What is it?
Ijams (pronounced i-yums) Nature Center is a large park in southeast Knoxville. It is host to a variety of activities, plants and wildlife; you’re sure to find something for you here. Some of our favorites are hiking, paddleboarding, and the primitive workout areas!
Where is it?
Ijams is in southeast Knoxville. If you’re in downtown, you’ll want to cross the bridge to the south side of the river. From the Old Sevier community (home to Honeybee, Alliance Brewing, and Printshop Beer Co, among others) keep heading east on Island Home road.
The nature center has a large parking lot for those visiting, so no worries there!
What you need to know about visiting:
Ijams is officially open from 8a – dusk every day of the year. The visitor center/gift shop is open from 10a – 5p. Note that, for the time being, the exhibit hall inside the visitor center (full of our creature friends) is closed. Other programs run seasonally. Check on their website (Ijams.org) for updates, as some of these are run by appointment or are not run during the winter months. You can also follow them on Instagram @ijamsnaturecenter.
The first adventure of mention is Navitat, which is an outdoor adventure/ropes course through the woods, complete with ziplines, bridges, and 6 different courses to explore. $45 (for those 10 and over) gets you 2 hours on the courses – we highly recommend reserving this in advance.
Have kids at home, but you have to work? Ijams has your back! They run kids camps that are often on school holidays or breaks. Speaking of young ones, if you have some toddlers at home Ijams has a “play club” (part time) or a full on preschool that gets the kids outside at least half the day!
Let’s talk about our recommendation: If you have the better part of a day (or at least til mid-afternoon), first break a sweat. Maybe your normal workout routine needs a little shake-up? Head to the Primal Playground beside Mead’s Quarry. There are 3 fields here: stone, wood, and boulders. You can take a peek at the workouts they have already devised, or just make up your own.
If that isn’t enough, or you just want to see more of what Ijams has to offer, go on a hike! Ijams has 12 miles of trails for you, and these are serious trails – most are natural surfaces (i.e. no paving). We would recommend hiking the perimeter of Mead’s Quarry, the Keyhole at Ross Quarry, or the river boardwalk. There are some beautiful overlooks and plenty of wildlife – we’ve even been known to spot some beavers on the river.
For those of you who prefer a mountain bike, note that about 9 miles of trails exist for you in this park (but watch out for hikers!). You can also rent bikes at the visitor center, starting at $15 for 2 hours.
Certainly after all that, you could use some refreshment. Head to The Outpost, a beer garden directly beside Mead’s Quarry (you probably passed it to go to Primal Playground). Local Yee Haw Brewing Co. has a little stand there (open seasonally) where you can grab a beer and other non-alcoholic options, or a quick snack. I’d say you can’t go wrong with their pale ale on a hot day.
Lastly, it’s time to cool off. You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes (seasonally) right beside the quarry and beer garden. It is $14 per hour. We recommend paddleboards so you can easily get on and off and enjoy the water. Note that Ijams says they do not allow private boats, however, we have seen plenty of people on “floaties”, which may just be the best way to soak up the sun.
Other things to do in the area
Check out a newly-redone store and coffee shop in Jacks of Knoxville (Highline Coffee) in Downtown Knox.
Want grab a cold one and chill out? Trailhead Beer Market is right down the road.
Weather not cooperating? Maybe check out some history – you’re very near the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Questions, Comments, or Concerns?
Email us at help@brewsandtodos.com
Pingback: Printshop Beer Co. - South Knox | Brews & To Do's