Dsdugan · CC0
The guide
Mountain Biking in Chattanooga
Gorge loops, plateau singletrack and a public bike park, all inside an hour of downtown.
Mountain Biking presented by
Chattanooga rides on three kinds of ground. The river gorge, where Raccoon Mountain's loops wrap a reservoir six hundred feet above the Tennessee. The plateau tops, where Five Points, Walden's Ridge and the Lookout Mountain trails run for miles on sandstone and pine. And the Cherokee National Forest, where Tanasi, Chilhowee and the Cohutta backcountry trade groomed flow for long climbs and real descents.
Most of it is within forty minutes of downtown, and the in-town trails at Stringer's Ridge and Enterprise South mean a weeknight ride never needs a drive. This page is the hub: the trails worth planning a trip around, where to park and which lot has the restroom, who is riding this week, and what the clubs are building next.
Editors' picks
All 110 on the map The 10 best mountain biking destinations
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The big loop · Raccoon Mountain & the River Gorge
Raccoon Mountain
The flagship. SORBA Chattanooga built a full day of trail on TVA land around the pumped-storage reservoir: Live Wire and Megawatt for speed, Small Intestine for the rock, East Rim and Laurel Point for the gorge views. Four trailheads let you ride the whole rim or pick a half. Fifteen minutes from downtown.
About 30 mi of singletrackIntermediate to advancedFree -
Mileage without the climb · Cloudland Canyon & Pigeon Mountain
Five Points Recreation Area (Cloudland Canyon SP)
Lookout Mountain's flat top near Rising Fawn, Georgia, laced with multi-use loops and the Cloudland Connector Trail toward Nickajack. Fast, rolling, mostly shaded, and it drains well. The Durham Mine trails next door add newer purpose-built singletrack.
Plateau-top networkAll levelsGeorgia ParkPass -
A national-forest day · Ocoee & Cohutta
Tanasi Trail System
Above the Ocoee in the Cherokee National Forest. Thunder Rock Express is the descent people drive for; Chestnut Mountain and Bear Paw give you the climbing to earn it, and Old Copper Road along the river is the easy warm-down. Start at the Ocoee Whitewater Center or Thunder Rock Campground.
About 30 miIntermediate to advancedDay-use fee at the Whitewater Center -
First rides and skills · East Brainerd, Collegedale & White Oak Mountain
Enterprise South Nature Park
A Hamilton County park on the old ammunition plant, with wide paved loops, gentle singletrack and the TNT and Black Forest trails for when you want more. Restrooms, a bike wash and a skills area at the trailheads. Where most locals learned, and still the easiest after-work spin.
Paved loops + singletrackBeginner friendlyFree, closes at 8 PM -
A lunch-break lap · Downtown & Riverfront
Stringer’s Ridge
Ninety-two acres of ridge across the river from downtown, with easy to moderate loops, a paved climb to the skyline overlook and a pump track at the Spears Avenue trailhead. Short, surprisingly flowy, and you can ride to it from the North Shore.
In-townBeginner to intermediatePump track -
Jumps, berms and slabs · Signal Mountain & Prentice Cooper
Walden’s Ridge Park
Hamilton County's newest park, on the brow above Mountain Creek Road, built as a bike park from the start: machine-cut flow, jump lines and steep natural tech on the sandstone. Climb from the lower lot or start high from the W Road lot. The reason out-of-town riders now put Chattanooga on the list.
Purpose-built gravity trailsIntermediate to expertFree county park -
Tight, rooty, fast · East Brainerd, Collegedale & White Oak Mountain
White Oak Mountain (Biology Trails)
Southern Adventist University's trails above Collegedale: a tight network of climbs and descents that hosts the local race series and the Thursday shop ride. Technical enough to keep you honest, close enough to ride twice a week.
Dense singletrackIntermediate to advancedFree, open late -
The epic · Ocoee & Cohutta
Bear Creek and Pinhoti Trail System
The Cohutta side of the Chattahoochee National Forest near Ellijay. Bear Creek past the Gennett Poplar into Pinhoti 1 and 2 is the classic loop, with long climbs, fast ridge descents and creek crossings. Mulberry Gap runs shuttles, meals and bunks for the full weekend.
BackcountryAdvancedMulberry Gap basecamp -
Old-school forest trail · Cleveland & the Hiwassee
Chilhowee Recreation Area / Chilhowee Trail System
Chilhowee Mountain above Parksville Lake: Clear Creek and Clemmer climb from US-64 to the McKamy Lake day-use area, with Azalea, Red Leaf and Arbutus looping the top and Benton Falls for the mid-ride stop. Rougher and quieter than Tanasi across the lake.
About 25 miIntermediate to advancedDay-use fee -
Mellow miles by the water · Chickamauga Lake & Harrison Bay
Booker T. Washington State Park
Loops along Chickamauga Lake twenty minutes from downtown, easy enough for a first singletrack ride and quick enough for intervals. Harrison Bay across the water adds a second set. Good shoulder-season trails when the mountains are soaked.
Lakeside loopsBeginner to intermediateState park
Also worth the drive
Raisin Woods Mountain Bike ParkDurham Mine TrailsMoonshine TrailsLula Lake Land Trust Core PreserveLookout Mountain Trail System (Rockmont Park / Lookout Mountain Conservancy)Bauxite Ridge (Fenton Forest)Fort MountainDeSoto State ParkHarrison Bay State ParkRocky Face Ridge Park (Buzzards Roost)Chickamauga Battlefield
Where to go
All 110 on the map Every mountain biking destination, mapped
Trailhead directions
Where to park, what is at the lot, and a one-tap route from wherever you are.
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Raccoon Mountain — East Overlook Trailhead Raccoon Mountain & the River Gorge
Lot at the East Overlook on the reservoir loop road; immediate access to Electric Avenue 1 and East Rim; Trailforks POI 9382 (Parking, 6,971 check-ins). Start/end of SOR…
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Raccoon Mountain Visitor Center Raccoon Mountain & the River Gorge
Only trailhead with modern restrooms (limited hours). Switchyard trailhead is nearby at 6952 Raccoon Mtn Rd.
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Five Points Trailhead (Hwy 157) Cloudland Canyon & Pigeon Mountain
Main gravel lot with privy; start of all SORBA recommended Five Points routes.
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Ocoee Whitewater Center Cherokee National Forest
Upper and lower lots open; lower lot day-use fee $3/vehicle; visitor center destroyed by fire 2022-04-26 and fenced off.
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Thunder Rock Campground Cherokee National Forest
Trailhead parking for Tanasi at the campground (37 sites; recreation.gov 251938).
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Walden’s Ridge Park — Upper Lot (W Road) Signal Mountain & Prentice Cooper
Small gravel lot just before the W Road switchbacks.
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Walden’s Ridge Park — Lower Lot (Mountain Creek Rd) Signal Mountain & Prentice Cooper
Gravel/grass lot.
Aetna Mountain Trails
Ascalon Trailhead
Bauxite Ridge / Fenton Forest trails
Next up
All dates Rides, races and trail days
Learn to Mountain Bike
Greenway Farm NOOGAtoday (CitySpark)
Intro to Mountain Biking: FUNdamentals
Greenway Farm NOOGAtoday (CitySpark)
Learn to Mountain Bike: FUNdamentals
Greenway Farm Outdoor Chattanooga
Intro to Mountain Biking: FUNdamentals
Greenway Farm Outdoor Chattanooga
Trail Quest: Intro to Mountain Biking
Greenway Farm Outdoor Chattanooga
Adapt Bike Climb Outdoor Film Night
1519 McCallie Ave Chattanooga, TN 37404 Southeastern Climbers Coalition
Trail notes
Mountain Biking news & stories
Our own mountain biking stories are on the way. Until then, this is where the news breaks:
- SORBA ChattanoogaLocal IMBA chapter: trail status, work days, group rides, membership
- Northwest Georgia SORBADalton chapter: Pinhoti, Snake Creek Gap time trials
- Chattanooga Bicycle ClubRides, advocacy and the cycling calendar
- Lula Lake Land TrustDurham Mine, Moonshine and the Core Preserve open gate days
- Lookout Mountain ConservancyLookout Mountain trail system
- Mulberry Gap Adventure BasecampShuttles, lodging and route maps for the Cohutta trails
Watch
Rides on video from the top mountain biking spots
Chattanooga Needs to be on Your MTB Bucket List!
MidLife Shredder · Raccoon Mountain
Walden's Ridge Mountain Bike Park: riding every trail (almost)
Benny Bradford · Walden's Ridge Park
Raccoon Mountain is no joke
Aitch · Raccoon Mountain
New trails in NW Georgia: Durham Trails, Cloudland Canyon
MidLife Shredder · Five Points & Durham Mine
Tanasi Trails: mountain biking eastern Tennessee
Nick Fortner · Tanasi
Mountain biking Enterprise South Nature Park
BlindstuffMTB · Enterprise South
Hill City, Gig City and Double J: Stringer's Ridge
Jorgensen Endurance · Stringer's Ridge
White Oak Mountain is a pretty good spot
Aitch · White Oak Mountain
Mountain biking at Mulberry Gap
netposer · Bear Creek & Pinhoti
Videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube when you press play.
Gear & guides
All 23 Local mountain biking shops, outfitters and guides
Bike shops · Sewanee
Woody’s Bicycles
Sewanee village shop since 1995 renting bikes and e-bikes near the Mountain Goat Trail and Domain trails; weekday and Saturday morning hours.
Bike shops · Fort Oglethorpe
Battlefield Outdoors
Fort Oglethorpe shop by the Chickamauga battlefield with bikes, a repair bench, kayaks and a huge disc golf wall.
Bike shops · Hixson
Owen Cyclery
Hixson shop open since 1973 with Trek and Cannondale bikes; the handy stop for riders heading up Signal or out to Chester Frost.
Bike shops · Cleveland
Trailhead Bicycle Company
Downtown Cleveland shop that is the last full-service stop before the Tanasi and Chilhowee trails; text them, it's how they prefer it.
Bike shops · Downtown
Trek Bicycle Chattanooga
Trek's corporate store on the North Shore, a short spin from the Riverwalk and Stringer's Ridge, for Trek bikes, parts and service.
Bike shops · Blue Ridge
Blue Mountain Bikes
Family-run Blue Ridge shop renting trail bikes, leading guided rides and selling consignment bikes for Aska and the Pinhoti.
Know before you go
How mountain biking works here
Wet trails
Clay here holds water. If you are leaving a rut, turn around. Raccoon Mountain, Enterprise South and the newer purpose-built trails drain fastest; the plateau tops at Five Points and Walden's Ridge dry quickly too. SORBA Chattanooga posts trail status before you drive.
Fees and passes
Raccoon Mountain, Enterprise South, Stringer's Ridge, White Oak and Walden's Ridge are free. Georgia state parks (Five Points, Fort Mountain) charge per vehicle, and the Forest Service day-use lots at the Ocoee Whitewater Center and Chilhowee charge a few dollars. Lula Lake is reservation-only on open gate days. Each destination page lists the current fee.
Hours
City and county parks run sunrise to sunset or close around 8 PM; the gates at Raccoon Mountain close in the evening. White Oak Mountain and Bauxite Ridge stay open late for lights. State parks gate at dark.
Share the trail
Nearly everything here is multi-use. Yield to hikers and horses, slow down on blind corners, call out on doubletrack, and ride only trails that are open and signed for bikes. E-bikes are not allowed on the Pinhoti or other non-motorized Forest Service trails; check the land manager elsewhere.
Seasons
Year-round riding. October through May is prime; summer means early starts, creek-side trails and the shade at Tanasi and Bear Creek. Leaf season in late October hides roots and rocks, and winter rides are mostly fine between fronts.
Help build it
SORBA Chattanooga and the land trusts build and maintain most of this with volunteers. Trail work days are on the calendar below; a membership pays for tools and insurance.
Questions riders ask
Where should a beginner mountain bike in Chattanooga?
Start at Enterprise South Nature Park (wide paved loops, gentle singletrack and a skills area), Booker T. Washington State Park (easy lakeside loops) or the easier trails and pump track at Stringer's Ridge. All three are inside the city limits or just outside them.
What is the best all-day mountain bike ride near Chattanooga?
The full outer loop at Raccoon Mountain is the local classic. For a bigger day, link Five Points with the Cloudland Connector Trail on Lookout Mountain, ride the Thunder Rock Express loops at Tanasi above the Ocoee, or drive to Mulberry Gap for Bear Creek and the Pinhoti in the Cohutta Mountains.
Is there a bike park near Chattanooga?
Yes. Walden's Ridge Park is a free public park on Signal Mountain's brow built around purpose-built flow, jump lines and steep technical trail. Raisin Woods in Dalton, Georgia is a second purpose-built park about 45 minutes away.
Do I need a pass to ride?
Not for Raccoon Mountain, Enterprise South, Stringer's Ridge, White Oak Mountain or Walden's Ridge. Georgia state parks charge a per-vehicle parking fee, Forest Service day-use lots at the Ocoee Whitewater Center and Chilhowee charge a small fee, and Lula Lake requires a reservation on open gate days. Fees are listed on each destination page.
Can I ride after it rains?
Give the clay a day. Trails that drain well include Raccoon Mountain, Enterprise South and the plateau-top trails at Five Points and Walden's Ridge. Check SORBA Chattanooga's trail status, and turn around if you are leaving ruts.
Where can I rent a mountain bike in Chattanooga?
Several local bike shops rent trail bikes and can point you to the right trails for your level. The shops are listed in the Gear and guides section of this page, with hours and directions.
Who builds and maintains the trails?
SORBA Chattanooga, the local chapter of the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association, builds and maintains most of the singletrack with TVA, Hamilton County, the City of Chattanooga, the state parks and land trusts such as Lula Lake Land Trust and the Lookout Mountain Conservancy. Trail work days appear on the events calendar.
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