Central Tennessee
The Cumberland Plateau, the world’s largest hardwood-forested plateau, lies in Central Tennessee. Many plants and animals found nowhere else in the world call it home. Rising more than 1,000 feet above the Tennessee River Valley, carved over time by flowing water, the Cumberland Plateau is a network of rocky ridges and colorful ravines filled with waterfalls, caves, fern, and rhododendrons. The rivers and streams sustain some of the country’s greatest variety of fish, while steep ravines and deep hollows are among the richest wildflower areas in southern Appalachia.
You can hike to Tennessee’s tallest waterfall at Fall Creek Falls, backpack the rugged and scenic Cumberland Trail, rock climb at Foster Falls, cool off at Rock Island, go underground at Cumberland Caverns, free fall with Chattanooga Skydiving Company or enjoy the gentle thrills of paddling the Sequatchie River. Camping opportunities and activities for all ages and skill levels can be found in the area’s state parks – Fall Creek Falls, South Cumberland, and Rock Island State Parks.
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Cumberland Caverns
Cumberland Caverns is located 70 miles north of Chattanooga, in McMinnville, TN, near Fall Creek Falls State Park and Savage Gulf. The commercial cavern offers Daily Walking Tours, Adventure Trips, Overnight Adventure Trips, and world-class entertainment from 333 feet below. With more than 32 miles of caves and underground passageways, incredible rock formations, beautiful underground waterfalls, and gleaming pools, there is plenty of fun and adventure for everyone!
Directions
Difficulty
Caving
Guides
Hours and Cost
Open Daily: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., central time
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas day
Cost: Varies based on adventure package and group size.
Pet Friendly
No.
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Cumberland Trail
Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park is a Tennessee State Park and scenic hiking trail. When complete, it will run the length of the Cumberland Plateau from Chattanooga to the Kentucky-Virginia-Tennessee border. As of November 2016, over 210 miles of the trail are open for hiking. These miles are divided into 14 different segments. Between these segments, land acquisition for the proposed trail corridor is an ongoing process, so gaps in the proposed trail route do exist. There are two long sections located within half an hour’s drive of downtown Chattanooga.
The Tennessee River Gorge segment begins at the Signal Point unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in the town of Signal Mountain, 15 minutes northwest of downtown Chattanooga. The segment extends 24 miles across the Suck Creek Gorge and into Prentice Cooper State Forest. The Three Gorges segment – Soddy, Possum, and Rock Creeks – are some of the most beautiful sections of hiking trail in the entire Southeast. The rugged, rock-strewn trail rolls over 40 contiguous miles by boulder fields, rhododendron thickets, and dramatic overlooks.
Difficulty
Hiking
Running
Backpacking
Hours and Cost
Open Daily: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Free
Pet Friendly
Yes, on leash
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Dead Zero Shooting Park
Centrally located off Hwy 111 in Sparta, TN, an hour north of Chattanooga, between Fall Creek Falls State Park and the Savage Gulf State Natural Area is Dead Zero Shooting Park. The park offers the largest variety of shooting ranges in Tennessee.
The park features world-class Sporting Clay Courses, a covered Five Stand, a multi-level Wobble Trap field, two combination Skeet/Trap Fields, eight Shooting Bays ranging from 15-50 yards deep, 3D Archery, a 1,000 Yard Electronic Target Rifle Range, a 4,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse with a 1,600 sq. ft. Pro Shop, Classroom, and Lounge as well as a fully equipped Outdoor Pavillion that seats 100 people and is located next to a fully stocked pond.Directions
Hours and Cost
Monday-Tuesday by appointment Wednesday-Sunday 9 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Cost: Varies based on activity
Pet Friendly
No.
Contact
Dead Zero Shooting Park 1195 TN-111 Spencer, TN 38585 423-800-7758 info@deadzeroshooting.com
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Fall Creek Falls
Fall Creek Falls State Park, near Pikeville, is Tennessee's largest and most visited state park. It offers 26,000 acres of outdoor recreation on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau. Fall Creek Falls is the tallest waterfall in Tennessee at 256ft and is one of several spectacular waterfalls located throughout the park.
The park contains over 56-miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, a lodge, RV and primitive camping, a challenge canopy course, swimming pool, playground, along with specialized programs and events throughout the year. Visitors can rent canoes and kayaks, fish on the lake, challenge themselves on a high ropes course, or play golf on an award-winning 6,669-yard course.
The park has 222 campsites in five different areas. All sites have tables, grills, water, and electricity and are served by six bathhouses. 92 sites have sewer connections, and some can accommodate an RV up to 65 ft in length. In addition to the 222 campsites, there are 16 primitive sites, nine are walk-in the other seven are park-on. Most campgrounds are ADA accessible. There are 16 backcountry campsites located in four different areas along the overnight backpacking trails. Reservations are required for all lodge and camping facilities.
Cane Creek Overnight Backpacking Trails
Lower Loop: 12 miles of medium difficulty trail, located in the State Park. The trail descends and climbs scenic Cane Creek Gorge and passes several overlooks and waterfalls including Fall Creek Falls.
Upper Loop: 13 miles of easy rated trail, located in the State Park. The trail follows the plateau of Fall Creek. A campsite is located on an isolated upper section of Cane Creek.Directions
Difficulty
Hiking
Running
Biking
Paddling
Backpacking
Guides
Hours and Cost
Open Daily
Cost: Day use is free. Camping cost is based on campsite amenities and length of stay.
Pet Friendly
Yes, on leash
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Foster Falls
Enjoy one of the most scenic and wild areas in Tennessee with a visit to the Foster Falls Small Wild Area. Located near Tracy City, 45 minutes from Chattanooga, this recreation area serves as a home base for exploring the south end of the Cumberland Plateau. An easy hike will take you to the top of Foster Falls. A short, but steep downhill hike takes you over a suspension bridge for a spectacular view of the 60-foot waterfall plunging into a deep pool. Mountain laurel, azaleas, and hemlocks add to the beauty of this area.
Foster Falls is known in the climbers' world as one of the premier climbing destinations in the Southeast. Foster Falls cliff offers difficult, but scenic sport climbs and the south facing cliff provides climbers with plenty of warm sunshine most of the day. Climbers can expect highly technical routes on steep, compact rock, with strenuous wall and roof climbs averaging 60 feet in height. Most climbs are in the 5.10+ range. The cliff line begins at Foster Falls, and runs downstream for nearly two miles, following the curving contour of Little Gizzard Creek.Directions
Difficulty
Climbing
Hiking
Running
Backpacking
Hours and Cost
Open Daily: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Free
Pet Friendly
Yes, on a leash
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Little Cedar Mountain
Located about 20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, the Tennessee Valley Authority maintains 4 miles of hiking trails on Little Cedar Mountain, which is located on the shores of Nickajack Lake between I-24 and Nickajack Dam.
The main loop is 3 miles, follows the lakeshore and has a couple overlooks offering great views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The 1-mile Pond Trail connects the 2 sides of the main loop and passes by a small pond near the top of the mountain.
Consisting of approximately 320 acres, Little Cedar Mountain rises approximately 250 feet above the level of Nickajack Lake. Little Cedar Mountain is made primarily of limestone and hosts a diverse ecosystem. In addition to the diversity of plant life, the mountain supports an abundance of wildlife. Deer and turkey are commonly spotted and it’s not unusual to catch sight of an osprey or even a bald eagle from the overlooks.Directions
Difficulty
Hiking
Running
Guides
Hours and Cost
Open Daily: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Free
Pet Friendly
Yes, on a leash
Contact
400 West Summit Hill Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-632-2101
1-800-882-5263
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Nickajack Lake
Nickajack Lake is the reservoir created by Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Nickajack Dam. It extends 46 miles upstream from Nickajack Dam to Chickamauga Dam, passing through the heart of downtown Chattanooga and offering spectacular views Tennessee River Gorge.
Boat ramps and fishing berms are located on both sides of the river below the dam, and a concrete fishing pier with footbridges and a wheelchair ramp is available. TVA camping and picnicking facilities are also available.
The river is prime habitat for small and largemouth bass, striped bass, white bass, panfish, and catfish. When the river leaves the gorge and opens up into Nickajack Lake, anglers can access islands, sloughs and the outflow of dozens of underground springs and caverns, perfect hiding places for the perfect catch.
Nickajack Cave Wildlife Refuge was once used by Native Americans and Civil War soldiers. It now offers a special wildlife viewing opportunity each evening at dusk between late April and early October when thousands of endangered gray bats emerge for their nightly feeding.
Two boat launches on either end of the cave’s inlet allow for easy access by paddle craft to the mouth of the cave, which provides the best vantage point for viewing the bats. NOTE: Paddlers should be equipped with a white stern light or headlamp, as they will be paddling back to the launch after dark.
The Maple View Public Use Recreation Area has a swimming area, picnic tables and a trail with an observation deck that leads to the mouth of the cave, giving those without a watercraft access to view the bats.Difficulty
Paddling
Hours and Cost
Open Daily: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Free
Pet Friendly
Yes, on a leash
Contact
400 West Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville TN 37902
(865) 632-2101
1-800-882-5263
tvainfo@tva.com
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Rock Island State Park
Rock Island State Park, is an 883-acre Tennessee State Park located an hour and a half Northwest of Chattanooga, on the headwaters of Center Hill Lake at the confluence of the Caney Fork, Collins and Rock Rivers. The park is best known for its dramatic waterfalls, fishing, and boating opportunities as well as year-round camping and cabin rentals. Popular points of interest include Great Falls, Twin Falls, the Blue Hole, the Cold Hole, and the Warm Hole. This gorge is comprised of slick limestone bedrock cut by the swift currents of the Caney Fork River.
Rock Island State Park has 60 campsites, each equipped with 30 amp electrical and water hookups, grill, and picnic table. Three modern bathhouses (with hot water showers, lavatories, commodes) are located in the camping area. There is a dump station at the far end of the campground for the convenience of self-contained camping rigs. Campers must register at the park office. Campsites can be reserved online up to one year in advance, maximum stay limit is two weeks. Tent camping is also allowed. This facility is open year round.
A park boat ramp provides access to the upstream end of Center Hill Lake and just west of the main park entrance, on the south side of Highway 287, the short Kings Launch Road will take you to a boat ramp on the Collins River, both of which are excellent flatwater paddling locations.Directions
Difficulty
Hiking
Running
Paddling
Hours and Cost
Open Daily: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Day use free. Camping costs vary based on site amenities and length of stay.
Pet Friendly
Yes, on a leash
Contact
Rock Island State Park 82 Beach Rd. Rock Island, TN 38581 931-686-2471
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Sequatchie River
The Sequatchie River has its beginnings near Crossville, TN on the Cumberland Plateau. Starting from an underground spring, the river flows southwest for 125 miles to Jasper, TN. Anglers will find the river an excellent place to catch bass, trout, bluegill, crappie and even catfish.
The mouth of the Sequatchie spills into the Tennessee River one mile downstream of Nickajack Dam. The river is accessible by small craft or paddle craft for several miles upstream to an old mill dam.
Canoes and kayaks can launch further upstream at Ketner's Mill and float down. Watch for blowdowns and fluctuating current and river levels, due to water releases from Nickajack Dam on the Tennessee River.Directions
Difficulty
Paddling
Hours and Cost
Open Daily: Sunrise to Sunset
Cost: Free
Pet Friendly
Yes, on a leash
Contact
Tennessee Valley Authority 865-632-2101
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region III 464 Industrial Blvd. Crossville, TN 38555 931-484-9571