sits next to the McCabe Park Community Center and the little league fields, right off the greenway. Many Sylvan Park families walk or bike to it, which makes it a natural end point for a loop. The community center itself has a fitness center, an indoor track and classes, so it’s worth knowing about for rainy days.

Feeding and nap stops

Good places to pause on the loop:

• The creek-side benches. Shady and calm, with the sound of water.
• By the McCabe playground. Sit with the baby while older siblings play.
• The McCabe Park Community Center. An indoor option when it’s open, for a cool place to feed.

Feeding in public is your right in Tennessee, and you’ll see plenty of neighborhood families doing it on the greenway.

Accessibility

TrailLink lists the Richland Creek Greenway as wheelchair accessible, with an asphalt surface. A few notes:

• Gentle hills. There are a few rises, but nothing steep.
• Boardwalks. Smooth, but narrower than the paved sections.
• Facilities. Restrooms and a water fountain are near the McCabe Trailhead, with more in the community center when it’s open.

A piece of history

The quiet railroad stretch has a heavy story. On July 9, 1918, two crowded passenger trains collided head-on at a blind curve here called Dutchman’s Curve. The wreck killed 101 people and remains the deadliest train wreck in U.S. history. Many of those killed were Black laborers heading to work at a gunpowder plant outside Nashville.

Today a historical marker stands near the White Bridge Road spur of the greenway, thanks to local historian Betsy Thorpe’s work to make sure the victims are remembered. It’s a short, worthwhile stop, and a gentle way to share local history with older kids.

The McCabe Park Community Center

The McCabe Park Community Center, at 101 46th Avenue North, sits right next to the greenway and the playground. It’s a Metro Parks center with a fitness center, an indoor track, a gym, a game room and exercise classes for all ages, and it’s a great home base for families in West Nashville.

For new moms, it’s worth knowing about for rainy or very hot days, when an indoor track lap can stand in for the greenway. Call 615-862-8457 or check Metro Parks for current hours and programs.

Coffee and food

Sylvan Park and the stretch of Charlotte Avenue nearby have lots of coffee shops, bagel spots and family-friendly lunch places a few minutes away. The spur by White Bridge Pike leads toward a shopping center with a Target and Trader Joe’s, which is handy if you want to turn a walk into an errand run.

Safety and heat

The creek side is shady, but the railroad and golf course stretches can be sunny.

• Watch the heat index. Nashville summers are hot and humid, and heat index values can climb past 100 degrees. On those days, walk at sunrise, keep it short or skip it. Metro’s emergency alert program, MEANS, sends weather and safety notices.
• Know the signs of overheating. For you: dizziness, heavy sweating, nausea or weakness. For your baby: flushed skin, unusual fussiness or sleepiness and fewer wet diapers. Move to shade or air conditioning, offer fluids as your pediatrician advises and call 911 if anyone seems confused or faint.
• Check playground surfaces. Nashville’s fire department warns that slides, swings and turf can get hot enough to burn in summer sun. Touch before little ones climb on.
• Never cover the stroller with a blanket. It traps heat. Use a ventilated sunshade and a clip-on fan instead.
• Respect spring storms. Middle Tennessee gets strong thunderstorms, especially in spring. Check the forecast, and when thunder roars, head indoors.
• Walk with a friend. Metro Parks encourages enjoying greenways with a friend. Share your route and keep your phone charged. For emergencies, call 911. Metro Parks Police can be reached at 615-862-8600.

Keep little ones buckled near the railroad tracks and stay on the path near the golf course. Low spots by the creek can flood after heavy rain.

Sylvan Park and the Nations

Richland Creek wraps around some of Nashville’s most walkable neighborhoods.

• Sylvan Park. Tree-lined streets, bungalows and a cluster of cafés and restaurants along Murphy Road and nearby. Many families walk or bike straight to the greenway.
• The Nations. A short drive away, with breweries, coffee shops and murals.
• Charlotte Avenue. Plenty of quick food and errand stops close to the greenway.

If you live nearby, Richland Creek is the kind of walk you can do three times a week without overthinking it, which is exactly what makes it great for building a habit.

Seasons

• SpringGreen and lovely along the creek. After heavy rain, low spots near the water can be muddy or briefly flooded.
• SummerHot and humid. The creek side is shadier, so start there, and go early or near dusk.
• FallOne of the best times. The trees along Richland Creek turn color and mornings are cool.
• WinterQuiet and usually mild. Boardwalks can be slick on frosty mornings, so take them slowly.

Rainy day backups

When the weather turns, nearby indoor options include:

• The McCabe Park Community Center, with an indoor track, fitness center and classes. Check hours before you go.
• A nearby library branch, for free story time and air conditioning.
• The shops near White Bridge Pike, an easy errand stop at the end of the greenway spur.

A sample morning

An easy first visit with a baby:

• 7:30 a.m.Park at the McCabe Trailhead and fill your water bottle.
• 7:40 a.m.Head toward the creek side for shade.
• 8:10 a.m.Pause on a creek-side bench to feed or rest.
• 8:30 a.m.Finish the loop past the railroad stretch and the golf course.
• 9:15 a.m.Playground time, then a bagel or coffee in Sylvan Park.

That’s the full loop of about two and a half to three miles. Cut it short by turning around at the creek if you’re just getting started.

What to pack

Our short list for Richland Creek with a baby:

• Water for you, plus whatever your baby needs for feeds.
• A ventilated sunshade and a clip-on fan, especially from May through September.
• Bug spray, a baby-safe option you’ve checked with your pediatrician.
• A portable changing pad and wipes, since changing tables aren’t guaranteed.
• A light layer for the baby, because mornings by the water can feel cooler than you expect.
• A charged phone, with your route shared with a friend.
• A snack for after, since the loop ends right near Sylvan Park’s cafés.

Keep it light. A packed-full stroller basket is harder to push and harder to fold at the end.

Make it a routine

Richland Creek is the kind of walk that works best on repeat. Try the same loop two or three mornings a week, and notice how it gets easier as the weeks go by. Start with the shady creek side, then add the railroad stretch, then the full loop. If you’re postpartum, let your provider guide how quickly you add distance.

Pro tips

• 💦
  WaterFill up at the start

  The fountain at the McCabe Trailhead is your best bet. Don’t count on water mid-loop.

• ⛳
  GolfMind the course

  Stay on the path near the golf course edges and keep an eye out for stray balls.

• 🚂
  TrainsWave at the trains

  The railroad stretch is a toddler favorite. Keep little ones buckled near the tracks.

• 🚲
  BikesStay right

  It’s a busy neighborhood greenway, especially on weekend mornings.

• 🏃
  PaceEasy to repeat

  The loop is short enough to do a few times a week as you build back up.

• 📍
  Meeting upMeet at the clubhouse

  “Meet at the McCabe Trailhead by the clubhouse” is easy to find, with parking and water.

If you’re postpartum, check with your provider before adding longer walks, and build up gradually. Our guide to postpartum exercise once you’re cleared is a good place to start.

Walk Richland Creek with us

Richland Creek is one of the places we expect our first Nashville walk clubs to start, with easy weekday loops for Sylvan Park, the Nations and West Nashville. We’re taking signups now, and founding members help choose the first routes and times.

Here’s what a Pink in Progress walk looks like: an easy, regular walk with strollers and sneakers welcome, a pace where everyone can talk, and coffee after when the babies cooperate. No one gets left behind, and there’s no fancy gear required. If you’re new to Nashville or new to motherhood, it’s one of the simplest ways to make friends who get it.

See everything we’re building in Nashville.

More stroller walks in Nashville

• Shelby Bottoms GreenwayEast Nashville · our full stroller guide
• Centennial ParkWest End · our full stroller guide
• Stones River GreenwayDonelson and Hermitage · our full stroller guide