A weekly list of upcoming outdoors events in the Chattanooga area; to submit an event, write to sports@timesfreepress.com.
» Chattanooga Rat Race open-water swims: Saturday, Tennessee River; 4.5-mile option starts 8 a.m. at Rivermont Park; 2.4-mile race starts at 8:30 beside Chattanooga Golf & Country Club; both finish under Market Street Bridge. See chattanoogaswimfest.org.
» Soddy-Daisy chapter of Tennessee Trails Association hikes: Saturday, Little Cedar Mountain, 4-5 miles (meet at 8:30 a.m. at Food City in Red Bank; call Nancy Allen at 344-1118); Tuesday, Reflection Riding visitors center to Nelson’s Upslope to Light’s Mill Trail to the Gazebo & back, 4 miles (meet at 8:30 a.m. at Food City in Red Bank or 9 a.m. at Reflection Riding; call Gloria Nelson at 645-9008); June 8, Booker T. Washington State Park outer loop, easy to moderate 3.5 miles (meet at 8:30 a.m. near park swimming pool; call Jean Smith at 596-7681); June 11, Fall Creek Falls, Caney Creek visitors center to Fall Creek Falls & back, easy to moderate 4 miles (meet by ballfields on Durham Street in Soddy-Daisy; call Trish Appleton at 240-3443); June 15, 5 miles from Mowbray Pike trailhead to Little Soddy trailhead (vehicle staging; meet at 8:30 a.m. at Durham Street; call John Politte at 304-8327).
» Chattanooga Grotto Club meeting: Monday, 7-8:30 p.m., Outdoor Chattanooga, Coolidge Park; promotes caving adventures; free, open to public.
» Rapid Learning intro to kayak & skills practice: Wednesdays, 6-7 & 7-8 p.m., Chester Frost Park, end of swimming beach by first boat ramp; family-friendly for ages 8-up; $75 for individual year’s membership, $125 for family; first-timers free; equipment provided, reservations not required. See www.outdoorchattanooga.com.
» Dam sunset kayak tours: June 7 & 21, 6:30-9 p.m.; beginner-friendly guided trip including a lockdown at Chickamauga Dam, ages 14-up, youth accompanied by adult; $35, registration & payment required in advance. Call 643-6888.
» Cumberland Trail hiking series: June 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; 1 way, shuttle provided, mostly downhill 4-7 miles; free but advance registration required through info@outdoorchattanooga.com or 643-6888.
» Adaptive cycling program: June 10 & 24, 6-8 p.m., from Hubert Fry Center at Tennessee Riverpark; sponsored by SPARC & city of Chattanooga therapeutic recreation division; recumbent 3-wheelers, hand cycles & tandem bikes available; free but pre-registration required through Jerry at jhightower@ctiengr.com or 596-5268 or Elaine at adams_e@chattanooga.gov or 697-1345. Also, volunteers email got2runrunrun@yahoo.com.
» Local Tennessee Ornithological Society meeting: June 13, 7 p.m., Ascension Lutheran Church, 720 S. Germantown Road. Contact David Stone at rockyturf@epbfi.com or 413-7033.
» Moonlight guided kayak tour: June 15, 8:30-11 p.m., Chickamauga Lake with Outdoor Chattanooga guides; leisurely paddle around islands & sloughs; ages 14-up (youth with adult), $35. Pre-registration required at 643-8888.
» Chattanooga Bicycle Club meeting: June 17, 6-7 p.m., Outdoor Chattanooga, Coolidge Park; for recreational cyclists.