About Us

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

Gail Loveland Barille – Director

Gail Loveland Barille joined Outdoor Chattanooga in 2022, inspired by the opportunity to provide more entry points for people of all backgrounds and abilities into outdoor spaces. She brings with her over 25 years of experience working within organizations specifically focused on outdoor recreation, inclusion, and youth development and a portfolio of nationally recognized adaptive recreation programs, events, and facilities. Gail moved to Chattanooga in 2019 to join Southeast Conservation Corps and work in collaborations with the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and a variety of non-profits and conservation teams. Passionate about how she could help build our next generation of land stewards, she spent 3 years connecting local youth and young professionals to career paths in outdoor recreation and public land management. Gail has lived throughout the US and brings with her the knowledge of best practices, and missteps, from other recreation cities and communities throughout the Pacific NW, Rocky Mountains, and the Northeast. You can find her and her family daily on a trail, waterway, or greenway; adventuring with a variety of backpacks, helmets, camping, and paddle gear. A proponent of enjoying rest as much as activity, Gail also spends time listening to Chattanooga’s local music, checking out the variety of food, and exploring the diversity of our region’s plants, insects, birds, and animals.

Erik Hancock – Customer Relations Specialist

Erik grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee where his family introduced him to outdoor recreation in the mountains of East Tennessee and North Carolina. At age 8, Erik began whitewater paddling with his father which sparked a lifelong pursuit and passion for the outdoors.  Erik attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics.  In 2018, Erik and his wife moved to Chattanooga to enjoy the wonderful outdoor recreation that the area has to offer as well as begin a career in with Outdoor Chattanooga 2022.  When he is not promoting all of the awesome outdoor adventure available in Chattanooga he continues to explore all the area and pursue adventure.

 Recreation Program Specialist

This position is currently vacant. Follow us on social media for updates on when the position will be open to applicants! 

The legacy left by Philip can be seen throughout Chattanooga, in the faces of the residents and visitors who come to enjoy the built and natural resources for pursuit in outdoor adventure.  Philip Grymes joined Outdoor Chattanooga as the Executive director in 2006, and excelled in the task of promoting Chattanooga and the surrounding area as an outdoor recreation destination.  During his 15 years with Outdoor Chattanooga, he was notably instrumental in much of the behind the scenes work to bring several large scale events to Chattanooga, such as Head of the Hooch and Ironman. He also found support for the development of grassroots events such as Swim the Suck and Chattajack, to name only a few.  Philip’s adventurous spirit will live on with Outdoor Chattanooga with the mission to continue to inspire, educate and break the barriers of participation in outdoor recreation, for everyone. 

Contact Us

Our Partners

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

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