Outdoor Chattanooga News And Events

  • Wednesday, July 9, 2014
  • Ruth Thompson

Here are upcoming news and events from Outdoor Chattanooga:

Outdoor Chattanooga Featured Events
TN River Gorge Sunset Kayak July 17
Join Outdoor Chattanooga for a kayak tour of the scenic TN River Gorge on Thurs., July 17, beginning at 7 p.m. We'll paddle through the most beautiful part of the gorge, catching the evening breezes and light on the walls of the gorge.
 Cost is $35 per person. Reservations with a credit card or advanced payment with check or cash is required. The trip is appropriate for adults and kids ages 14 and older when accompanied by an adult. To reserve, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.

ACA Whitewater Kayaking Clinic July 23-24      

Outdoor Chattanooga will teach you the basics of whitewater kayaking, from your first paddle stroke to your first Class II rapid at our two day, intensiveWhitewater Kayaking Clinic, happening Wed., andThurs, July 23-24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The class will start with the basics on calm flat water, then move to a regional Class II whitewater stream on the 2nd day. Adults and kids ages 8 and older can take part in the clinic, which can also give successful participants an American Canoe Association Level 2 River Kayaking certification. Beginners are encouraged to attend. Cost is $90 for both days and includes all equipment, instruction and transportation to and from the river. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. To make a reservation or learn more, email Zach Bopp or call (423) 643-6888.

More Outdoor Chattanooga Events 

Rapid Learning Kayak Skills Practice, July 9 & 16
Come join the Rapid Learning Whitewater Program for our weekly kayak skills practice at Chester Frost County Park every Wed. with two sessions: 6 and 7 p.m. Bring the whole family and learn the basic skills that you need to paddle the Chattanooga region's beautiful whitewater (and flat water) streams. Your first visit is free. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888
 
Downtown Kayak Adventures July 12 & 13, 19 & 20
Take a leisurely tour of downtown Chattanooga on the TN River on Sat. or Sun. morning at 9:30 a.m. Outdoor Chattanooga will provide the gear, the guides and instruction for beginners ages 8 and older. Cost is $35 for adults and kids 14 and older, $25 for kids 8-13. Kids must paddle in tandem with an adult. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. To reserve, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.
 
Open Canoeing at Greenway Farm July 13 & 20
Outdoor Chattanooga will host our regularly scheduled Open Canoeing at Greenway Farm, continuing every Sun. afternoon from 3-7 p.m., through July.  Adults and kids ages 5 and older can paddle for an hour on N. Chickamauga Creek for $10 per person. No reservations necessary. Just come and paddle!  
 
Chickamauga Battlefield Bicycle Tour July 19
Outdoor Chattanooga and the National Park Service will co-host a free, interpretive bicycle tour of Chickamauga Battlefield on Sat., July 19, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Battlefield Visitors Center. Adults and kids ages 8 and older are welcome on the leisurely ride, which will feature several stops at places of significance to the Civil War Battle for Chickamauga. Bring your own bicycle or borrow a bicycle (riders 5' tall and over). To reserve a bicycle, call the Battlefield at (706) 866-9241. Helmets are required by law for all riders under the age of 16. The ride is supported by theFriends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and the Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga(Photo by Diane Blankenbaker)

Nickajack Cave Canoe Trips July 25 & Aug. 1
Outdoor Chattanooga will host family canoe trips to the Nickajack Bat Cave every Fri., 7 p.m, from July 18 - Aug. 15. The evening trips will feature a short paddle to the mouth of the cave, where thousands of endangered gray bats emerge at dusk, then back to the launch after dark. The trips are open to adults and kids ages 5 and older. Each canoe must contain at least one adult. Cost is $10 per person and reservations with a credit card or advanced payment with check or cash is required. To reserve, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888

Registration Open for the Chattanooga 2.4 Mile Open Water Swim Aug. 16 

The Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Open Water Swimmers(C.O.W.S.) will host the Chattanooga 2.4 Mile Open Water Swim on the TN River downtown on Sat., Aug. 16, beginning at 7:00 a.m. Online registration is open to experienced open water swimmers and triathletes who wish to test themselves on the downtown course. Swimmers will start the practice from the So. Belle Riverboat, which will take them 2.4 miles upstream, and end at Ross' Landing. The event benefits the Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga in their mission to support the City of Chattanooga's Outdoor Chattanooga division.
 
Featured Community Event  
Raccoon Mtn. Super D & Time Trial July 12-13
The Chattanooga chapter of the Southern Off Road Bicycle Assoc. (SORBA) will host the Raccoon Mtn. Super D and Endurance Time Trial Mtn. bike races on Sat. and Sun., July 12 and 13, at the entrance to the Live Wire downhill singletrack trail. Categories are open for Men, Beginner Men, Women and Juniors. Online registration is open until Fri., July 11 at 5 p.m. The races benefit SORBA's trail building and maintenance work throughout the Chattanooga area. (Photo courtesy of SORBA Chattanooga)
 
More Community Events

Marathon Training Program Kick-off July 10 

The Chattanooga Track Club will kick off a 16-week marathon training program with an information and orientation session on Thurs., July 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park.  The program will help runners prepare for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, Half Marathon and Jr. Marathon which takes place on Sat., Nov. 8. All interested members of the public are invited to attend the information session to learn more.

Summer Sike Movie: "Rad Company" July 17
The Crash Pad will host the second installment in their Summer Sike Movie series onThurs., July 17, 7:30 p.m. with a screening of "Rad Company," a film about free-ride mountain biking. The event is co-hosted by SORBA, the Southeastern Climbers Coalition and the American Alpine Club. There will be popcorn and beer. Next film: "Almost Alpine" Aug. 14.

Lunch and Learn with the TN River Gorge Trust July 18

The public is invited to have lunch and learn about the latest happenings with the TN River Gorge Trust on Fri., July 18, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the TRGT offices, 1214 Dartmouth St. in Chattanooga. Meet the staff, enjoy a free lunch, and learn about TRGT's mission and current research projects. Register online or email Hannah Shadrick for more information.

Bunker Buster Youth Mtn. Bike Race July 19  

The TN Youth Mountain Bike Racing Association (TYMBR) will host the Bunker Buster Youth Mtn. Bike Race on Sat., July 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the TNT trail at Enterprise South Nature Park. The event is a short, cross country race for youth ages 17 and under. Online registration closes on Fri., July 18 at 8 p.m. NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION.

Bike Chattanooga Birthday Bash July 25

The Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System willcelebrate their 2nd birthday on Fri., July 25, from 7-9 p.m. at Miller Plaza, during the weekly Nightfall concert (Function with Roger Alan Wade & Sparkle Motion). Come sign the birthday card, eat birthday cake and enjoy special discounted new and renewed memberships. The beer is cold ($$), the music and bicycle parking is free, so come party!

News

Little Cedar Mtn. Trail Re-Opens

The trails on TVA's Little Cedar Mtn. have re-opened, after a redesign to make it more user friendly, according to our friend and co-hike leader Bob Butters. Bob, otherwise known as the Nickajack Naturalist, is now writing an outdoor column for Nooga.com.Check it out! If you want to take a hike on Little Cedar, an printable map is available through the TN Valley Authority Website(Photo of Little Cedar Mtn. by Bob Butters) 

Closed Section of Lookout Mtn. Bluff Trail Reopens

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park has reopened a section of theLookout Mtn. Bluff Trail, approx. 3/4 of a mile north of Sunset Rock, that was closed due to a washout. Volunteers from Wild Trails provided labor and materials to help repair the trail.

GSMNP Closes Backcountry Trails Due to Bear Activity

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has closed a couple of backcountry trails, the Spence Field shelter and some other backcountry campsites, due to a high level of black bear activity. Other backcountry trails and campsites are posted with bear warnings. Apparently, the trails contain large stands of yummy berries which attract bears. Once berry season is over, the trails should reopen. 

More Upcoming Events

July

August
9            Still Hollow Trail Race
              Missionary Ridge Road Race
23          River Gorge Omnium
             Wilderness Wild Fest 
  
September
28          Ironman Chattanooga

October
4           Rock/Creek Stump Jump
             Tennessee River Rescue
11         Chattanooga Head Race
19          7 Bridges Marathon
25          Chattajack 31

November
1          Upchuck 50K
            Head of the Hooch

December
14         Lookout Mountain 50 Miler

  

 

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