Upper Greenbelt Park: paved river return
Tennessee · Greenway
Walk from the southern public lot at the named Island Drive start to the paved upper path on the park’s east side. Ride north for up to half a mile, turning at the first work barrier, flooded or muddy section, path end or approach to the closed north lot, whichever comes first. Return on the same upper path.
Plan your ride
- Location
- Memphis · Tennessee
- Ride length
- Up to 1 mile return
- Ride format
- Out and back
- Surface
- Paved Upper Greenbelt shared bicycle path; lower unpaved floodplain excluded
- Road crossings
- Designated separated shared path only. Stop at street/driveway crossings; no ordinary-road detour.
- Elevation
- Short riverside recreational return with local access slopes; no surveyed maximum grade. Wind, high river levels and muddy deposits can increase effort.
- Starting location
- Upper Greenbelt Park southern public parking on Island Drive, 830 Island Drive, Memphis, TN 38103
Conservative selected distance cap; turn at half the listed return distance or earlier. Not a GPS measurement; parking walks are extra.
Census address-range reference for the southern public park start identified by Downtown Memphis Commission. Not the closed north lot and not a surveyed parking entrance.
Trailhead
Upper Greenbelt Park southern public parking on Island Drive830 Island Drive, Memphis, TN 38103
The park manager identifies south and central public lots as open; the north lot is closed for renovations. Downtown Memphis Commission identifies 830 Island Drive as the first/southern lot. Use signed ordinary public visitor spaces there, walk through the lot and join the paved upper path. No exact driveway or parking stall has been surveyed.
Address source ↗Upper Greenbelt Park: paved river return — detailed guide
Source review: 2026-11-07. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.
Memphis’s Upper Greenbelt Park offers a paved bicycle path on Mud Island, separate from Big River Crossing and the Wolf River Greenway. The manager explicitly distinguishes this upper path from the lower floodplain’s unpaved trails.
Start and parking
Start: Upper Greenbelt Park southern public parking on Island Drive, 830 Island Drive, Memphis, TN 38103.
The park manager identifies south and central public lots as open; the north lot is closed for renovations. Downtown Memphis Commission identifies 830 Island Drive as the first/southern lot. Use signed ordinary public visitor spaces there, walk through the lot and join the paved upper path. No exact driveway or parking stall has been surveyed.
Ride and distance
Selected ride: Up to 1 mile return. Format: Out and back.
Ride: Walk from the southern public lot at the named Island Drive start to the paved upper path on the park’s east side. Ride north for up to half a mile, turning at the first work barrier, flooded or muddy section, path end or approach to the closed north lot, whichever comes first. Return on the same upper path.
The manager confirms that the south and central lots remain available while the north lot undergoes renovations. The city’s February 25, 2026 Greenbelt Landing notice confirms that north-lot work; no completion date is treated as a reopening. Stay out of the lower floodplain, boat-landing works and Island Drive traffic lanes.
Conservative selected distance cap; turn at half the listed return distance or earlier. Not a GPS measurement; parking walks are extra. Parking walks are extra.
Surface and effort
Paved Upper Greenbelt shared bicycle path; lower unpaved floodplain excluded. Short riverside recreational return with local access slopes; no surveyed maximum grade. Wind, high river levels and muddy deposits can increase effort.
Yield to walkers, slow for blind bends and stop at every street, driveway and parking crossing. Wet boardwalks, loose gravel, flooding, debris and ice can change suitability. Turn back rather than bypass a closure or enter motor traffic.
Hours, costs and access
South and central public lots: 6 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset. Choose daylight, obey event controls and avoid high water. No ordinary path-use fee established in the cited profile; follow posted parking terms. Rentals, camping and reserved activities are separate.
Reviewed November 7, 2026. Public path access and bicycle use are supported by the cited sources. No same-day condition clearance or universal e-bike class permission is claimed. Follow current signs and manager notices.
Map and Directions
The map is a published facility or corridor reference, not a surveyed parking entrance. Directions use the named public street destination above. The parking entrance and individual stalls have not been independently checked.