Outdoor Chattanooga

Chattanooga, also known as the “Scenic City”, offers more than 60 outdoor attractions in and around the beautiful city. Whether you want leisure and relocation or grand adventure, Chattanooga is where you will want to call home.

Leisure activities include but are not limited to boating, swimming, spelunking, fishing, camping and hiking, backpacking, skeet and sport clays, rowing/rafting, and wildlife viewing. For the more adventurous outdoorsman Chattanooga and the surrounding areas offer mountain biking, rock climbing, white water rafting and kayaking and hang gliding.

Spelunking-Raccoon Mountain Caverns consist of over 5 ˝ miles of explored and mapped passageways. It offers a 45 minute tour or a more advanced expedition. More information can be found here.

Fishing, camping, hiking, backpacking-Chattanooga and the surrounding region is home to more fresh water species of fish than anywhere in North American continent.

While fishing you might as well stay awhile. Chattanooga has a variety of campgrounds from primitive tent camping to luxurious cabin amenities. Take a break from fishing long enough to go hiking or backpacking. Hiking, an inexpensive sport, will allow you to relax and place your day to day worries aside.

Mountain biking-The Chattanooga area offers a very diverse terrain allowing many opportunities for mountain biking as well as leisure biking. With the many rivers, roads, trails and mountains in the area you are sure to find a path you will enjoy. Our 3-State 3-Mountain Challenge is nationally known and attended. You can ride over three mountains in three different states all in one day. For more information on area biking visit the Chattanooga Bicycle Club.

Rock climbing-The National Geographic Adventurer as named Chattanooga “the regional climbing capital”. Novice to advanced climbers will find challenge and excitement on the 2000 foot plus Appalachian Mountain that surround Chattanooga. Information on favorite climbing spots and more can be found here.

Hang gliding-There isn’t a better spot in the southeast for hand gliding than the mountain surrounding Chattanooga. Both beginners and experts will find perfect conditions due to our mild weather conditions and of course, the beautiful views of the surrounding ridges and valleys. Chattanooga is home to the largest hand gliding school in the United States, Lookout Mountain Flight Park.

Whitewater rafting-Two of the best whitewater rivers in the country are located here in the greater Chattanooga area. The Ocoee River is the site of the 1996 Olympic Kayak Events while the Hiwassee River is known for its’ fishing and beginner whitewater paddling.

Wildlife viewing-Wildlife is plentiful in the Chattanooga area. Go to an organized area such as Audubon Acres or just go out on your own. You are sure to find plenty to see. Some favorite spots can be found here.

These are just a few of the many outdoor activities available in the Chattanooga area. More can be found at Outdoor Chattanooga. Living here is like being on a year round vacation!