Cycling in Nashville

Forget the Nashville with the guitars — this one is Indiana’s mountain-bike capital. Just outside the little arts town of Nashville, Brown County State Park holds the best purpose-built singletrack in the Midwest: nearly 30 miles of trail across 17 named routes, from the beginner-friendly North Gate loop to the advanced Hesitation Point run and expert lines like Hobbs Hollow, all threading roughly 400 feet of ridge-and-ravine terrain. Trails above beginner require a cheap off-road cycling permit ($5/day or $20/year), bought at the gatehouse or online.

This is a destination for riders who want dirt, not a casual paved greenway, so the town is built around it. Brown County Bikes, right in downtown Nashville, rents full-suspension mountain bikes and e-MTBs by the day, requires a waiver, and will even organize guided or shuttle rides in the park — reserve ahead on weekends. Q’s Bikes at eXplore Brown County is a second rental-and-guided-tour option a few minutes out of town.

Lodging keeps you close to the trailhead. The Brown County Barn Burner is literally connected to Brown County Bikes in the same downtown building — walk out of your room and into the shop — making it the natural pick for a group riding trip, while the boutique Cornerstone Inn sits a couple of blocks away in the heart of Nashville’s shops and restaurants.

Ride May through October; the clay-based singletrack drains slowly, so skip the day or two after heavy rain to protect both the trails and your rims — check the park’s trail status before you drive out.