Our Favorite Fall Hikes Around Greater Chattanooga
Peak Color Season is here. In Tennessee and North Georgia, late October is typically when the tree-covered mountains come alive with vibrant reds, sparkling golds, and brilliant orange tones that enhance the area’s rolling terrain and compliment those stunning fall sunsets.
Whether you’re new to the area, or simply have more time for enjoying the area after moving to one of our low-maintenance communities, here are 7 of our team’s favorite hikes close to town and within a short driving distance to feast your eyes on during fall color season!
McCoy Farms on Signal Mountain
Just a short drive from a our Sanctuary at Signal Forest, McCoy Farms is free and open to the public seven days a week, McCoy Farms offers 38 acres of green fields, lush walking trails, native pollinator gardens and more. Visit the historic home onsite or take a tour of the apple orchard for some festive fall fun.
If you want to make a day of it, Rainbow Lake is a beautiful family and dog-friendly option with easy to moderate terrain, sweeping natural views of trees and rock formations, a swinging bridge and rolling hills. End the day with lunch at on the park benches at the nearby local grocer, Pruett’s, patio for the authentic fall on Signal Mountain experience. Otherwise, keep going and enjoy a hike up to the apex at Signal Point, or check out the secret hike to Rainbow Falls.
Snoopers Rock
Take the scenic route for a favorite local photo-opp during peak fall color season and year round without all the work of a longer, strenuous hike, check out Snooper’s Rock. The sweeping view of lush mountain-covered trees is just a 30 minute drive from Downtown Chattanooga. Then, hike just a quarter of a mile to see the iconic rock jutting out over the picture-perfect view of river-meets-mountains.
The river runs through it – this majestic view located off the Cumberland Trail is truly a showstopper any time of year. It’s hard to summarize the beauty any better than the Tennessee River Gorge Trust: “Edwards Point looks over the upper section of the Tennessee River Gorge. To the east of the point is the Middle Creek drainage and confluence with the Tennessee River. Williams Island, the entrance to the Tennessee River Gorge, is the distant east with Chattanooga in the background. To the west is a spectacular view of the river gorge with Elder Mountain on the river’s left bank and Signal Mountain along the right bank.”
Just 10 miles north of Chattanooga is one of the most popular waterfall hikes around. Falling Water Falls is a 110-foot high waterfall off the Little Falling Water Creek that drops off the Cumberland Plateau. Explore 136 acres of a mixed “mesophytic” oak-hickory and oak-pine forests as you take in the relaxing sights and sounds.
Home to over 30 hiking Trails, one of the Chattanooga and Chickamaugua National Military Park’s most popular trails is a 4.5 mile moderately challenging trek up to Sunset Rock. With many interesting twists, turns and options of additional trails along the way, this area trail offers a plethora of beautiful views to enjoy up close and at a distance.
For a day trip or weekend adventure through fall and into the colder months, the Cherohala Skyway takes visitors near the scenic Tellico Plains and infamously curvy “Dragon’s tail“, which are worthy adventures in and of themselves. The name “Chero-hala” is due to the fact the road crosses both the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests.
