Elise's pup strikes a pose along the quiet Hawkins Ridge footpath.Type: Out-and-back
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 1 hour
Traffic level: Low
Drive time from downtown: 10 minutes
Dog-friendly: Yes
Highlight: Peek-a-boo views of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge
Rating: 4/5 stars
Hawkins Ridge lies between St. Elmo and Alton Park, immediately north of the Tennessee/Georgia state line. Although it is surrounded by several homes below, Hawkins Ridge provides a quiet, wooded escape within Chattanooga city limits. The area received increased attention in 2016 due to controversy over residential developments, however there is little information about the ridge beyond this event.
We have been interested in Hawkins Ridge since the day we moved into our nearby apartment, so we finally took the dogs out last week to explore. As far as I can tell, the area remains undisturbed.
The trail begins off a residential loop in St. Elmo, just east of Tennessee Avenue and 43rd Street. The approximate address is 4306 Westridge Ave. I suggest parking on Tennessee or Seneca avenues due to limited space by the trailhead. There is no signage, but the trail is well established. It is also marked on Google Maps as the "Hawkins Ridge Footpath."
The trail begins on a wide path that climbs gently up the ridge. The trees are dense enough to provide shade and obscure any nearby residences. Around 0.3 miles, look west to see a great view of Lookout Mountain and the St. Elmo neighborhood below. The path also narrows noticeably near this point.
After the trail narrows, it splits off at several points along the way. Many of these forks join back together, but make sure you continue to head south along the ridge. If you notice yourself descending significantly east or west, you are off course. I made this mistake around 0.7 miles. The trail seems to take a sharp left, but quickly descends into messy brush. Be sure to stay right near the 0.7-mile mark and continue south.
As you finish the first mile, the trail bumps up to a large, fenced-in tower. We explored the area for a moment and determined this is the best place to turn back. On the return journey, we stayed toward the east side of the ridge and encountered several peek-a-boo views of Missionary Ridge.
Considering Hawkins Ridge is in the middle of several residential areas, it is still a quiet and peaceful place to enjoy the woods. We were the only folks on the trail both days we explored the area. However, I imagine the trail becomes more crowded on warm, sunny days.
Bryant and Elise HawkinsIn late December, Bryant Hawkins and Elise Armstrong, recent Chattanooga transplants, kicked off a yearlong hiking project. Every week, they choose a different trail, varying in length and difficultly and located within one hour of Chattanooga, to hike and review.
Bryant is a photojournalist whose works has appeared in The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times, among other places. Elise is currently working on a Master of Education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Together, the outdoor enthusiasts hope to discover the region's endless outdoor opportunities.
You can follow the Hawkinses' hiking adventures by "liking" Get Out Chattanooga on Facebook, where we share their write-ups every Friday.
Have a trail suggestion for the Hawkinses? Email them at info@bryanthawkins.com.