Over the last decade, the city of Chattanooga has upgraded its status to Silver Level Bicycle Friendly Community, slowly turning into a hotspot for bikers of all experience levels. The area has a wide variety of bike lanes, greenways, and trails, so there’s something for everyone, from families looking for a fun afternoon bike ride to more advanced mountain bikers hoping to conquer a new trail.  

Road Cycling

Looking to bike around town, but don’t own a bike? Don’t sweat it! the Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System provides adults with 24/7 access to over 400 bicycles stationed around the downtown area for your convenience. If you do have a bike, and are looking to cycle on roads throughout the area, you can find some great options in Chickamauga Battlefield, Moccasin Bend, Raccoon Mountain, and Enterprise South to explore at your leisure.

Greenways

If cycling on roads isn’t really your speed, there are plenty of paved and off-road greenways throughout the city for those who love a long bike ride, but aren’t necessarily looking to mountain bike. For casual cyclists looking for a paved option, there’s the Chattanooga Riverpark, as well as the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway and the North Chickamauga Creek Greenway. Off-road greenways, which are usually unpaved but surfaced instead with gravel, are a good choice for those looking to venture into off-road cycling but don’t have the experience to head straight for the mountain trails. In the area, the Brainerd Levee/Camp Jordan Loop as well as the Guild/Hardy Trail on Lookout Mountain are great options for building your off-road confidence. 

Forest & Mountain Trails

For those looking to explore nature in the area while cycling, there are plenty of forest and mountain bike trails around the Scenic City. Mountain bikers can take advantage of Raccoon Mountain, located only 15 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, which boasts nearly 30 miles of intermediate and advanced tracks. Five Points, another popular spot located near Cloudland Canyon State Park, features 20 miles of pristine trails that some locals prefer over Raccoon Mountain. Stringer’s Ridge in North Chattanooga, the Bay Loop Trail at Harrison Bay State Park, the Inner and Outer Loop Trails at Booker T. Washington State Park, and the White Oak Mountain Trails near Southern Adventist University are some other great options for mountain biking, with difficulty levels ranging from beginner to advanced, with most falling in the intermediate to advanced range.

For those looking to bike on multi-use forest trails, the Prentice Cooper State Forest and the Cherokee National Forest, which lies about an hour east of Chattanooga, both have great trails of varying difficulty, and can be especially great options for cyclists looking for a bit of a longer ride. The Cloudland Canyon Connector Trail on Lookout Mountain offers a fairly straightforward 14-mile path open to both hikers and bikers, which makes it a good choice for someone looking to spend a few hours on a relatively easy path in which they can enjoy nature.

Whether you’re looking for a quick cycle around downtown to see the sights, or a strenuous challenge on a mountain bike, there are plenty of options in and around the Scenic City waiting for you to explore on two wheels. 

Popular Mountain Biking Trails

• Booker T. Washington State Park
• Enterprise South Nature Park
• Five Points
• Guild-Hardy Trails
• Bay Loop Trail at Harrison Bay State Park
• Raccoon Mountain
• Stringers Ridge
• White Oak Mountain Trails – 6 mile loop near Ooltewah