For the Hiker Who Loves a View

A great place to ease yourself and your dog into running in the Chattanooga area is the Guild Hardy Trail on Lookout Mountain, starting from Ochs Highway, Ruby Falls, or Cravens House. The Guild Hardy Trail is an old railroad bed dating back to the 1880’s so the path is wide and the climb gentle. Adventurous runners and hikers can make longer, more technical loops with steeper ascents on the adjoining singletrack trails.

Fresh water can be sparse on Lookout so carry extra for your pup, especially in summer. Unlike sweaty humans, dogs rely on panting to release heat. Regular water breaks will give you a chance to assess their condition as you both cool off. Glen Falls is a great spot to stop for a quick swim or to cool off before heading back into the city. 

For the Trail Runner

If you value solitude, beauty, and aerobic challenge over having a five bar cell signal, you and your pup will enjoy exploring just about any section of the Cumberland Trail. A few other great spots would be Savage Gulf, Foster Falls, and the ten mile Mullens Cove Loop in Prentice Cooper. Prentice Cooper is a great spot if you're looking for something with a little less foot traffic, offering a more secluded experience than other popular hiking spots. 

White Oak Mountain in Collegedale is another great spot especially if you're looking for easy, well maintained trail however there are normally quite a few mountain bikers, but they are easy to avoid since there are so many intersecting paths. There are lots of streams for your pup to jump into and cool off on a hot summer day!

Hamilton County's 2,800-acre Enterprise South Nature Park is best known for its vast recreational trail network that winds among dozens of sealed ammunition storage bunkers. The park offers 40-miles of paved and unpaved trails, a visitor center, restrooms, 4 picnic areas, historical exhibits, and a 7-mile driving loop. It's a great spot for spending the whole day outside in nature just remember to pack extra water and some food for a picnic.

For the Water Dog

The North Chickamauga Blue Hole hike is a popular favorite, especially for water-loving dogs. For a less populated spot, go past the main area for a couple of miles there are plenty of watering holes with less folks around. If you continue back across the wooden bridge, take a right, and if you're lucky you'll hopefully have the trail to yourself.

Editors Note: The North Chick Blue Hole will be closed for improvements starting early 2026, hopefully opening early 2027. These improvements include an improved entrance, newly paved and striped parking area, a new ADA-accessible river viewing pier, and restrooms. 

Rainbow Lake Trail is a wonderful hike with a gorgeous scenery including lots of wildflowers depending on the time of year you go. Other highlights of this trail include a great view of the 1916 dam often embellished with tumbling water and a 100-foot-long suspension bridge. This is a moderate but picturesque hike that the pups will surely enjoy!

Little Cedar Mountain Trail hugs the western shoreline of Nickajack Lake and heads up Little Cedar Mountain. This trail does have a dry side and a moist side, making the two loop trails a somewhat different experience as you hike. This trail is owned and operated by TVA so be sure to leave no trace and always pick up after your pup. Forewarning, it is a pretty rocky trail so take that into consideration before heading out there for the day. It can be pretty slick in rainy conditions. Access to the lake is just under a mile in making it a perfect spot to take your fur baby to cool off and get some fresh air.