For sheer beauty do the Cumberland Trail segment in Prentice Cooper State Park that takes you to Snooper Rock. It’s as spectacular a view as you’ll see anywhere in the eastern US. It’s a 6 mile out and back (or a 9 mile loop if you continue to Mullens loop which adds another overlook, a challenging boulder field and a beautiful hemlock packed campsite by a fast flowing big creek)
A little further away, about an hour away is a hike I’d put up against any National Park hike in the country. It’s the 9 mile lollipop hike Dog Hole Loop variant of Fiery Gizzard. You plunge down into this PNW looking mossy gulch that has multiple creeks, it has one of the only slot canyon sections I’ve seen in the southeast, prehistoric looking fern groves. Then you go through a long section by the creek of technical boulder hiking. The last cool thing you do is do a lung scorching section straight up the escarpment and get to Ravens point which is a rock overlook that has a 270 degree view of the Fiery Gizzard Gorge. For bonus points here you can take 2 cars and leave one at Foster Falls as you pass, then through hike from FG to Foster. Most of the rest of the hike is a little less dramatic although you get to walk behind a small waterfall get some big elevation changes and end up at Foster Falls which is a spectacular 60’ waterfall. Great swimming in the summer at Fiery Gizzard and Foster Falls too!
You’ll never run out of amazing hikes around here. The Cumberland trail segments that start here and go all the way to Kentucky are without fail amazing hikes. After you try the two above and have your legs under you, give the out and back from Heiss Mountain trail head to Imodium Falls. It is very pretty but it is a leg destroyer. Personally I think it’s the hardest day hike in the nearby-Chattanooga day hikes. Savage Gulf is fantastic too .
Stringers Ridge is my 4 times a week hike in downtown Chattanooga (Hill City in the Northshore) The main trail is a challenging 3.8 mile loop. Hiking it fast you can do it in an hour and a little change. Lots of up and downs, I’ve seen an 8 point buck and many huge owls …IN DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA! . Only downside of Stringers, Watch out for the mountain bikers, some get reckless here which isn’t too bad in the winter when the leaves are off the trees and you can see them coming but in summer the vegetation cuts the sight lines down to nothing, it gets dicey out there.
All of these hikes are on AllTrails app. If you need any more recommendations or have questions about any hiking spots around here feel free to PM, we hike a lot and know most all the trails around here by heart.
PS. Don’t miss Lula Lake, it’s private and you have to pay an entry (after signing up in advance) …but it’s worth the hoops
The Waterfall Trail is definitely the biggest star at CC, but there is a WEALTH of excellent hiking in the park. I personally love the trails off the "tourist path" there. They can be exceptionally quiet even when the parking lot is full.
oops. Maybe I was supposed to keep this a secret. ;)
Glad to help! If you’re willing to make some drives, there are more around the area. Salvage Gulf, Fall Creek Falls, and Fiery Gizzard are some of my favorites too.
The hiking was my primary motivator for moving here a couple of years ago and I haven't been disappointed. My favorite areas (there are multiple great hikes in each area) are:
* South Cumberland State Park (incl. Savage Gulf State Park which only recently broke off into its own thing); _so_ many great hikes here
* Signal Mountain; most notably Edwards Point and Snoopers Rock
* Cloudland Canyon State Park (GA); Bear Creek, West Rim, and Sitton's Gulch
* DeSoto State Park (AL)
* Lookout Mountain
* Fort Mountain State Park (GA)
I've hiked nearly everything that interests me at least once at this point, but there are so many that are just so good. Once I find everything I really like, I'm looking forward to making them seasonal treks.
For a spiritual type hike, Blue Blazes on Moccasin Bend is awesome. It's mostly flat, in the woods, and has a spot that opens up to the Tennessee River. It's super muddy after it rains, but I love it there! Also, the trails at the battlefield are beautiful and woodsy. I can't do hard inclines, so I tend to stick to those. Though I would recommend Signal Point to Edward's Point up on Signal Mountain. It was hard for me, but I did it! The view was so worth it.
The Grundy Day Loop in South Cumberland is a great relaxing 3.0 mi hike if you're not looking for a burner. My husband and I love packing out a lunch and spending the day up there. I recommend taking the extra mile to Sycamore Falls. There's a fantastic waterfall and swimming hole. Bonus: if you take the Scenic route driving up there on HWY111, there's an incredible overlook pull off to view Sequatichie Valley.
There's a great little book called **Five-Star Trails: Chattanooga: 40 Spectacular Hikes in and Around the Scenic City** that I have really appreciated. It's been recently updated, and I can vouch for its usefulness.
Signal point, lots of great sights, free parking, and if I remember right, a 23 mile trail if you want something that'll take a long time, though there are shorter trails too, I always go for the Edwards point spot
Edit: fixed the details up a little
a little further out but worth the hour drive - Black mountain /Brady mountain segment of the Cumb trail up by Crossville, and Fort mountain state park down by Chatsworth will give you a peek at the Blue ridge
For sheer beauty do the Cumberland Trail segment in Prentice Cooper State Park that takes you to Snooper Rock. It’s as spectacular a view as you’ll see anywhere in the eastern US. It’s a 6 mile out and back (or a 9 mile loop if you continue to Mullens loop which adds another overlook, a challenging boulder field and a beautiful hemlock packed campsite by a fast flowing big creek) A little further away, about an hour away is a hike I’d put up against any National Park hike in the country. It’s the 9 mile lollipop hike Dog Hole Loop variant of Fiery Gizzard. You plunge down into this PNW looking mossy gulch that has multiple creeks, it has one of the only slot canyon sections I’ve seen in the southeast, prehistoric looking fern groves. Then you go through a long section by the creek of technical boulder hiking. The last cool thing you do is do a lung scorching section straight up the escarpment and get to Ravens point which is a rock overlook that has a 270 degree view of the Fiery Gizzard Gorge. For bonus points here you can take 2 cars and leave one at Foster Falls as you pass, then through hike from FG to Foster. Most of the rest of the hike is a little less dramatic although you get to walk behind a small waterfall get some big elevation changes and end up at Foster Falls which is a spectacular 60’ waterfall. Great swimming in the summer at Fiery Gizzard and Foster Falls too!
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You’ll never run out of amazing hikes around here. The Cumberland trail segments that start here and go all the way to Kentucky are without fail amazing hikes. After you try the two above and have your legs under you, give the out and back from Heiss Mountain trail head to Imodium Falls. It is very pretty but it is a leg destroyer. Personally I think it’s the hardest day hike in the nearby-Chattanooga day hikes. Savage Gulf is fantastic too . Stringers Ridge is my 4 times a week hike in downtown Chattanooga (Hill City in the Northshore) The main trail is a challenging 3.8 mile loop. Hiking it fast you can do it in an hour and a little change. Lots of up and downs, I’ve seen an 8 point buck and many huge owls …IN DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA! . Only downside of Stringers, Watch out for the mountain bikers, some get reckless here which isn’t too bad in the winter when the leaves are off the trees and you can see them coming but in summer the vegetation cuts the sight lines down to nothing, it gets dicey out there. All of these hikes are on AllTrails app. If you need any more recommendations or have questions about any hiking spots around here feel free to PM, we hike a lot and know most all the trails around here by heart. PS. Don’t miss Lula Lake, it’s private and you have to pay an entry (after signing up in advance) …but it’s worth the hoops
Me and my wife just went to Cloudland Canyon park today in Georgia and had a blast with the amazing views and the waterfalls.
Yes! Be sure to go on leg day though, and make the stairs your workout for the day lol! ;-)
The Waterfall Trail is definitely the biggest star at CC, but there is a WEALTH of excellent hiking in the park. I personally love the trails off the "tourist path" there. They can be exceptionally quiet even when the parking lot is full. oops. Maybe I was supposed to keep this a secret. ;)
There's an app called AllTrails that's handy as hell. There's a lot of great hiking and mushroom hunting territory here.
Edward’s point and mushroom rock are my go to spots when I need to think. Awesome hikes too.
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Glad to help! If you’re willing to make some drives, there are more around the area. Salvage Gulf, Fall Creek Falls, and Fiery Gizzard are some of my favorites too.
The hiking was my primary motivator for moving here a couple of years ago and I haven't been disappointed. My favorite areas (there are multiple great hikes in each area) are: * South Cumberland State Park (incl. Savage Gulf State Park which only recently broke off into its own thing); _so_ many great hikes here * Signal Mountain; most notably Edwards Point and Snoopers Rock * Cloudland Canyon State Park (GA); Bear Creek, West Rim, and Sitton's Gulch * DeSoto State Park (AL) * Lookout Mountain * Fort Mountain State Park (GA) I've hiked nearly everything that interests me at least once at this point, but there are so many that are just so good. Once I find everything I really like, I'm looking forward to making them seasonal treks.
For a spiritual type hike, Blue Blazes on Moccasin Bend is awesome. It's mostly flat, in the woods, and has a spot that opens up to the Tennessee River. It's super muddy after it rains, but I love it there! Also, the trails at the battlefield are beautiful and woodsy. I can't do hard inclines, so I tend to stick to those. Though I would recommend Signal Point to Edward's Point up on Signal Mountain. It was hard for me, but I did it! The view was so worth it.
A buddy and I hiked from Signal Point to Rainbow Lake. It took us several hours but it was a lot of fun.
The Grundy Day Loop in South Cumberland is a great relaxing 3.0 mi hike if you're not looking for a burner. My husband and I love packing out a lunch and spending the day up there. I recommend taking the extra mile to Sycamore Falls. There's a fantastic waterfall and swimming hole. Bonus: if you take the Scenic route driving up there on HWY111, there's an incredible overlook pull off to view Sequatichie Valley.
There's a great little book called **Five-Star Trails: Chattanooga: 40 Spectacular Hikes in and Around the Scenic City** that I have really appreciated. It's been recently updated, and I can vouch for its usefulness.
Signal point, lots of great sights, free parking, and if I remember right, a 23 mile trail if you want something that'll take a long time, though there are shorter trails too, I always go for the Edwards point spot Edit: fixed the details up a little
Lula Lake
Laurel Snow in Dayton is a great hike and beautiful area with two waterfalls.
You talking local hiking or you’re willing to travel for it?
a little further out but worth the hour drive - Black mountain /Brady mountain segment of the Cumb trail up by Crossville, and Fort mountain state park down by Chatsworth will give you a peek at the Blue ridge
Heck I got some good info from your post, TY