In this file photo, Jose Madriz, left, and Niel Holberg ride down the Megawatt Trail on Raccoon Mountain. Mr. Madriz is visiting Chattanooga from Miami, Fla., after hearing about Chattanooga's great mountain biking reputation.KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Valley Authority and the Chattanooga chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association have been honored for their work on the Raccoon Mountain trail system near Chattanooga.
They received the 2010 National Partnership Award from American Trails, a nonprofit organization that works to protect and enhance the nation's network of trails.
The chapter led and managed the trail work on Raccoon Mountain, and TVA conducted an environmental review.
The 17-mile trail system encircles a 528-acre reservoir supporting TVA's Raccoon Mountain Pumped Storage generating plant.
The trails have become a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers from around the region.