About Us

Established in 2004, Outdoor Chattanooga is a unique division of the City of Chattanooga’s Department of Economic and Community Development. Our mission is to make outdoor recreation an attractive, healthy, and distinguishing lifestyle for Chattanooga’s residents and visitors, which, in turn, will maintain and enhance the value of the region’s resources, and help grow the region’s economy.

Our role is to connect you with Chattanooga’s outdoor scene! There’s so much to see and do in the Scenic City, that it can be a little overwhelming finding the right information on how to get outside and play. We’re here to help. Search this site by activity or location to find detailed information about the places to run, climb, paddle, hike, bike, and more, all within an hours drive of Chattanooga.

You’ll find plenty of outdoor activities that you can do on your own or with local outfitters and guide services. Or, check out Our Programs and calendar of events for the special programs and events we offer throughout the year that are designed to introduce the public to a variety of outdoor activities and improve outdoor skills. You can also visit us at our LEED Gold certified facility in Coolidge Park, which contains two classrooms, a large central lobby with a traverse climbing wall and office space for our staff. Here you can pick up brochures and pick our brains about all the amazing outdoor spaces, places and activities that Chattanooga has to offer. The Bike Chattanooga station that sits in front of our building offers a car-free alternative and ‘wheelie’ fun way to see the City.

Meet Us

 

Philip Grymes – Director of Outdoor Chattanooga

A native of Richmond Virginia, Philip Grymes moved to Chattanooga in 1996 to work in the recreation field as an outdoor experiential educator.  He received a B.S. in outdoor recreation from Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA and has worked in both the public and private sectors as an outdoor instructor and community event organizer.  Since joining Outdoor Chattanooga as the Executive director in 2006, Philip has relished the task of promoting Chattanooga and the surrounding area as an outdoor recreation destination.  Philip’s interests mirror his work; when away from the office he enjoys camping, hiking, hunting, cycling, paddling, and fishing with his wife Jenn and daughter Perrin.

Sunshine Loveless – Customer Relations Specialist

Sunshine joined Outdoor Chattanooga in 2014 as a Recreation Specialist. Originally from Kansas, she fell in love with Chattanooga and discovered her passion for the outdoors while working as a raft guide on the Ocoee River. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Maryville College and went on to serve as a caseworker with the Department of Children’s Services for 9 years. During that time, Sunshine played women’s full contact football with the Chattanooga Locomotion, and in 2010, she won a gold medal with Team USA in the first ever Women’s World Championship! She joined Outdoor Chattanooga full time as the Customer Relations Specialist in 2016. When she’s not in the office giving advice and promoting all the awesome outdoor activities available in Chattanooga, she’s out having an adventure of her own. She loves mountain biking, paddle boarding, hiking, and camping. She believes she has the best job ever in the Best Town Ever!

Riley Kurtts – Recreation Specialist

Riley joined the Outdoor Chattanooga Team in June of 2018. He’s from Mobile, Alabama and loves anything to do with water (salt or fresh)! Riley attended The University of Mississippi where he received a degree in parks & recreation management and then went on to The University of Texas at San Antonio and completed a master’s in higher education administration.  His background is in collegiate outdoor recreation and education and is excited to bring his experience to the City of Chattanooga. When he’s not leading trips for Outdoor Chattanooga, Riley’s out exploring Tennessee’s teeming landscape of hills and waterways.

Contact Us

Our Partners

So much of what we do wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners.

Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga, Inc., was incorporated in December 2007, and designated as a 501(c)3 charitable organization to support the City of Chattanooga’s Outdoor Chattanooga division with its mission. Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga is a volunteer run organization that relies completely on the financial support of private citizens, grant funding agencies and the business community. Specifically, Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga works to preserve, protect and promote outdoor recreation opportunities through education, activities and events.