Chattanooga has become a magnet for outdoors enthusiasts, and with good reason. For one thing, it is within an hour’s drive of more hiking trailheads than any other city in the world. The area also provides boating recreation from whitewater paddling and rafting to lake and river cruising, fishing and sailing, plus some of the best rock climbing and mountain bike sites in the Southeastern United States.
Just for the hiking, check out the Cherokee National Forest east of the city, with connectors to the Appalachian Trail, or try the Pinhoti Trail passing from Alabama through Dalton, Ga. Wander through Cloudland Canyon and DeSoto Falls state parks in extreme northwestern Georgia and northeastern Alabama.
YMCAs
Area YMCAs have a variety of recreational offerings for individuals and teams, for both adults and children. Their numbers are: Downtown — 423-266-3766 North River — 423-877-3517 Hamilton Place — 423-899-1721 James A. Henry — 423-757-0665 Cleveland — 423-476-5573 Rhea (Dayton, Tenn.) — 423-775-0821 North Georgia (Ringgold, Ga.) — 706-858-0590
The Cumberland Trail continues to be developed west and north of Chattanooga, adding to a host of possibilities, including the multisite South Cumberland State Park.
With Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Raccoon Mountain and Stringer’s Ridge providing high-level trails close to town, the area is loaded with spectacular walkways, and the options range from strenuous to very easy.