"What we don't want to do is lose our enthusiasm for our beautiful tree canopy," Mayor Nelson Andrews said at Brentwood's Arbor Day celebration on March 28, two months after Winter Storm Fern hit the city.
This October and November will be the first time anyone sees that canopy turn color since the storm. The forecast is not generous. Some of the trails Brentwood relies on in the fall have changed, and one is still closed. This year, choosing the right trail matters more than picking the perfect weekend.
What the storm actually removed
City officials told NewsChannel 5 that the late-January ice storm brought down close to 700 trees in Brentwood. On February 4, the City estimated it had about 150,000 cubic yards of debris to clear. That is roughly 5,000 loads for a city grapple truck. By March 25, the contractor and Public Works had finished a second pass and collected more than 323,000 cubic yards, over twice the first estimate. Routine brush pickup started again April 6.
Some of that debris was handled inside the parks. Granny White Park was mostly closed starting February 5, for about 10 weeks, because it was the only place in northwest Brentwood large enough to store and process material at that scale. Crockett Park, the Brentwood Service Center and Safety Center East were the City's other processing sites. The Granny White Park page now lists regular daily hours, 610 Granny White Pike, open dawn to 10 p.m. The City has not published a date when the park fully reopened.
Smith Park got the most public attention. On February 21, more than 50 volunteers with chainsaws went to clear the Smith Park Mountain Bike Trail. NewsChannel 5 described the trail as "nearly unrecognizable" under downed and uprooted trees, and Mayor Andrews, clearing trail alongside them, estimated a 16-week recovery.
Where the trails stand in early October
Here is the status of each trail as of this week, with the date each status was last confirmed.
| Place | Current status | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Owl's Hill South Ridge Trail | Closed until further notice due to Winter Storm Fern damage | Sanctuary trail-map page, undated |
| Smith Park mountain-bike trails | "All Open," with overgrowth and multiple downed trees on the upper section | October 3, 2026 |
| Granny White Park | Regular hours listed; no dated reopening notice | City park page |
| Smith Park hiking trails, Deerwood, Primm, River Park | No storm closure found | City park pages |
SORBA Mid-TN's October 3 report on Smith Park says the trail is dry and "in generally great shape with a few caveats." About the top four-fifths is overgrown, with multiple trees down. On Harpeth Turnpike, a tree fell just past the first switchback and pushed a boulder onto the trail. The tree has been cleared, but the rock leaves what the trail crew calls a "kind of wonky" line. That report covers the bike network. The City notes that it is separate from the hiking trails.
A shorter, duller season makes the route matter more
The Tennessean's September 16 foliage outlook, based on ExploreFall, expects Tennessee leaves to turn earlier than average and the color to be "less vibrant than usual," with overall quality rated poor. For the Nashville area, ExploreFall puts first true color around October 13, moderate color across much of Middle Tennessee by October 25, peak near November 11 and past peak by about November 17. That peak is one day earlier than the average of November 12. ExploreFall ties the early timing mainly to warm spring temperatures. The forecast is statewide and does not mention the ice storm.
A dull year plus a thinner canopy in spots shifts the advantage to places with many tree species, wide views or a guide who knows which trees are turning. Brentwood has one place that does each.
Deerwood Arboretum: the most species per step
Deerwood Arboretum & Nature Center at 320 Deerwood Lane has more than 70 tree species along its trails. The list includes red and sugar maples, sweetgum, dogwood and oaks. The paved perimeter trail runs almost a mile, with mile markers, two footbridges and access to the Little Harpeth River. Parking is at the northwest entrance at the end of Deerwood Lane, and the arboretum is open dawn to dusk. The City's published tree list doubles as a field guide for putting a name to each tree you pass.
Smith Park: the view from above
Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, entered at 1825 Wilson Pike, has the most elevation. The City's hiking guide rates the Red Trail difficult, at 1.5 miles with a scenic overlook. The Blue Trail runs 2.25 miles and the Green Trail is an easy 1.36 miles. The Red and Blue routes climb to a hilltop overlook with a viewfinder made for color-blind visitors. Ravenswood Mansion sits on the grounds below. The trailhead is by the parking lot, and the park is open dawn to dusk. From the overlook you see whole hillsides at once. This year, that also shows where the storm thinned the canopy.
Owl's Hill: a guide on six Saturdays
Owl's Hill Nature Sanctuary at 545 Beech Creek Road South runs its Fall Color Hikes on October 17, 24 and 31 and November 7, 14 and 21. Every hike starts promptly at 9:30 a.m. and costs $15 per hiker. The guided walks follow the progress of fall through the sanctuary. They are rated moderately strenuous and open to ages 14 and up, and minors need an adult with them. Space is limited, so buy tickets ahead. Pets are not allowed on sanctuary grounds. Hikes go on rain or shine. If the National Weather Service puts Williamson County under a severe weather warning, the hike is canceled and you get a Day Pass credit good for 30 days.
Set those dates against the forecast. October 17 comes just after first color, and October 24 is the day before moderate color. November 7 and 14 fall on either side of the projected November 11 peak, so those two Saturdays are the best bets. November 7 is also Owl Day at the sanctuary, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with owl ambassador presentations, crafts and a scavenger hunt. The South Ridge Trail is still closed from storm damage, so check which route the guides are using when you register.
The quieter walks along the Little Harpeth
On weekday evenings, the river corridor is the easiest choice. River Park at 1100 Knox Valley Drive, across from the library, has a two-mile walking path and bikeway along the Little Harpeth that connects Crockett Park and Concord Park. At Crockett Park, 1500 Volunteer Parkway, the BrentVale Pavilion opened in 2025, built with timbers reused from the park's former cabin. Historic Cool Springs House is nearby. Crockett stays open until 10 p.m.
Primm Park, off Moores Lane East near Montclair, is a 31-acre historic park that is open to foot traffic only. Fall color frames the circa-1830 Boiling Spring Academy, five prehistoric mounds and a stretch of the Little Harpeth.
The City's park rules require dogs to be leashed and under control, and its trail guidance calls for a leash no longer than six feet and cleanup after pets. In May, the City announced e-bike guidelines for park trails to launch that summer: Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes and e-scooters only, no throttle use, a 15 mph trail limit and 5 mph when passing walkers.
The canopy residents are replanting
The other half of this fall's story is in neighborhood yards. At Arbor Day, Brentwood planted several trees in its newest park and gave away 2,500 trees for replanting. Community Relations Director Charles Booth said it was the most trees the City has ever given away. Booth described the people who came as "wanting to get seedlings to replace the trees they'd lost, or maybe they had a tree that they didn't lose, but they lost a major branch." The same celebration marked Brentwood's 37th consecutive Tree City USA designation.
Those seedlings won't show color for years. Booth has asked residents who notice a spot that needs a replacement tree to tell the City of Brentwood. A fall walk is a good time to spot those gaps, since the empty places are easiest to see once the surrounding trees turn.
For families with younger children who aren't old enough for the Owl's Hill hikes, the John P. Holt Brentwood Library at 8109 Concord Road has its own October events. Family Campfire Stories is Tuesday, October 13, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the outdoor amphitheater. Booktacular is Saturday, October 24. The Friends of the Brentwood Library list it as 2 to 5 p.m., while the library's calendar shows 3 to 5 p.m., so check before you go. The Halloween Bash follows on Sunday, October 25, from 3 to 5 p.m.
If the storm damaged trees on your own property and you're weighing how that affects your home's value before a sale, Barbara-Keith Payne has spent three decades walking Brentwood's streets and can give you a broker's view, in person. Schedule a free consultation, ideally on a Saturday after the Owl's Hill hike.
