If you’re looking for a great family adventure, you don’t have to go far because you can explore the Ijams Nature Center. The Ijams Nature Center’s goal is for people to experience the outdoors and learn to appreciate and care for it. So when you visit Ijams Nature Center, you’re not just looking at nature; you’re immersing yourself in and learning from it.
What Is Ijams Nature Center?
The Ijams Nature Center was created by an illustrator and ornithologist, Harry Ijams, and his wife, Alice Yoe Ijams, an avid gardener. Together they purchased 20 acres of land along the Tennessee River, where they raised their four daughters. The Ijams loved the outdoors, so he created a Bird Sanctuary right on this land, and Alice grew flowers to sell to the local florist. In addition, the Ijams played a part in creating a local Girl Scouts organization in 1923 and donated some of their property to the Scouts, now known as Camp Mary Ijams.
To preserve the bird sanctuary and all the hard work that the Ijams had put into encouraging the development of nature, the land became known as Ijams Nature Center in 1968. Since then, the nature center has grown to what it is today.
What Can You Do At Ijams Nature Center?
There are various activities to participate in when you visit the Ijams Nature Center, like hiking, biking, swimming, paddling, climbing, and more.
Hiking:
If you plan on hiking, 12-plus miles of trails stretch across the Ijams Nature Center. While hiking these trails, you’ll experience beautiful woodlands, meadows, ponds, and more. The trails are broken up into three categories: easy, moderate, and hard, so choose the trail that suits your hiking skills.
Biking:
If you prefer biking to hiking, of the 12-plus trails, there are 10 that are great for biking. You’ll still get to get experience all the beauties that the nature center has to offer. You can rent bikes depending for two hours, four hours, or all day. Contact the nature center if you have questions about bike rentals.
Swimming and Paddling:
On those hot summer days, sometimes you need a refreshing swim, and various options are available. For example, you can swim in Tolls Creek, go boating on Mead’s Quarry, or take a scenic view of the Tennesse River. Reach out to Ijams Nature Center to check for availabilities.
Climbing:
If you want a better view of the nature center, consider climbing Ijams Crag. The Ijams Crag has more than 30 routes with bolted routes and bolted anchors, and courses range in height from 30 to 60 feet and from 5.6 to 5.13 in difficulty. Climbers are required to use their own equipment to climb Ijams Crag. Give the nature center a call for more information.
Several camps, programs, and events take place throughout the year that you can experience.
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Plan A Visit To Ijams Nature Center
No matter what you’re in the mood for, the Ijams Nature Center has what you’re looking for, so load your family in your vehicle from Tarr Chevrolet and get ready for an adventure.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.