Beautiful Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge, TN

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We have found a beautiful and yet challenging place to run about 6 miles from the house. Melton Lake is a part of the Clinch River, and this park runs along 3.4 miles of it. There are two greenways that meet at the park. Emory Valley Greenway run perpendicular to Melton Lake near the UT Boathouse, where the Volunteer Rowing team competes. It runs 3.5 miles each way for a 7 mile run, giving the runner two choices or combining the two for a 13.8 mile jaunt. There are two challenging hills and a couple minor ones, but this is Tennessee!

There are several entry points for the trail, so you can choose to start level - or at the top of a hill!

This is the view once you achieve the summit, and this is what you look forward to - coming down!

This is the flat part after you descend from the hill. The main entrance has a pavilion, water, and is flat!

You can't quite see the rower, but the herons are a sight often seen along the route.

This is the view of the UT boathouse, the finish line for rowing events. The Emory Valley Greenway starts across the road and goes for 3.5 miles through residential areas and woodlands.

This is another flat area along the river, about 3/4 of a mile from the start.

This is the view from Melton Lake Peninsula and the Flat Iron Grille Restaurant, a tough place to pass when you run by it at dinner time!

More trail about a mile from the starting point.