Now that the weather is warming up, it seems appropriate to create a list of our favorite hiking trails in the area. While my kids are little (3 and 5, well we have a baby too, but she can’t really walk yet), they are pretty used to long hikes. I’ve created a tiered list of local hikes which I will be sharing in three separate posts. I’ll share some photos of each place and discuss some details about each.
The “advanced” trails are 2.5 miles or longer. They are hilly, going up mountains and large hills. Their paths are crowded with roots, rocks, ledges, and plant life. These trails are probably best for older children. Leave the stoller at home, it won’t work.
Cravens House to Point Park : 2.8 miles, loop, hilly
Point Park Visitor Ctr, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350
My boys love Cravens House because we often will play this imagination game based on the 2020 Pixar film Onward. One day I decided that we were going to take the trail all the way up Lookout Mountain to Point Park. If you enter Point Park from the front entrance you’ve got to pay and I ain’t about that, however, if you enter from the trail it is free. We took the Cravens House Trail to the Bluff Trail all the way up the mountain, along the bumpy rock, the area overrun with kudzu, and finally the Stairway to Heaven (the stairs up to Point Park). The kids then play pretend games with the cannons and everything up on the mountain and when we are ready we take the Mountain Beautiful Trail down creating a loop that drops you back down at Cravens House.
Stringers Ridge – Hill City to Double J (Blue) Trail : 3.5 miles, loop, hilly
Access at Spears Avenue Trailhead – 1390 Spears Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Access to the Hill City/Double J (blue) trail starts at the Spears Avenue Trailhead at the end of Spears Avenue. You will follow the blue markings as it winds its way along the ridge. Once you find a crossroads section with a map you have some choices. The Gig City (red/blue) extension to the Hill City/ Double J (blue) is closed due to wash out. You can either take Cherokee (tan) Trail north to the overlook and continue to the Strut (green) trail where it then connects with the Hill City/Double J (blue) trail or you can take the Cherokee (tan) Trail south to reconnect with the Hill City (blue) trail and follow the to the parking area at the Spears Avenue Trailhead.
Pot Point Nature Loop : 4 miles, loop, hilly
17805 River Canyon Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405
This is a new favorite. The first half of the loop climbs in the hill/mountain and the second half climbs down the mountain and walks alongside the Tennessee River.The start is relatively simple, but then you’ll start to make a climb up the large hill/small mountain in Prentice Cooper State Park. Just when you think it’ll be over soon, it isn’t. When you get to marker number 10 you are almost to the boulder field and campsite. We romped around the boulders and campsites for a bit before making the way back down the hill. The riverside portion can get pretty muddy at times, so just beware. Enjoy skipping some stones or dip your toes in the river in one of the logical locations. The trail goes on the road a little, gets back into the forest, meanders through the butterfly field, before ending at the end of a boardwalk back at the parking lot.
Richie Hollow Trail : 5.4 miles, out and back, hilly
17805 River Canyon Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405
This trail starts at the same parking area as the Pot Point, but it has a separate trailhead on the other side of the parking lot. This is a fairly strenuous trail that gains 1,200 feet in elevation. Along the trail you will pass the 30-foot tall waterfall called Blowing Wind Falls. The waterfall is about 1.75 miles from the trail head with about a 600 ft climb in elevation, which is a great midway point if you wanted to turn around here making a 3.5 hike. The option still remains to continue the remainder of the way to the Davis Pond Campground at the end of the Richie Hollow Trail for a midway stopping point too.
Make sure to tag @papanooga on social media if you share photos of your adventures online!
Have fun exploring!