Booker T. Washington State Park

Situated on the shores of scenic Chickamauga Lake, not far from the city of Chattanooga, is the 353-acre Booker T. Washington State Park. Many visitors enjoy the phenomenal scenery through the challenging, yet rewarding, six-mile mountain biking trail. The park has three large picnic pavilions, each accommodating up to 60 people as well as more than 30 individual picnic sites located throughout the park. Each picnic site is equipped with grills and water spigots nearby. Pavilions may be reserved up to one year in advance.

Cherokee National Forest/Ocoee River

A thrill a minute Class III-IV rapids make the Ocoee one of the best whitewater rivers in the south. With two distinct sections available for rafting/canoe/kayaking, you can spend anywhere from 3 hours to all day on the river. The Ocoee was home of the 1996 Olympic canoe and kayak slalom events and that venue can be visited at the Ocoee Whitewater Center.

Lookout Mountain 

Lookout Mountain rises above Chattanooga like a sleeping giant. Two rock outcroppings, Point Park and Sunset Rock serve as perfect destinations for viewing the local landscape. A climb to these destinations rewards you with views of Georgia and North Carolina mountains, Watts Bar’s cooling towers, Chickamauga Dam, the city of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River; not to mention Signal, Elder, and Raccoon Mountains, the towns of Tiftonia and Lookout Valley.

North Chickamauga Creek

North Chickamauga Creek is a 7,093-acre natural area located in Hamilton and Sequatchie Counties. It is an outstanding deep gorge cut into the sandstone plateau of Walden's Ridge on the Cumberland Plateau. The gorge is approximately ten miles long with steep slopes, sandstone bluffs, and rich coves. A high diversity of plant and animal habitat exists in the gorge. Ten state and/or federally listed plants occur here including the federally threatened large-flowered skullcap (Scutellaria montana) and the federally endangered Virginia spiraea (Spiraea virginiana). Bald eagles and peregrine falcons have also been reported here.

The North Chickamauga Conservancy has played an essential role in the acquisition and protection of North Chickamauga Creek Gorge. The natural area was designated in 1999 and thousands of additional acres have been added since then. In 2006, the Bowater Pocket Wilderness Area was transferred to the State and became a part of the natural area.

Reflection Riding and Arboretum

Set on 300 breathtaking acres just 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, Reflection Riding is part public park, part nature center, part wild lands, and all outdoor adventure. Options for outdoor exploration abound, both on-site and off-site with outreach programs offered to 16 counties. A winding three-mile gravel loop can be walked, run, or bicycled, offering mature hardwood forests, wildflower meadows, and wetlands habitats. Visitors also explore Lookout Creek, with easy access and a canoe put-in. Our 10 miles of trails connect to National Park land that leads to the top of Lookout Mountain. Check out our fun, exciting and educational nature programs and events, offered on weekends and some weekdays for people of all ages.