Cedars of Lebanon State Park sits on 9,420 acres in Wilson County, Tennessee, protecting one of the largest remaining red cedar forests in the country. Named after the biblical cedars of Lebanon, the park’s landscape is unlike anything else in Middle Tennessee — limestone glades dotted with rare wildflowers, sinkholes carved into bedrock, and dense cedar groves that feel ancient and quiet.

The cedar glades here are globally rare ecosystems. Several plant species found in the park, including Tennessee coneflower, grow naturally nowhere else on Earth. Hikers can explore eight miles of trails that wind through these distinctive habitats, from the short Cedar Glade Interpretive Trail — ideal for families — to longer loops that pass caves, sinkholes, and limestone outcroppings. Birders will find the cedar thickets productive year-round, with species like cedar waxwings and eastern towhees common in the understory.

Beyond hiking, the park offers horseback riding trails, a swimming pool open during summer months, disc golf, and picnic areas with shelters. The Dixon Merritt Nature Center provides exhibits on the park’s unique geology and ecology, making it a worthwhile first stop.

Spring brings the cedar glades alive with wildflower blooms, including the rare limestone fameflower, while fall offers comfortable temperatures and quieter trails. Summer is ideal for families looking to combine swimming with trail time.

Located just 30 minutes south of Nashville off US-231, Cedars of Lebanon is close enough for a day trip but remote enough to feel like a genuine escape into one of Tennessee’s most ecologically significant landscapes.

Explore Nearby

• Cordell Hull Highway — Scenic Byway in Kentucky
• Natchez Trace Parkway — Scenic Byway in Alabama
• Port Royal Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Tennessee
• David Crockette State Park Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Tennessee
• Obed Wild and Scenic River — Dark Sky Site in Tennessee