Woodland, water and military history offer different perspectives on Hamilton. Enterprise South Nature Park covers 2,800 wooded acres that once belonged to the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant grounds. When planning your trip, it’s worth choosing your main focus first: nature and trails, history, or a stay by the water.
Woodland, Lake and River Trails
If you’d like to include camping in your trip, Chester Frost Park has a campground on the shores of Chickamauga Lake. It offers year-round camping and more than 200 campsites, including waterfront and inland sites, tent sites with utility hookups, and primitive tent sites. The number of sites and available amenities may change; check the latest information if you’re planning your stay around them.
The Tennessee Riverwalk is a 13-mile paved multi-use trail along the Tennessee River. It runs from the TVA Chickamauga Dam through downtown Chattanooga to St. Elmo and is used for cycling, inline skating, walking, jogging and fitness training. At Riverpoint on Lost Mound Drive, the Riverwalk connects to the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway, extending the route by 3 miles to Sterchi Farm Park. This makes it possible to choose a route suited to the trail layout and your preferred activity.
Tennessee Riverpark also caters to paddlers and boaters: several access points lead to the Tennessee River Blueway, which offers paddling trips ranging from short outings to multi-day and overnight trips. Fishing piers and overlooks also provide opportunities to observe wildlife along the Tennessee River. If you’re planning a paddling trip, take current water conditions and access rules into account.
Military History and Outdoor Activities
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1890 as the nation’s first national military park. The trail systems differ in size between the two battlefields: Chickamauga Battlefield has about 50 miles of hiking trails, while Lookout Mountain Battlefield has about 30 miles of trails. Trail conditions and access rules may change, so check them before your visit.
There’s more to do than hike. West Chickamauga Creek can be explored by canoe or kayak. Climbing is permitted at two locations in the military park, including Sunset Rock on the western escarpment of Lookout Mountain. At Chickamauga Battlefield, horseback riding is permitted on the Red, White and Blue Trails, as shown on the battlefield’s hiking and horseback riding trail map.
Point Park is a 10-acre memorial park with a paved loop trail, historic markers and monuments. Its features also include Confederate artillery positions and an overlook with views of Lookout Mountain Battlefield and the city of Chattanooga. Interested in ranger-led tours? Regularly scheduled ranger-led tours are offered in the military park on weekends in fall and winter, between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Check the latest dates before adding a tour to your plans.
Trains, Caves and Museums
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers regularly scheduled rides on full-size trains, which it describes as the only regularly scheduled rides of their kind in Tennessee. Passenger trains pass through Missionary Ridge Tunnel, completed in 1858 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A train ride here combines the experience with a specific historic structure.
A visit also offers a way to explore the history of Ruby Falls. In 1928, Leo Lambert accidentally discovered the waterfall deep inside Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, named the waterfall and cave after his wife Ruby, and opened the park to the public in 1929. On the tour described, visitors ride a glass-fronted elevator 260 feet down into the cave, then follow a guided tour along a scenic cave trail to an underground waterfall. Tour formats may change, so it’s a good idea to check the current offerings when planning your visit.
Tennessee Aquarium is located on Chattanooga’s riverfront. Its visitor program includes events in the Ocean Journey Building and the River Journey Building. For those interested in military history and awards, Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center tells the story of the Medal of Honor—the United States’ highest military award for valor—from the first medals in 1863 to the present day.
Chattanooga Zoo’s Hiwassee Hellbender Research and Education Facility opened in March 2021. Visitors can see hellbenders there and learn from animal care staff about efforts to protect them. For seasonal offerings and programs, plan according to the current visitor schedule.
Market, Whiskey and Getting Here
Chattanooga Market takes place at First Horizon Pavilion, bringing together hundreds of artisans, live music, food trucks, fresh farm produce and local art. Market seasons and dates may change, so plan your visit around the latest schedule. For a different kind of experience, Chattanooga Whiskey’s Riverfront Distillery offers a two-hour immersive tour of the Chattanooga Whiskey 91 production process, from grain to glass. It includes a visit to the barrel warehouse and an exclusive Full Proof tasting with a sample from the 4,000-gallon solera barrel.
Chattanooga Airport is about 10 miles from downtown and offers nonstop and one-stop flights to a range of destinations. Routes and schedules may change. Then compare the location of your accommodation with the places you actually plan to visit.
Discover more destinations: Hixson, Ooltewah, Chattanooga, Soddy-Daisy, Harrison, Jefferson County, Hickman County, Henry County.
For the broader travel overview: Tennessee.
