Wildlife Watching

Biking
The Tanasi trail system provides the intermediate to expert level mountain biker over 35 miles of single-track trail to explore on two wheels near the Ocoee Whitewater Center. There's an additional 20 miles of trail at the Chilhowee Recreation area for both hikers and bikers to explore. Note, there is a $3 day-use parking fee at both areas.

Camping
Overnight accommodations are provided at more than 30 developed campgrounds in the Cherokee National Forest. Visitors can stay at developed campgrounds with large, level campsites, tables, fire rings, electricity, and bathhouses or primitive campgrounds with minimal site amenities. Most campgrounds are on a first-come, first-served basis. However, reservation services are now available for several popular campgrounds in the Cherokee National Forest including Parksville Lake Campground, Indian Boundary, and Chilhowee Recreation Area, along with others. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777.

Hiking
Over 600 miles of non-motorized trails traverse Cherokee National Forest including nearly 150 miles the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.)  Take a day hike or hike several days on the national forest trails system. 

Horseback Riding
The Little Citco Horse Trail system offers more than 15 miles of backcountry trails in the Citico Creek Wilderness section of the Cherokee National Forest. The Trailhead is located at the Young Branch Campground, near Vonore, Tennessee, about 2 hours northeast of Chattanooga. The campground accommodates up to 25 horses and 35 people in 7 campsites. Sites can be reserved.

Hunting
Covering a combined 298,456 acres, the South Cherokee Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Region III is open for hunting small and large game, including wild hog, black bear, whitetail deer, turkey, and grouse. All hunting areas are managed in cooperation with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and all hunters are subject to TWRA rules and regulations.

Paddling
Cherokee National Forest is home to both the Hiwassee and Ocoee rivers. Each has diverse paddling options like whitewater rafting, kayaking, and playboating on moderate to difficult rapids as well as flatwater sections and lakes suitable for calm kayaking, canoeing, tubing, and paddleboarding.

Located 25 minutes from Chattanooga, Chester Frost County Park contains a power boat launch, boat docks and ramps, a swimming beach, fishing piers, group picnic facilities, an indoor pavilion, dsic golf course, and a developed campground for RV, tent, and group camping on the shores of Chickamauga Lake. The Park is operated by Hamilton County and the facility hosts fishing tournaments, competitive events, and the annual Hamilton County Fair each September.

There are 188 RV campsites with water and electrical hookups and a limited number that can accommodate RV’s up to 65ft. There is one centralized dumping station and several bathhouses. There are only 82 sites available during the winter months and tent camping is also available.

Located on Chickamauga Lake, the waters around Chester Frost host abundant sport fish like white crappie, bluegill, white bass, channel and blue catfish, largemouth bass, and sauger.

Chester Frost’s location also allows easy access by paddle craft to adjacent sloughs and marshes for anglers and wildlife watchers.

The 18 hole disc golf course is great for families to give the sport a try while enjoying the other amenities the park has to offer. 

Created by Tennessee Rural Electric Company in 1910-11, Parksville Lake is the oldest lake in the Cherokee National Forest. Sometimes known as Lake Ocoee, this lake is controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Scenic views of the 1,930-acre lake are highlights along the Ocoee Scenic Byway. The lake is popular for motor-boating, paddling, fishing, and swimming. 

Fishing
Parksville Lake has bass, trout, bluegill, catfish, yellow perch and crappie. Campsites are dispersed along the lakeshore.

Swimming
Parksville Beach and Mac Point are two popular swimming areas on the lake. Note, there is a $3 day-use parking fee at both areas.

Paddling
East Parksville Boat Launch provides access to the northeastern portion of Parksville Lake. It is a longer ramp, suitable for larger craft. A vault toilet, boat trailer parking, and a dock are provided.

Kings Slough Boat Launch is a fairly shallow boat launch providing access to the western side of Parksville Lake. It has ample parking for boat trailers and individual vehicles, a vault toilet, and a boating dock. Campsites are dispersed along the lakeshore.

Parksville Boat Launch provides access to the northeastern portion of Parksville Lake. The launch has two ramps - the west ramp is suitable for boats, while the east ramp is shallow and only suitable for small craft like jet-skis or canoes. A vault toilet and parking are available.

Nearby: The Cherokee National Forest is home to both the Hiwassee and Ocoee rivers. Each has diverse paddling options from whitewater rafting, kayaking to calm water canoeing, tubing, and paddle boarding.

Camping
Parksville Lake Campground is located off Hwy 30. The popular campground offers developed RV and tent/group campsites with tables, fire rings, electricity, and bathhouses. All sites require advanced reservations through www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. Chilhowee Campground is nearby and there are a few dispersed campsites along the lakeshore that are first-come, first-served.

Hiking
Hiking trails are available nearby at the Chilhowee Recreation Area. 

The South Chickamauga Creek Greenway is a paved, multi-use trail and boardwalk that follows South Chickamauga Creek as it winds its way through East Chattanooga. As of 2020, the South Chickamauga Greenway (also known as So. Chick Greenway or Tennessee Riverwalk Connector Trail) has two complete sections but is not continuous. The connector trail extends 5-miles from Tennessee Riverwalk (accessed from the Riverpoint parking area off Lost Mound Drive) to the Faith Road Trailhead, passing through neighborhoods and Sterchi Farm Park. Another 5.5-mile section follows the Brainerd Levee between Shallowford Road to Camp Jordan Park in the City of East Ridge.

The connector trail to Sterchi Farm Park section is paved and features boardwalks that wind above the creek, while passing through towering oak-hickory forests, marshy areas, rolling farmland, and neighborhoods. Sterchi Farm Park also has a public boat launch. The Brainerd Levee/Camp Jordan section of the trail runs next to wetlands that provide stopover habitat for flocks of migrating songbirds and waterfowl. This section of the greenway is gravel and rough pavement. All trailheads have free parking. There are canoe/kayak launches at Riverpoint, Sterchi Farm Park, Camp Jordan, and the Shallowford Road trailhead.

Paddling

As part of the Tennessee River Blueway trail system, South Chickamauga Creek is a quiet paddler’s retreat flowing through Chattanooga’s thriving industrial core. The creek is navigable from Graysville Road (Ringgold, GA) to its confluence with the Tennessee River. There are several boat launches that give paddlers a variety of options for both short and long day paddling trips. The section from Sterchi Farm Park upriver or downriver for 4 miles is a perfect beginner paddle.

Recommended paddle trips and list of boat launches: (shuttle required for all)

*Graysville Road to Audubon Acres: 2-hour paddle, 1 portage at beginning of trip.
*Audubon Acres to Camp Jordan: 2-hour paddle.
*Camp Jordan to Shallowford Road: 2-hour paddle, 1 portage-river left of pipeline after Brainerd Rd Bridge.
*Shallowford Road to Sterchi Farm: 2-hour paddle.
*Sterchi Farm to Riverpoint at TN Riverpark: 1-hour paddle or 2 hours out and back paddle.

WARNING: Creek levels and current can fluctuate due to water releases from Chickamauga Dam on the Tennessee River. Check the United States Geological Survey Water Gauge before paddling.

The Tennessee River Gorge, nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Tennessee, is one of the most unique natural treasures in the Southeast. Spanning 27,000-acres, the gorge was carved through the Cumberland Mountains by the Tennessee River. It is the only large river canyon bordering a mid-size city and is the 4th largest river canyon east of the Mississippi. Designated as a National Scenic River Trail in 2002, the Tennessee River Blueway flows through Chattanooga and the Tennessee River Gorge for 46 miles, from Chickamauga to Nickajack Dam. 

The Blueway’s unique paddling experience offers kayakers, canoeists, and paddleboarders the opportunity to visit wildlife preserves and camp primitively on public lands or stay in downtown hotels and take advantage of urban amenities. The Tennessee River flows through the heart of downtown Chattanooga’s thriving entertainment district and then continues through the high, forested walls of the river gorge. There, towering bluffs and protected forests provide miles of spectacular paddling.

When the Tennessee River widens into Nickajack Lake, it reveals its enormous scope before dropping Blueway paddlers off at the headwaters of Nickajack Dam. The scenic terrain of the Tennessee River Gorge creates a unique diversity of landforms, thousands of varieties of plants, grasses and wildflowers and a rich wildlife population. There are many ways to access wildlife viewing in the gorge: mountain biking Raccoon Mountain, paddling the Tennessee River Blueway or even climbing at the Tennessee Wall. The most accessible way to get a good overview is to hike the Pot Point Nature Trail, a 3.5-mile loop that begins at the Tennessee River Gorge Trust’s Pot Point Cabin at the river’s edge and climbs the side of the Cumberland Plateau to nearly 1,000 feet.

The Riverpark can be accessed from various parking areas and trailheads from Chickamauga Dam to St. Elmo. The Riverwalk connects to the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway at Riverpoint off Lost Mound Drive to add an additional 3 miles out to Sterchi Farm Park.

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE TENNESSEE RIVERPARK FROM CHICKAMAUGA DAM TO THE BLUFF VIEW ARTS DISTRICT.

The Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System has stations located at the Riverpark’s Hubert Fry Center, Curtain Pole Road Trailhead, 100 Walnut Street, Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, Spring Hill Suites, Blue Goose Hollow Trailhead, and Wheland Foundry Trailhead on Middle Street offering the ability to cycle along the greenway and access restaurants and shops in town.

Paddling, Boating, Fishing

The Tennessee Riverpark also offers paddlers and boaters several access points to the Tennessee River Blueway for options of short to multi-day/overnight paddling trips. Check out the Tennessee River Blueway Map for a list of access points. There are several fishing piers and overlooks to quietly observe the variety of wildlife that call the Tennessee River home. The best fishing piers are located at Chickamauga Dam and Hubert Fry Center.