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 organized by their level of difficulty for kids. I’ll share some photos of each place and discuss some details about each.
Easy
The “easy” trails are flat or mostly flat with some slight changes in elevation. They are two-miles or less. In addition, their paths are clear and accessible for little feet and even strollers.
Blue Blazes Trail : 1.5 miles, loop, flat
409 Moccasin Bend Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405
This short, flat loop trail is located in the Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. It loops towards the Tennessee River and finds its way going parallel to the Moccasin Bend Golf Course on its way back towards the parking area. There are some spots with significant mud, or as my 3-year old calls it “Mega Mud”, however most of these spots have a “walking bridge” (wooden walkway going over the swampy/muddy areas. Depending on the weather prior to your trip, there may be muddy spots not protected by a walkway, just beware.
Enterprise South – Sunshine/Storybook Trail : 1 mile, loop, slight hilly
190 Still Hollow Loop, Chattanooga, TN 37416
This short, slightly hilly trail is located right behind the visitors centers at Enterprise South Nature Park. This trail provides some literary entertainment along the way! It connects with the Sunshine trail to extend it for more adventuring! After a short nature walk and reading time the path finds its way right back to the parking lot behind the visitors center.
Enterprise South – Poe Run Trail : 2 miles, out and back, flat
190 Still Hollow Loop, Chattanooga, TN 37416
This short, flat trail starts at the parking area to the left of the visitors center at Enterprise South Nature Center. Along the path you will find multiple bunkers along the way. On occasion they are open and you can wander around inside, enjoying the dramatic echoes of footsteps, or on top of them. The Poe Run trail ends when you encounter the second cross road, at this point it becomes the Hidden Lake Trail, more on this extension below.
Glen Falls Trail : 2 miles, out and back, slight hill
Ochs Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37409 between Sanders Road and Ochs Highway turnoff
This is a great trail with slightly rocky and “root-y” terrain. It starts going on a slightly downward incline and continues rolling up and down the rest of the way. When you get to the bridge and water pool you are about halfway to the falls. At the falls you can climb in the rocks to get a higher point of view or walk along or inside the stream to get to the falls. We enjoy walking in the steam and exploring the top of the falls. The journey does come to an end when you end up at the “big bend” in Ochs Highway, but it’s a fun, easy hike with some water play options too.
Intermediate
The “intermediate” trails are 2 miles or longer. They are introducing steeper terrain and challenges. Their paths may be rocky and bumpy, less friendly at times to little feet and strollers, but still ultimately manageable.
Stringers Ridge – Cherokee (Tan) Trail : 2.4 miles, loop, slight hill
Neighborhood access at end of Hiram Avenue – 1052 Hiram Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Neighborhood access at end of Highridge Drive – 898 Highridge Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37405
No Access at Pine Ridge Drive – Rockslide has washed out the entrance and southern section
This trail was once well paved, but time and usage has turned it rather bumpy, but you might only notice if you are trying to maneuver a jogging stroller up the path. Due to a rockslide and trail washout, the secondary entrance to Stringers Ridge at Pine Ridge Drive is closed. The “official” entrance is at the Spears Avenue Trailhead, however, there are two “neighborhood” access points with “no parking” allowed: (1) at the end of Hiram Avenue and (2) at the end of Highridge Drive. The Cherokee Trail has a beautiful scenic overlook for views of Northshore, Downtown, and Missionary Ridge.
Racoon Mountain – Electric Avenue 1 : 3.4 miles, out and back, mostly flat
3800 Raccoon Mountain Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37419
Racoon Mountain is well known for its mountain biking trails, which usually means steep inclines. If you are looking for a level terrain with a clear path, then you’ll want to “rock down to Electric Avenue”. This path is easily accessible from the parking lot by the Racoon Mountain Chattanooga Overlook. We took the path all the way to the road and walked back to the car on the one-way reservoir road that runs all the way around the water. There aren’t many cars that take the road, it is a safe way to travel if you want to avoid the trail on the way back or simply want a new perspective.
Enterprise South – Poe Run Trail to Hidden Lake : 3.8 miles, out and back, flat (Poe Run Trail) small hills (Hidden Lake Trail)
190 Still Hollow Loop, Chattanooga, TN 37416
This is the Hidden Lake extension of the Poe Run Trail mentioned above. Poe Run is a mostly flat path, but once you hook up with the Hidden Lake trail the path starts to take an incline up to the Hidden Lake. It is slightly more strenuous and adds close to two more miles to the round trip, but we think that it is worth it, if you are up to it. The first time we took this trail I just accidentally happened upon the lake, and it was a pleasant surprise. We spent time skipping stones in the water and looking at all the wildlife around the lake.
South Chickamauga Creek Greenway – Faith Rd. to Sterchi Farms : 4.4 miles, out and back, mostly flat, slightly hilly in middle on the boardwalk
3650 Faith Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37406
I really enjoy this path, it runs along the South Chickamauga Creek and the railway system in the area. There are multiple railway crossing points where the path goes underneath the rail. It is really something when a train comes barreling down the track and you are square underneath it! About one mile down the path from the Faith Road Trailhead the path transitions into a wooden walkway on the hillside along the creek. It is a fun place to walk, run, or bike. You’ll pass underneath Bonny Oaks Road and come across some memorabilia for the Historic Trail of Tears before reaching a midway stopping point at Sterchi Farms on Harrison Pike. There is a covered sitting area and bathrooms. We stop here and head back to Faith Road, however, like a choose your own adventure you can continue down the greenway to the North Hawthorne Trailhead or take it all the way to the connection with the Tennessee Riverwalk and go to the Chickamauga Dam, Downtown, or now even St. Elmo.
Advanced
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 end of Spears Avenue – 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!
