700+ acres of forest, lakes and trails in Fairview, Tennessee
Explore the Treehouse Playground, hike, ride, fish and picnic year round, then meet the animals and exhibits in the Nature Center. Free to enter, open daily 5am to 10pm.
A city's treasure, open to everyone
Bowie Nature Park is in the city of Fairview on Highway 100, about a mile west of the Highway 96/100 exchange in Williamson County. Seventeen miles of winding trails carry you through wetlands, grasslands, pine forest, oak and hickory forest, riparian corridor and lowland bottomland.
Most of the trail system is shared by hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians, and some sections are set aside for foot traffic only. Fishing, running, walking and the Treehouse Playground are open every day of the year. Bicycling and horseback riding are open daily too, depending on trail conditions: when trails are wet or muddy from recent rain, they close to riders.
Inside the modern Nature Center you will find exhibits, art, a Discovery Room and staff who can point you toward the right trail.
Before you go
Open every day of the year, 5am to 10pm. There is no charge to enter the park or to walk the trails.
Mon to Sat, 8am to 4pm
Sunday, 8am to 12pm
(615) 799-5544
$2.00 per day for each bicycle and each horse. Fairview residents and residents of zip code 37062 are exempt. All trails are open to day hikers.
Trails may close to bikes and horses at any time in wet conditions. Call (615) 799-5544 ext. 1 before you ride. Riding a closed trail can result in a citation.
Park news
News and notices from Bowie Nature Park. Find more information, flyers, and forms linked below each notice.
November 2026
November is a time to honor those who have served, enjoy the beauty of the season, and give thanks for our wonderful community! We have plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and explore at the park this month.
Veterans Day · November 11
Beginning November 2nd, stop by the Nature Center front desk for a self-guided Veterans Day craft! As we celebrate on November 11th, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all veterans for their service and sacrifice. City offices will be closed in observance of the holiday.
Yoga in the Park · November 7 & 14
Join Anna Shalray for our continuing Yoga in the Park series on Saturdays, November 7th and 14th, at 10am. Meet near the playground gazebo for a refreshing morning of movement, mindfulness, and outdoor relaxation.
When: November 7th & 14th | 10am
Location: BNP Playground Gazebo
RescheduledSee Details
Paranormal & History Night Hike · November 10
The Paranormal & History night hike from Fall Fun Day has officially been rescheduled! On Tuesday, November 10th at 7pm, paranormal investigators will lead visitors down dark Bowie Park trails while storytelling and searching for paranormal activity. We recommend an age of 16+ for attendees.
When: November 10th | 7 – 9pm
Location: Bowie Nature Park
FeederWatch · Mondays & Tuesdays
FeederWatch is back every Monday and Tuesday! Observe birds at bird feeders and help scientists track bird populations across North America. Come watch our feathered visitors, learn to identify local species, and contribute to research! No experience is necessary.
When: November 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th & December 1st | 10am
Location: Bowie Nature Center
Bowie Homeschool · November 18
This month, Bowie Homeschool students will explore the fascinating ways animals survive after dark. Registration for November 4th is full, but you are invited to join us for our Open Hours session November 18th from 10am-2pm.
When: November 18th | 10am – 2pm
Location: Bowie Nature Center
Mangrum Cemetery · November 14
Mark your calendars and help the Friends of Bowie refresh the Mangrum Cemetery within Bowie Nature Park on November 14th at 10am. The event begins immediately after the Friends’ monthly meeting at Bowie Nature Center, which you are also welcome to attend at 9am. Please bring gloves, hand tools, rakes, bug spray, a water bottle, and wear clothing for going off-trail.
When: November 14th | 10am
Location: Bowie Nature Park
Happy Thanksgiving
City offices will be closed November 26th and 27th in observance of Thanksgiving. We are so thankful for our wonderful community and the opportunity to serve you throughout the year. From our parks family to yours, we wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
For more information regarding program updates or events, check out the Bowie Nature Park Facebook page.
Fairview Parks System
Park Guides
Pick up the park rules and trail mileage, and the guides you need for homeschool sessions, school field trips or volunteering.
Questions about park programs? Contact the Parks Program Coordinator at [email protected] or (615) 387-6074, or call the Nature Center at (615) 799-5544.
History & Hauntings Lantern Walk: November 10
Uncover the dark side of Fairview. Join us for a spine-chilling evening exploring the history and hauntings of our beautiful Bowie Nature Park, with special guest Eric Freeman Sims—renowned paranormal researcher, author, and investigator—as your guide through the local lore and legends.
Admission is free, but tickets are required and strictly limited to the first 25 guests to register.
Tuesday · November 10
7:00 – 9:00 PM
We will meet at 6:30pm at the Lake Van shelter.
Special Guest
Eric Freeman Sims
Renowned paranormal researcher, author, and investigator, who will guide us through the local lore and legends of Bowie Nature Park.
Age Requirement
Ages 16 and up
This evening walk is open to guests ages 16 and up.
Admission
Free · 25 guests
Admission is free, but strictly limited to the first 25 guests to register. Get your free tickets now.
Bowie Homeschool: Fall 2026
Session dates, themes, locations and registration deadlines for the fall semester are on the flyer, and every detail is listed below. Download the full Homeschool Guide for everything else you need to know before your first visit.
To register, call the Nature Center at (615) 799-5544 or email the Parks Program Coordinator at [email protected].
About Bowie Homeschool
Bowie Homeschool is specially designed for homeschool families, groups, and co-ops to learn about the fascinating natural world around us. Programs are designed for ages 5 and above, and will be hosted rain or shine.
Two kinds of sessions
This semester, we will continue to offer two kinds of Bowie Homeschool sessions:
- The first session of the month will be Naturalist-led, and consist of a 45-minute rotation period and 45-minute hike (approximately). Registration is required in advance.
- The second session of the month will consist of self-led activities during Open Hours, and registration is not required. You may drop in any time during open hours to complete activities.
Before you come
Please remember to bring appropriate shoes, a water bottle, and dress for the weather, as some activities are held outdoors. Bowie Homeschool is not a drop-off program. For more information please check out our Homeschool Guide, or pick up a copy at Bowie Nature Center.
Fall Picture Day · September 8
On September 8th between 10 and 11am at Historical Village (Triangle School), we will host a DIY photo booth with a vintage desk and chalkboard backdrop to capture special back-to-school memories of our students! Parents may bring any type of camera or props for photos.
Fall 2026 Sessions
September 9 · 10 – 11:30am
Clouds and Climates
Discover how weather is created, forecasted, and measured with Parks Naturalists, then join us for a 45-minute Signs of Weather hike.
September 23 · 10am – 2pm
Sunshine Scholars (Open Hours)
Students will have the option to 1) Create a weather measurement tool, 2) Take a stroll while completing a fall scavenger hunt, 3) Learn about the fall equinox by measuring their shadows over time, and more!
October 7 · 10 – 11:30am
Leaves, Limbs, and Twigs
Identify different types of trees, learn about their growth cycles, and discover how trees provide many benefits to our ecosystems with Parks Naturalists, then join us for a 45-minute Tree ID hike.
October 21 · 10am – 2pm
Forest Friends (Open Hours)
Students will have the option to 1) Make their own tree growth slice based on environmental factors, 2) Create a craft using twigs, 3) Watch leaves change color through a chromatography experiment, and more!
November 4 · 10 – 11:30am
Surviving the Night
Learn how animals use their senses to find food, communicate, avoid predators, and navigate at night with Parks Naturalists, then join us for a 45-minute Senses hike.
November 18 · 10am – 2pm
Senses After Sunset (Open Hours)
Students will have the option to 1) Create a soundscape nature journal, 2) Complete a nocturnal adaptations matching game, 3) Learn how fireflies communicate by replicating bioluminescence with a flashlight, and more!
What's on at Bowie
Programs, hikes, storytimes and seasonal events at the Nature Center and out on the trails. Most programs are free, and some ask you to register in advance.
Maps, guides and forms
A forest planted with a purpose
When Dr. Evangeline Bowie bought this land in the 1950s it was so barren and eroded it was losing over 30 tons of topsoil a year. She terraced it, dug lakes, built a hydrology system that still impresses land management experts, and planted more than 500,000 loblolly pines.
Before her death in 1992 she deeded the 722 acres to the City of Fairview and asked that it become a public nature park. The Nature Center opened in 2003, and in 2008 the park was placed in a conservation easement protected by the Land Trust for Tennessee.
