Framed by rolling hills and flanked by the idyllic Tennessee River, Chattanooga is perfectly positioned as an outdoor lover’s paradise. Because of its unique geographic location at the junction of the Cumberland Plateau and the Southern Appalachians, this town of just over 165,000 provides a plethora of possibilities for adventure.
One such possibility is nearby Lookout Mountain, where visitors can take in Civil War-era history while admiring a great view of the Chattanooga Valley below. Lookout Mountain is also the home to a remarkable underground waterfall known as Ruby Falls and the world-renowned Rock City. Hang gliders love Lookout Mountain, too; it’s one of the most popular spots in the East to launch a glider and catch thermals. From Lookout Mountain you can also hop on the Cloudland Connector Trail—a newly developed trail system that culminates in northwest Georgia’s Cloudland Canyon State Park.
Chattanooga has become a trail running mecca thanks to the series of races organized by Rock Creek. Most of them utilize Raccoon Mountain, Stringer’s Ridge, and portions of the Cumberland Trail, a 300-mile trail stretching all the way to Cumberland Gap. Climbers flock to Chattanooga for Stone Fort, home to one of the biggest climbing competitions in the South.
DID YOU KNOW? Chattanooga just completed the Cloudland Connector Trail. This trail, located in the Lula Lake Land Trust just a short distance from the city, provides a 14-mile, multi-use corridor from Lookout Mountain to Cloudland Canyon State Park.
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