Best hikes in and around Knoxville ahead of Tennessee's showdown with Texas Longhorns

Fall is officially here, which means hiking season is about to reach its peak.

Hiking in the summer is fine and all, but autumn hikes feature perfect temperatures, fall colors, and crisp air that will have you remembering your treks for years to come.

And what better way to kick off the true start to hiking season than a top-15 college football showdown in east Tennessee.

BEST HIKES IN AND AROUND OXFORD TO GET YOU READY FOR OLE MISS-LSU'S WEEK THREE SHOWDOWN With all due respect to college towns like Oxford and Lubbock, they have nothing on Knoxville when it comes to getting a true hike in.

Being able to pick trails around the University of Tennessee and its surrounding areas is almost like cheating, so if you're heading to Neyland for the game this weekend, you owe it to yourself to check out a few of these spots.

The best overall hike in the Knoxville area has to belong to the Ijams Nature Center.

Whether you're in town early or you have only a couple hours on Saturday morning before kickoff, this is the hike for you.

HIKING ETIQUETTE RULES THAT SHOULD BE COMMON SENSE BUT APPARENTLY NEED TO BE SPELLED OUT FOR SOME PEOPLE Situated just three miles from downtown, Ijams Nature Center features more than 14 miles of hikeable trails across forests, meadows, ponds and an old quarry landscape, with routes ranging from easy to difficult.

I highly recommend checking out Mead's Quarry, which has several trails that weave through a former industrial landscape around a gorgeous quarry lake.

If you're looking for a nice, relaxing hike, you can also check out the River Boardwalk, which features stunning views of the Tennessee River.

There's something for everyone here and you don't even need to leave the city.

While Ijams is the more versatile pick, if you're looking for the best "pure hike," House Mountain is the place to be.

The House Mountain State Natural Area is about 15 miles northeast of the city, and it gives hikers both a workout and a view for their efforts.

Seriously, this is the highest point in Knox county, featuring a 2,100-foot crest for those of you who are looking to actually climb something while you're in the Volunteer State.