With Chattanooga’s beautiful mountains and stunning scenery, it’s no surprise that the city has become a hub for mountain biking. In fact, according to Trailforks, there are more than 100 mountain bike trails within the Chattanooga area. For those looking to get into mountain biking, here are some of the best places to find mountain bike trails for all skill levels.
Raccoon Mountain
Just before Moccasin Bend, and 15 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, Raccoon Mountain is one of the most popular mountain biking destinations in the area. Thanks to SORBA Chattanooga, an organization dedicated to mountain bike trail preservation and development, Raccoon Mountain houses 30 miles of trails open to hikers, runners, and of course, mountain bikers.
Open from sunrise to 7:30 p.m., locals and visitors alike can find mountain biking routes ranging from intermediate to advanced, with steep climbs, fast descents, and other technical features. Or, for those who prefer a more leisurely experience, the one-way paved roadway circling Racoon Mountain’s reservoir makes for a relaxing ride.
Aetna Mountain Trails
Nearby, Aetna Mountain Trails was opened by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust (TRGT) in November of 2023, offering four miles of trails in its first phase of development. Upon completion, the trail system will offer roughly 12 miles of high-quality trails for mountain biking, hiking, and running for athletes of all abilities. Open from sunrise to sunset, SORBA classifies Aetna Mountain Trails as best for beginner to intermediate riders.
Enterprise South Nature Park
Located off of I-75 in Northeast Chattanooga, Enterprise South Nature Park houses 2,800 acres and 40 miles of paved and unpaved trails open to the public for mountain biking, hiking, trail running, and horse riding. Of that, there are 15 miles of singletrack trails specifically for mountain biking, ranging in difficulty from beginner to intermediate, with many offering boardwalks or other technical features. A complete map of the park’s mountain biking routes can be found here.
Stringer’s Ridge
Located in Chattanooga’s Northshore, just 10 minutes from downtown, Stringer’s Ridge is a 92-acre urban wilderness park with plenty of mountain biking trails for the public to access. The park houses 7 miles of multi-use, single-track trails for bikers and pedestrians alike, with the terrain including rolling hills and a few short, steep sections. Open from sunrise to sunset, Stringer’s Ridge has mountain biking trails for beginners and advanced bikers alike.
Walden’s Ridge
Just a 10 minute drive from downtown, Walden’s Ridge Park is located on the side of Signal Mountain and houses 200 acres of multi-use trails. With two out of three construction phases completed, Walden’s Ridge Park offers 10 miles of mountain biking trails for local and regional riders. What sets this park apart is that it houses some of the most progressive, downhill trails in Chattanooga. However, the park is also beginner-friendly and offers trails with a wide variety of terrain and difficulty for different levels of riders.
Five Points
Open since 2011, Five Point Recreation Area is just over the state border in Rising Fawn, Georgia, around 30 minutes south of the Scenic City. Five Points offers around 25 miles of singletrack mountain biking trails, ranging from long, cross-country routes to fast, downhill trails. The property also includes the Cloudland Connector Trail (CCT), which connects Cloudland Canyon State Park to Lula Lake Land Trust, with eventual plans for the trail to continue all the way to downtown Chattanooga.
White Oak Mountain
In Collegedale, Tennessee, Southern Adventist University’s campus includes 800 acres of forest and nearly 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, with many of the best routes spread across White Oak Mountain. Stretching from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountain’s ridge, the campus’ biking trails are suitable for everything from leisurely rides to more strenuous, cross-country journeys. A map of White Oak Mountain’s trail systems can be found on the university’s website.
Durham Mine Trails
Open from dawn to dusk, Durham Mine Trails are a part of the Lula Lake Land Trust. With over 10 mountain biking trails, ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced, this is a popular destination for bikers of all skill levels. While no reservations are required to bike on the property, there is a $5 parking fee per vehicle. More trail details can be found on Lula Lake’s website.
Booker T. Washington State Park
Located on the shores of the stunning Chickamauga Lake, Booker T. Washington State Park offers three mountain biking routes for a total of 7.3 miles: Outer Loop, Inner Loop 1, and Inner Loop 2. The inner loops are perfect for intermediate riders, while the outer loops have more difficult sections for advanced riders. Bikers can access the trails at Booker T. Washington State Park from 7 a.m. to sunset.
Ali Lemmons, BS, Summa Cum Laude
Ali Lemmons is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a minor in computer science. While at UTC, Ali also earned the distinction of Summa Cum Laude, the Outstanding Senior Award for the communication department, and was inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha honor society. Now, as editor/digital content specialist for CMC Media & Marketing Group, Ali leads the ideation, conceptualization, and development of numerous health, wellness, and lifestyle articles published in print and online for HealthScope, CityScope, and Choose Chattanooga magazines – premier publications serving S.E. Tennessee and North Georgia. She also is the lead copywriter for the company’s social media accounts. In her free time, Ali enjoys exploring Chattanooga’s many hiking trails and searching for the best burger in the city.
