Here are upcoming Outdoor Chattanooga news and events:

Bike Chattanooga Mobile Phone App
The City of Chattanooga’s Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System is open for business, and now you can access a map feed for your smart phone.

Vote for Chattanooga in Blue Ridge Outdoors “Best Mountain Towns”
We’re tied with Knoxville and Washington , D.

C. and Richmond, VA are beating us. Really? Vote now. The winning city gets featured in BRO in November.

Rapid Learning Roll Practice Tonight, July 31
Come join us for our weekly Rapid Learning Whitewater Program roll practice, this evening, Tues., July 31, at Hamilton County’s Chester Frost Park. Two sessions: 5:30 to 7 and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Participants can come for either session, first come, first served. As always, members of the public who want to try the program may visit the first time for free. After that, membership is $50 per year for individuals, $75 for adults. Kayakers with their own boats, PFD’s, paddles and skirts may join the practice for $5. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.

Full Moon Kayak Trip Aug. 1
Don’t miss a special kayak trip to Harrison Bay this Wed., Aug. 1, at 7 p.m. We’ll watch the sun set and the full moon rise over the bay as we paddle around John A. Patten Island. Cost is $35 and includes all gear and guides. The trip is appropriate for adults and kids ages 16 and older when accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required. Email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888 to make a reservation or learn more.

Free Fitness Class Continues through August
Due to its popularity, Outdoor Chattanooga and Greenlife Grocery will continue hosting free, public fitness classes, using the Px90 and Insanity programs on Thursday evenings, 6 p.m. at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. The classes will be led by instructor Paul Mason and are geared toward people of all fitness levels. Greenlife Healthy Eating Specialist Morgan Walley will provide healthy snacks.  No pre registration is required. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.

Downtown Kayak Adventures Aug. 4 & 5
Outdoor Chattanooga will host our weekly Downtown Kayak Adventures on Sat. and Sun., Aug. 4 and 5, from 9 to11:30 a.m. The beginner friendly trips take paddlers around the Passage, Maclellan Island and Ross’ Landing. Reservations are required. No experience is necessary. Cost is $35 per adult and $25 per child ages 8-13 and includes all equipment and instruction. Trips will continue through Aug. 26. For reservations or to learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888.

Bike2Work Aug. 3 – Bike Chattanooga Edition
Bicycle commuters and new Bike Chattanooga members are invited to join Outdoor Chattanooga at Miller Plaza this Fri., Aug. 3 from 7 to 8:30 a.m., for our monthly Bike2Work breakfast. Enjoy fresh fruit and baked goods from Greenlife Grocery, sip on some brew from Velo Coffee Roasters and register to win some awesome prizes from River City Bicycles. Don’t have your own bicycle? There is a Bike Chattanooga station right across the street. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888.

Beginning Birding Kayak to Harrison Bay Aug. 4
Outdoor Chattanooga will host a special sunrise kayak trip to Harrison Bay on Sat., Aug. 4, beginning at 7 a.m. Outdoor Chattanooga staffer and field biologist Angie Langevin will help beginning birders learn about and identify the numerous bird species that live around the bay and John A. Patten Island. Cost is $35 per person and includes all equipment and guides. Reservations are required. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Disc Golf Night at Riverfront Nights Aug. 4
The Chattanooga Flying Disc Club will host the first of our special, free activities on the Ross’ Landing Green from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 4, as part of the Riverfront Nights Summer Music Series. Bring the whole family to play disc golf from 6-7 p.m. and Ultimate from 7-8 before Papa Grows Funk headlines the river level stage. Opener: the Kymera Project.

Street Smarts Cycling Class for Bike Share Aug. 8
Adults and kids ages 16 and older can take part in this special Street Smarts class for users of the Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System (BC) on Wed., Aug. 8, 6 p.m., at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. Come learn some basic tips and tricks for riding your bike share bicycle confidently in traffic. A short classroom session will be followed by a leisurely training ride through downtown Chattanooga.  Yearly BC members should bring their smart cards. Everyone else bring a credit card to sign up for a $6, 24 hour membership. No registration necessary. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE CLASS. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.

TN River Gorge Kayak Trip Aug. 11
Outdoor Chattanooga will host a special day kayak trip through the heart of the TN River Gorge on Sat., Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We’ll launch at the entrance to the gorge and paddle to Raccoon Mtn., with a lunch stop at Pot Point. Some kayaking experience required. The trip is appropriate for adults and kids ages 14 and older when accompanied by an adult. Cost is $45 per person and includes all gear and guides. Bring your own lunch and snacks. Reservations are required.  Email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888 to make a reservation or learn more.

More Events
Family Mud Day at CANC Aug. 4
The Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center will host a Family Mud Day this Sat., Aug. 4, at 10:30 a.m. or 12 noon. Families are invited to come splash around in a mud pit, make mud pies, make muddy hairdos, or just slog around. After mud comes a soapy slip 'n slide and popsicle treats. All participants should wear very old clothes and bring a dry towel and clean clothes for the ride home. Cost is $22 per family ($17 for CNC members). Pre registration and payment are required. Please call (423) 821-1160 ext. 0 to make a reservation.

News
Sanders Picnic Area Comfort Station Closed on Lookout Mountain Battlefield
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will close the Sanders Road picnic area restrooms on Mon., July 30. This closure will be in effect for the remainder of the summer and fall seasons.  Access to and use of the picnic area will not be affected. The facility is being closed due to the condition of the main waterline to the restrooms, which cannot be repaired for the short term. A long term option will be assessed. The National Park will provide an accessible, portable rest room for visitors until Dec. 1, 2012. For more information, contact the Facility Manager Jeffry Thul at (423) 752-5213 ext 125.

Web Hit of the Week
One Degree South: Great footage sea kayaks and kayakers in their favorite element, as they paddle 117 km of the Australian coastline in one day.
Last Week’s Web Hit
The National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program has a new system of National Water Trails. Our neighbor to the south, the Alabama Scenic River Trail, just got a designation. Congratulations!

Upcoming Events . . .
August
11        Soccer Night at Riverfront Nights
16        Bicycle Maintenance Clinic: Wheels
18        Water Conservation Night at Riverfront Nights
19        Cannonball Charge Triathlon
24-26   Outdoor Knoxfest
25        Raft for the Cure
25/26   Village Volkswagen River Gorge Omnium
26        Beginner Women’s Mtn. Bike Clinic

September
1          Paddlers Night at Riverfront Nights
8          Bicycle Night at Riverfront Nights
8-15     Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee (BRAT)
9          Iron Jr. Triathlon
15        Dog Night at Riverfront Nights
20        Bicycle Maintenance Clinic: Fix a Flat
20-23   Southeast Foot Trails Coalition Conference
21-23   Marie Humphreys Fall Open House & Native Plant Sale
22-23   Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championships
30        Komen Race for the Cure

October
5-14     RiverRocks Chattanooga
6          Swim the Suck
            Rock/Creek Stump Jump
            UTC Intra-Squad/Alumni Regatta
            Sequatchie Valley Century
            River Rocks Canoe and Kayak Race
            SUP Splash
            TN River Rescue
13        Chattanooga Head Race
            Triple Crown Bouldering Competition – The Stone Fort
             Chattajack 31 Mile SUP/Kayak Race
18         Bicycle Maintenance Clinic: Prepping for Winter
21         7 Bridges Marathon

November
3-4       Head of the Hooch
10        Upchuck 50K/11-Miler
            Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon/Half Marathon/Jr. Marathon

December
9          Chattanooga Whiskey Run
15        Lookout Mountain 50-miler/10k