The Best Hikes in Chattanooga, Tennessee

North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park

The 6,000-acre state park protects the steep and narrow North Chickamauga Creek as it makes its way to the Tennessee River. The park is full of sandstone bluffs, old growth forest, and cascading waterfalls. Hike the one-mile Blue Hole Trail to a picture-perfect swimming hole.

Mullens Cove Loop

This 10-mile loop inside Prentice Cooper State Forest is like a highlight reel of Chattanooga hiking. It meanders through a forest thick with wildflowers in the spring, rock hops across creeks, and traverses a plateau above the Tennessee River. There, you’ll find Snooper’s Rock, an outcropping with a view of a dramatic bend in the Tennessee River, and pass by Indian Rockhouse, a large, natural rock shelter.

Bluegrass Grill

Post Hike Fuel

Breakfast and lunch is served Southern style at Bluegrass Grill—try the Glorious Grits with bacon or avocado—but you’ll also find delicious vegan options. The family-owned restaurant bakes bread fresh daily.

Rainbow Lake to Edward’s Point

The Tennessee River carves a dramatic gorge as it makes its way around Chattanooga, and Edward’s Point, a rocky outcropping hanging over the edge of the gorge, offers one of the best views of the river. There are multiple trails that reach Edward’s Point, but the quickest is a 1.9-mile section of the Cumberland Trail from Rainbow Lake.

Stringer’s Ridge Park

Stringer’s Ridge isn’t large—just 92 acres—but its location, in Chattanooga’s North Shore neighborhood overlooking the downtown waterfront, makes it a primo destination for quick in-town hikes or trail runs. With seven miles of well-groomed singletrack trail, it’s a great example of why Chattanooga is known for blending outdoor and urban living.

Chattanooga Tourism Co. is the official destination marketing organization for Chattanooga, Tennessee. Dedicated to promoting visitation and showcasing the city’s unique attractions, vibrant culture, and outdoor adventures, Chattanooga Tourism Co. works to inspire travel and enhance the visitor experience. For more information and to plan your Chattanooga getaway, please visit visitchattanooga.com.