Rock Island, Tennessee

The Machine Falls loop at Short Springs Natural Area is a 1.6 mile round trip hike easily followed by white blazes.  It is rated moderate difficulty due to the short, steep descent into a gorge where the falls is located.  The trail is sparsely trafficked; there are usually quite a few people han...

Short Springs Natural Area is where these falls are located. There is a decent amount of hiking trails that are a nice getaway for a day to hang out at for waterfalls. Put into your gps "machine falls parking." The gps will take you to the exact parking area. The directions go as follows from Nas...

The gravel road heading to the trailhead is on the rougher side to take it slow. When you get to the trailhead it’s a small gravel pull off right off the road. There are no maps at the trailhead but there are only a few trails to take and they are marked with a blue marker. To get to the upper fa...

After an easy 25 minute drive from Chattanooga you will reach North Chickamauga Gorge on Montlake Road in Soddy Daisy. Park any where in the gravel loop just make sure other cars can get through. From the Montlake Road Trailhead Kiosk the trail begins on an old mining road. Hogskin Upper Loop Tr...

Stripmine Falls is not the biggest waterfall in the area, but it is both beautiful and accessible with just a short and easy out-and-back (or loop) hike.  The additional attraction of cool swimming pools along Chickamauga creek make this an ideal destination for a day full of relaxation and adven...

This trail is a prime spot for anyone who wants to get a simple, but enjoyable walk in the woods. It's very well marked, flat, and can be enjoyed in any weather. Also, it is very dog friendly- Jolene loved it!Starting at the Trailhead across from the parking lot you may go right or left and follo...

Great short hike. Hard to find trail head, it is not marked at the parking area or where you leave the road.  Put in your gps the coordinate spot tagged above off Clara Point Rd. To get to the trailhead, you have to cross the road from small parking area and go back 20 - 30 yards, where you will ...

This beautiful, 110-foot waterfall is an easy 15-minute walk from the parking area. Note that the walk down to the falls, although short, is steep and there isn’t a well-marked trail down. It’s more about choosing the path of least resistance.  Also, it can get quite busy in the summer time espec...

On the last day of 1862 one of the bloodiest conflicts in the American Civil War started. By the time the Battle of Stones River ended on 2 January 1863 each side had suffered the highest percentage of casualties. For many reasons this was one of the major battles of the Civil War. The Battlefiel...

To hit one of the best panoramic views of the Tennessee River Gorge, head into Prentice Cooper State Forest and head straight for Snoopers Rock. This 6,000+ acre protected park is home to over 35 miles of trails, campsites, and so much more.To access Snoopers Rock, you can drive through Prentice ...