We hiked up from Caverns House Trail because we heard you can get in free that way and ended up…read moregetting charged. The posted signage was very small for entering the Fee Area and in a very inconvenient location as you had to watch your footing on the way up. The young woman who was working the admissions desk, had a very poor tone when she addressed us about this on May 1st this year.

This is an NPS site ($10 per person, or free for up to four people with the annual park pass,…read morealthough when I visited the gatehouse wasn't manned and people were just walking in for free). There's a Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center that has restroom facilites, a gift shop, and displays to set the scene of the battle. There's limited free parking at the lot behind the center, otherwise you have to pay for street parking. Lookout Mountain Battlefield is actually quite large- about 3,000 acres of land on the summit and slopes of Lookout Mountain. Point Park is much smaller at 16 acres, but it hits all the highlights with dramatic overlooks, monuments, and cannon positions to help understand the Battle of Lookout Mountain. There's plenty of hiking here as well, with trails to Ochs Museum & Observatory and beyond. If you're not a history buff or don't like hiking, there are still amazing views to be enjoyed!

Water is super clean and fresh! Lots of places to stop and swim/ sit by the running water. Super…read morepretty. Kind of crowded sometimes

Nice wide trail along the river with quite a few great spots to swim. Awesome place to go practice…read morephotography or just unwind. Also around a mile, maybe a half in there is a pretty mini waterfall. Off the beaten path prepare for big spiders

This is such a lovely walking path. We started at The Nook park and walked to the duck pond…read morerefuge. There are is a dog park just after The Nook playground. Then another park for kids to play and there's a bathroom. Along the way you cross several cool bridges. There's many sitting spots that you can ponder or rest. Great photo opportunities for people looking to take school, engagement photos, etc. There's a creek that runs along the walk with lots of spots to cool off or take in the sights. The duck pond is fun and they have a duck and fish food vending machine for 25 ¢ for a handful of food. We saw a few people fishing catch & release from the pond. From the map, it's a 2 mile walk one way with an additional 1 mile path in the same direction that we did not walk. Easy hike with a well placed path the entire way. Handicap friendly. Great for jogging as well.

I occasionally afford myself the luxury of visiting places without really knowing what to expect…read more This park just wasn't that clear to me in its purpose, but it became more so after arrival, with a visitor center focused on Native American history and identifying this as a Cherokee Nation headquarters. A spread of recreated buildings outside offers opportunities for perusal. The most aesthetically distinctive site is a large spring of the sort that seem more common in Kentucky than Tennessee, which evinces a robust blue color and empties into a clear stream. The spring itself is off-limits, but the stream is open for wading. All of these sites are within sight of the initial entrance, but a trek uphill reveals picnic areas, an amphitheater, and a couple of mile trail through the woods. Between the different elements of the park, it was easy to spend a couple of hours there, and best of all, it's free, though the gift shop warrants examination.

Red Clay is not the type of state park that I would normally seek out. Why? It's not in the…read moremountains and the trails are tame. Nonetheless, something about it lured me in for a visit and I'm glad I ventured out here (on Indigenous People's Day coincidentally). Historically, it's really interesting that this was the last meeting site for the Cherokee tribe's council. The signs claim it is "where the Trail of Tears really began." I was really intrigued by the natural Spring called "the Blue Hole." I've never seen a spring that appears bright blue in a forest setting. Seeing this cool natural sight was pretty awesome. Also, I could just imagine the Cherokee using this spring water and being here hundreds of years before. Trail wise: Pretty flat and easy trails. It's not very challenging. But, it makes up for it because it's a calm place with beautiful forest. I loved walking around. Also, since this is small and off the beaten path, it's not crowded at all. Overall: highly recommended. Worth a visit!

This large Sculpture park is gorgeous and a big surprise to me while visiting Chattanooga last…read moremonth. It's a free park about 10 minutes drive from downtown with 33 acres to roam on gravel/dirt paths to see a few dozen large-scale sculptures from some world-renowned artists. I really enjoyed myself on a lazy afternoon here and some of these sculptures are incredibly interesting and detailed. Easy to find and a large parking lot with a restroom available.

This place is SO COOL. We had some time to kill in the afternoon before we grabbed dinner with some…read morefriends, and this came up as a spot to visit. It's free and a great way to spend some time outside. You do not need hiking boots for this - you will be fine in a pair of tennis shoes or closed-toe shoes. It's an easy meander through a grass field. Full of tons of sculptures - we spent a little over an hour here looking at all of the sculptures. We saw other people come with items for a picnic, so I think it would also be a perfect spot for an afternoon picnic or to sit and read a book.

Amazing and beautiful spot. The hike from the parking lot to the overlook is easy and quick. From…read morethere you can continue on to a few mile hike (which is also beautiful!) or just turn back to the parking lot if you prefer a quick hike. You can also drive right up to the overlook if you prefer to not hike at all. The roads are all dirt so make sure your vehicle is appropriate for a ~6 mile drive on an unpaved road. Overall a wonderful spot with breathtaking views. One of the best gems in Tennessee!

Snooper's Rock is one of my favorite places to being my friends when they visit Chattanooga. It…read moregives some mild off roading, a pretty easy hike to one of the best lookouts in the area. No matter what season you go, it's a breath taking look over the Tennessee River. Snooper's Rock got its name back when moonshiners used it as a look out. This spot is a must see.

Cool Obstacle Course Themed Park…read more This is a different kind of park aside from the old school wood construction, it's great for kids to run around and work on coordination! This park is definitely more obstacle course themed and for scrambling as the name implies... There is a good section of different types of swings which is my sons happy place! This is a unique park and just needs a little love. There are only 2 slides and 1 is broken. Also more wood chips and a few easy maintenance points would make this place even better. We definitely recommend this place even as is, but a small bit of work would be amazing to bring it back to life.

Unable to access park as it had construction fence all around. False advertising as the park is not…read moreopen.

CNF is a part of the Appalachian Mountains range. In June, 2025 it is a verdant forest with hidden…read moregems around many corners. CNF is located in eastern Tennessee, borders North Carolina and borders and within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's enjoyed especially by motorcyclists, outdoors and certain motor enthusiasts. Cell reception can be spotty and satellite connection is challenging. The roads were mostly 2 lanes with very limited turnarounds, passing lanes and parking other than designated lots and limited along the side of the road. The forest and the views were enchanting! Leave No Trace!

What an awesome drive. The views are spectacular. Perfect for a road trip when you're in the area…read more We got beautiful pictures during the winter and again in the summer of the Milky Way.