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Not a member yet? Click here today!
Chattanooga Hiking Club Outings
The Chattanooga Hiking Club, in keeping with its stated purpose, tries to provide outings every weekend for persons of different skill levels. Hikes scheduled in the current month and the upcoming month are described in detail. Tentative hikes are simply listed in the Outings Schedule and are still in the planning stages. All of our hikes are led by club members volunteering their time to the cause.
In addition to the weekend formal schedule, there are regular day hikes most every Wednesday closer to Chattanooga so that less driving is involved; and there are sometimes more spontaneous hiking road trips, usually on Thursdays and/or Fridays.
The information below is provided as a guide only. Each hiker assumes the risks associated with hiking in the great outdoors, including the responsibility for paying any bills associated with rescue efforts or medical care. The wise hiker always carries drinking water, food, and first aid items, and wears or carries clothing appropriate for the season. *Always check with the Hike Leader for special considerations like medical conditions and hiking with minors.
Hike Difficulty Rating
Easy(E): 6 miles or less; mostly level ground or only slight incline.
Moderate(M): Distance of 7 - 10 miles with an elevation gain that will generally not exceed 350 feet per mile, with a total elevation gain of no more than 1000 ft.
Moderately Strenuous(MS): This hike could be 7 - 10 miles in length, but include rocky trail conditions, tricky stream crossings or elevation gain of more than 1000 ft. but less than 2000 ft.
Strenuous(S): Any hike that is a distance of 10 to 14 miles or with more than 2000 ft. total elevation gain, but no more than 3000 ft.
Extremely Strenuous(S+): Usually involves distances of more than 14 miles or more than 3000 ft. in elevation gain. There might be very steep/rugged climbs, deep stream crossings, or unmaintained trails.
Pace: Standard pace (SP) is 2 miles per hour; less on steep or rugged terrain. Fast pace (FP) is 2.5 to 3 miles per hour or more and may not vary much regardless of terrain.
For more information and to view the Chattanooga Club Policies and Constitution please click here.
The Chattanooga Hiking Club, in keeping with its stated purpose, tries to provide outings every weekend for persons of different skill levels. Hikes scheduled in the current month and the upcoming month are described in detail. Tentative hikes are simply listed in the Outings Schedule and are still in the planning stages. All of our hikes are led by club members volunteering their time to the cause.
In addition to the weekend formal schedule, there are regular day hikes most every Wednesday closer to Chattanooga so that less driving is involved; and there are sometimes more spontaneous hiking road trips, usually on Thursdays and/or Fridays.
The information below is provided as a guide only. Each hiker assumes the risks associated with hiking in the great outdoors, including the responsibility for paying any bills associated with rescue efforts or medical care. The wise hiker always carries drinking water, food, and first aid items, and wears or carries clothing appropriate for the season. *Always check with the Hike Leader for special considerations like medical conditions and hiking with minors.
Hike Difficulty Rating
Easy(E): 6 miles or less; mostly level ground or only slight incline.
Moderate(M): Distance of 7 - 10 miles with an elevation gain that will generally not exceed 350 feet per mile, with a total elevation gain of no more than 1000 ft.
Moderately Strenuous(MS): This hike could be 7 - 10 miles in length, but include rocky trail conditions, tricky stream crossings or elevation gain of more than 1000 ft. but less than 2000 ft.
Strenuous(S): Any hike that is a distance of 10 to 14 miles or with more than 2000 ft. total elevation gain, but no more than 3000 ft.
Extremely Strenuous(S+): Usually involves distances of more than 14 miles or more than 3000 ft. in elevation gain. There might be very steep/rugged climbs, deep stream crossings, or unmaintained trails.
Pace: Standard pace (SP) is 2 miles per hour; less on steep or rugged terrain. Fast pace (FP) is 2.5 to 3 miles per hour or more and may not vary much regardless of terrain.
For more information and to view the Chattanooga Club Policies and Constitution please click here.
Upcoming Outings ~ Register w/ Hike Leaders today!
Interested in leading a hike? Want to know more?
Click here to connect with our Coordinator.
Sunday, May 18
Bear Creek Backcountry Trail - Cloudland Canyon
Miles: 7.3
Elevation Gain: approx. 1,300'
Rating: Moderately strenuous
Pace: standard 2.0 mph
This lollipop trail has a bit of everything, including a wide creek crossing. Hope we'll see rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and flame azaleas in bloom. Need $5 exact for parking, or a GA Parks annual pass.
Contact Jenny at jenhop60@gmail.com to sign up.
Bear Creek Backcountry Trail - Cloudland Canyon
Miles: 7.3
Elevation Gain: approx. 1,300'
Rating: Moderately strenuous
Pace: standard 2.0 mph
This lollipop trail has a bit of everything, including a wide creek crossing. Hope we'll see rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and flame azaleas in bloom. Need $5 exact for parking, or a GA Parks annual pass.
Contact Jenny at jenhop60@gmail.com to sign up.
Saturday, May 31
Cumberland Trail Via Soddy Gulf Trailhead
Miles: 8
Elevation Gain: approx. 1,000'
Rating: Moderately strenuous
Pace: standard 2.0 mph
We will begin hike @ 9:00 am. Hike in on road running along Soddy Creek on up to CT and head south on trail towards Mowbray Pike TH. We will cross a big swinging bridge and continue to another small bridge where we will break for lunch and then return.
To Register, email rita.pendergast11@gmail.com
Cumberland Trail Via Soddy Gulf Trailhead
Miles: 8
Elevation Gain: approx. 1,000'
Rating: Moderately strenuous
Pace: standard 2.0 mph
We will begin hike @ 9:00 am. Hike in on road running along Soddy Creek on up to CT and head south on trail towards Mowbray Pike TH. We will cross a big swinging bridge and continue to another small bridge where we will break for lunch and then return.
To Register, email rita.pendergast11@gmail.com
Saturday, June 7th 2025
National Trails Day Trail Work Party at Reflection Riding Arboretum
Time: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
Miles: 3 Miles
Elevation Gain: N/A
Rating: Train Maintenance
Pace: N/A
Location: Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
Trail Work Focus: Profile Trail – raking, pruning, soil leveling, and installing directional trail blazes.
Meeting Point: Kiddie Trail Parking Lot
320 Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN 37419
Please do not park at the Nature Center.
What to Bring:
Snacks and lunch
Water
Gloves
Rake and loppers (some tools will be available)
Sunscreen and insect repellent
The Tennessee Trails Association has invited us to join them for National Trails Day! Let's have a good representation from the CHC for some light trail maintenance at Reflection Riding! Working on the trails connects us to others in the Chattanooga hiking community, and Reflection Riding provides us with an amazing green space with trails that everyone can enjoy. Let's help restore the Profile Trail!
Let's come together to maintain and enhance the beautiful trails of Reflection Riding
Arboretum. Your participation helps preserve these natural spaces for everyone to
enjoy! Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center is a 300+ acre public park, nature center, and wildland located just 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. It offers a diverse tapestry of native wetland, forest, and grassland ecosystems, providing unparalleled access to nature for the community.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Randy Medley
Scenic City Hiking Volunteer Coordinator
randymedley@icloud.com
1 (423) 667-0975
National Trails Day Trail Work Party at Reflection Riding Arboretum
Time: 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
Miles: 3 Miles
Elevation Gain: N/A
Rating: Train Maintenance
Pace: N/A
Location: Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
Trail Work Focus: Profile Trail – raking, pruning, soil leveling, and installing directional trail blazes.
Meeting Point: Kiddie Trail Parking Lot
320 Garden Road, Chattanooga, TN 37419
Please do not park at the Nature Center.
What to Bring:
Snacks and lunch
Water
Gloves
Rake and loppers (some tools will be available)
Sunscreen and insect repellent
The Tennessee Trails Association has invited us to join them for National Trails Day! Let's have a good representation from the CHC for some light trail maintenance at Reflection Riding! Working on the trails connects us to others in the Chattanooga hiking community, and Reflection Riding provides us with an amazing green space with trails that everyone can enjoy. Let's help restore the Profile Trail!
Let's come together to maintain and enhance the beautiful trails of Reflection Riding
Arboretum. Your participation helps preserve these natural spaces for everyone to
enjoy! Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center is a 300+ acre public park, nature center, and wildland located just 10 minutes from downtown Chattanooga. It offers a diverse tapestry of native wetland, forest, and grassland ecosystems, providing unparalleled access to nature for the community.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Randy Medley
Scenic City Hiking Volunteer Coordinator
randymedley@icloud.com
1 (423) 667-0975
Wednesday, June 4 - 7
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Sold out
Miles: 32
Elevation Gain: YTBD
Rating: YTBD
Pace: standard YTBD
A backpack trip will begin June 5 at Clingman's Dome and continue to Derrick Knob shelter, second day continue on to Mollie's Ridge shelter, third day hike down and end at Fontana Dam. Total distance @32 miles. Reservation for 8 will be made 30 days prior to June 4 and paid for by Betsy. This is the maximum one person can make so if numbers exceed 8 and you want to go, instructions will be given so you can make your own reservation. If you hope to go the cost will be $8 per person per night and paid to Betsy. Make your commitment, as places in the shelters are limited to 12 total. Betsy has 6 committed for those 8 places she will have reserved.
Leave for the Smokies on Wed the 4th, hike 3 sections and end at Fontana on the 7th. Perhaps eat together at Fontana Village and celebrate with Betsy then head for home.
Che and Joyce (and at least one other car) contemplating driving to Fontana the 6th, spending the night there, possibly hiking in from end of trail, greeting the backpackers as they come off the trail and hoping it works out to shuttle them back to their cars. Join at trail's end even if cannot backpack.
An option if more efficient: First to finish taken to Clingman's for cars left there then all return to Fontana. I need to look at a map to see if that is totally inefficient? If there were a way to have keys (do you have duplicates?), those waiting at Fontana could go to retrieve cars.
Contact Betsy Parson <betparson@epbfi.com> to sign up.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Sold out
Miles: 32
Elevation Gain: YTBD
Rating: YTBD
Pace: standard YTBD
A backpack trip will begin June 5 at Clingman's Dome and continue to Derrick Knob shelter, second day continue on to Mollie's Ridge shelter, third day hike down and end at Fontana Dam. Total distance @32 miles. Reservation for 8 will be made 30 days prior to June 4 and paid for by Betsy. This is the maximum one person can make so if numbers exceed 8 and you want to go, instructions will be given so you can make your own reservation. If you hope to go the cost will be $8 per person per night and paid to Betsy. Make your commitment, as places in the shelters are limited to 12 total. Betsy has 6 committed for those 8 places she will have reserved.
Leave for the Smokies on Wed the 4th, hike 3 sections and end at Fontana on the 7th. Perhaps eat together at Fontana Village and celebrate with Betsy then head for home.
Che and Joyce (and at least one other car) contemplating driving to Fontana the 6th, spending the night there, possibly hiking in from end of trail, greeting the backpackers as they come off the trail and hoping it works out to shuttle them back to their cars. Join at trail's end even if cannot backpack.
An option if more efficient: First to finish taken to Clingman's for cars left there then all return to Fontana. I need to look at a map to see if that is totally inefficient? If there were a way to have keys (do you have duplicates?), those waiting at Fontana could go to retrieve cars.
Contact Betsy Parson <betparson@epbfi.com> to sign up.