Millions of visitors each year visit Chickamauga Lake’s breath-taking waterways. Several wonderful recreation areas are located around this beautiful lake offering new places to explore and unwind.

Of course the idyllic waters of the lake offer many water-related activities: boating, fishing, swimming, flat-water paddling, water skiing, and jet skiing. Aside from those activities, there are ample opportunities for hiking along wildflower-strewn trails, camping, visiting historic and cultural sites, picnicking and even hunting at select parks.

The Tennessee Riverwalk
This riverside path winds along the Tennessee River from the Chickamauga Dam to Ross's Landing Park in Downtown Chattanooga near the Tennessee Aquarium. The trail length stretches for 13 miles. The Tennessee Riverwalk is part of the Tennessee Riverpark System featuring the Tennessee RiverPark, Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, Ross's Landing, and the Walnut Street Bridge.

Big Ridge Small Wild Area
200 acres of upland hardwood forest situated on a high ridge above the north shore offers a 1.3 mile walking trail through the forest and has been designated an “Urban Wildlife Sanctuary” by the National Institute for Urban Wildlife.

Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge
6,000 acres on the Lake where the Hiwassee river meets the Tennessee River stretching from the mouth of Hiwassee River upstream to the Tennessee River. Explore Hiwassee Island as part of this refuge.

Dayton Park
Dayton Park has a walking path that meanders by the creek through the park.

Chester Frost Park
Located on the north side of Chickamauga Lake and considered one of Tennesseee’s finest county parks. Whether you enjoy bicycling, camping, group outings or water activities such as fishing and sailing, this park offers great opportunities for relaxation.

Harrison Bay State Park
Originally developed in the 1930s as a recreation demonstration area, this park offers about 40 acres of Chickamauga Lake’s shoreline and is at the site of the last Cherokee Campground. It offers golf as well as fishing, camping and picnicking facilities.

Booker T. Washington State Park
Named after Booker Taliaferro Washington, who was born into slavery at Hale’s Ford, Virginia. He secured an education and became the president of the Tuskegee Institute, a black organization for higher education. The site offers 353 acres of boating, fishing, swimming (with a large Olympic sized pool) and picnicking. The park offers nearly four miles of challenging bicycle loop trail.

Bowater’s North Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness
Adesignated 1,095 acres of holdings in the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge called “Pocket Wilderness Area” and 1.5-mile and 4.5-mile developed hiking trails for public use.