Ijams Nature Center is a 320+ acre nonprofit environmental education center just three miles from downtown Knoxville — forests, meadows, wetlands, and creeks, all about 45 minutes from Maryville.

• Trails: 14+ miles of hiking and biking trails across the Nature Center and Ijams Quarries, including easy family-friendly loops
• Play: the Ijams Primal Playground for little legs and big scramblers
• Animal Ambassadors: live animal exhibits at the Visitor Center, with rangers teaching kids about local wildlife and conservation
• Paddling: kayak and canoe rentals on Mead's Quarry Lake and the Tennessee River
• Climbing: the Ijams Crag, Knoxville's only outdoor rock climbing area (for trained climbers)

The grounds are open daily from 8 am to dusk. There's a $5 daily parking fee (free for members). The Visitor Center has a gift shop, snacks, and trail maps, and Ijams runs seasonal programs, classes, and events year-round — check the website for the current calendar before you go.