Located southwest of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, just on the border of Georgia, Chattanooga is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Tennessee and Georgia area. Raging rivers and secluded caves can be found scattered throughout the surrounding of the city for a vacation experience that can all at once be accommodating and rugged. In fact, it takes no more than a few minutes to be transported from the heart of downtown Chattanooga to the Tennessee River, offering a wide range of flexibility in your vacation plans. Below, you’ll find a variety of outdoor activities within the Chattanooga area to help add a touch of adventure to your next stay in Tennessee.
You’ll explore over a quarter-mile of underground paths and geological beauty with a guided tour through Crystal Palace Cave. As you uncover a variety of stalactites, stalagmites, fossils and other geological gems, your knowledgeable guide will be right on hand to help provide in-depth meaning to all that is discovered throughout your journey. And the best part is that you won’t have to be a professional spelunker or get down on your hands and knees to experience the awe-inspiring sights of Crystal Palace Cave - there’s a walkway throughout the entirety of the tour!
Whether you’re an avid rafter or have never even seen a river before, the Ocoee River Rafting is an experience that professional and novice alike can enjoy. Along this journey you’ll raft your choice of the upper or middle Ocoee, with rapids ranging between level 3 and level 5. Your entire experience will be led by a knowledgeable area guide, and provide picturesque views of the Smoky Mountains region. From the excitement experienced to the peaceful sights seen, this is an all-around activity that should suit most any visitor.
Those looking for a more controlled time of natural exploration in Chattanooga should find the Chattanooga Nature Center to be just the ticket. Over 30 native species call the Chattanooga Nature Center home, with each living in a natural habitat throughout the center. A trail leads guests past trickling streams and lush countryside with a variety of owls, snakes, turtles, wolves and other Tennessee natives going about their day. The Chattanooga Nature Center also features a varied of flora through numerous garden settings for a botanical experience of Tennessee as well.
