Bruce Antman walks a portion of the Cravens House Trail on Lookout Mountain on Thursday. Antman is a volunteer for the park service.Today marks the first local event in the National Park Service’s centennial celebration “Find Your Park” initiative.
Park rangers and Outdoor Chattanooga staff will host mountain bike rides, hikes and climbing at Lookout Mountain Battlefield at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m., as the park service seeks to engage the next generation of park visitors.
All activities begin at Cravens House (Cravens Terrace Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350). Parking is available, but carpooling is encouraged, according to a news release.
Rock climbing will take place at Sunset Rock, which requires a short hike. Equipment will be provided. Mountain bikes and helmets also will be available for the five-mile, ranger-led rides along the Upper Truck Trail.
The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and officials from the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and the Friends of the Park are encouraging local residents to rediscover the park in their own neighborhoods by offering events throughout the year.
The public is invited to hike at Signal Point on June 18 and bike, paddle and play on Moccasin Bend July 30.
Other events include a community picnic and historic baseball game at the Chickamauga Battlefield’s recreation field on Aug. 27, a blues concert at Orchard Knob Reservation on Sept. 10 and a hike on the new Sherman Reservation connector trail on Sept. 24.