Whether you’re looking for a place to play with the kiddos or to decompress with some off-screen time, Chattanooga features 30+ parks and recreational spots for you to enjoy.
Ready to plan your trip to the park? Grab your shades and trusty water bottle — here are some of the Scenic City’s best:
Nature parks
Stringer’s Ridge Park, Spears Avenue
This 92-acre wilderness park is located in the heart of North Chattanooga. The area offers hiking and biking trails through its rolling hills with some short steep sections.
Tennessee Riverwalk, access points vary.
Chattanooga’s Riverwalk is a 13-mile path used for biking, skating, walking, and other fitness pursuits. There are also several canoe + kayak launch points along the path.
Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Park Rd., Rising Fawn, GA
This nearby Georgia state park is home to deep canyons, waterfalls, caves, and more + offers camping, hiking, biking, caving, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Prentice Cooper State Forest, 3998 Reserve Rd.
This 24,000+ acre forest spans across southeastern Tennessee with 35 miles of hiking trails, camping areas, and recreational areas for horseback riding, bird watching, and more.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, 110 Point Park Rd., Lookout Mountain
Featuring over 9,000 acres of battlefields, monuments, forests, and urban landscapes — this park is full of history and scenic views.
Enterprise South Nature Park, 190 Still Hollow Loop
This scenic park features hiking, biking, and horse riding trails.
East Lake Park, 3000 E. 34th St.
Founded in 1902 as Chattanooga’s first park, East Lake Park spans over 18 acres and features a pond filled with geese, ducks, and fish. There are also walking paths and a playground for folks to enjoy.
Overlook Park, 1 S. Crest Rd.
Looking for some scenic views? Head to the park for green spaces and some great views.
Booker T. Washington State Park, 5801 Champion Rd.
Explore the 353-acre state park with hiking and biking trails, bird-watching opportunities, picnic areas, and more.
Family parks
Coolidge Park, 150 River St.
This Northshore park features a restored ~130-year-old carousel, an interactive play fountain, and lots of open space along the Tennessee Riverfront.
Miller Park, 928 Market St.
This park located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga offers a leisure area and is the site of special events like the Nightfall Concert Series.
Ross’s Landing, 100 Riverfront Pkwy.
This recreational area has a natural amphitheater, marina, a handicapped accessible playground, as well as the Chattanooga Green area. Bonus: read more about the historical significance of the park.
White Oak Park, 2 Midvale Ave. E., Red Bank
This Red Bank park is a great spot for reading or studying. Plus, it has a playground for the kiddos and plenty of green space for a pick-up soccer game.
Heritage Park, 1428 Jenkins Rd.
This park, features a stream running through the property, a playground, picnic areas, and the Don Eaves Heritage House and Civic Center which often hosts community events.
Chester Frost Park, 7872 Causeway Rd., Hixson
With picnic tables, a playground for the kiddos, public restrooms, free wifi, grills, fishing piers, rentable spaces, and more — this park is great for the family.
Main Terrain Art Park, 450 W. 13th St.
This art park is located in Chattanooga’s Southside and features interactive art installations that double as exercise equipment.
BlueCross Healthy Place at Highland Park, 1800 Vance Ave.
Bring the kids to enjoy the challenge course, accessible playground, fitness station, walking track, field, and basketball and tennis courts. Bonus: Check out the other BlueCross Healthy Place Park in St. Elmo at 4909 St. Elmo Ave.
Riverview Park, 1000 Barton Ave.
This neighborhood park in NorthShore features picnic tables, a playground, swings, and a large pavilion with a stage.
The Pumpkin Patch Playground, 1836 Taft Hwy., Signal Mountain
This pumpkin-themed park offers a long pavilion with picnic tables, shaded benches, and a large all-wood playground for the kiddos to enjoy.
Vandergriff Park, 1414 Gadd Rd., Hixson
This park has three unique playgrounds to accommodate children of different ages, as well as a walking track around the play area.
Apison Park, 11218 Old E. Brainerd Rd., Apison
Enjoy a pavilion, dog run, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, and a walking track at this park.
Sports parks
Warner Park, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave.
This spot features a softball complex, a pool, tennis courts, and more — plus, the Chattanooga Fitness Center is close in proximity.
Avondale Park, 1305 Dodson Ave.
This ~7-acre park has baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts, a playground, and an indoor community center. Bonus: check out the center’s calendar of events.
Batters Place, 8011 Batters Place Rd.
When this spot’s tennis courts were damaged by tornadoes, the city’s Parks and Outdoors staff rebuilt the courts to serve as pickleball courts.
Hixson Park and Community Center, 5401 School Dr.
The Hixson Community Center recently opened four outdoor pickleball courts to add to its recreation center and walking paths. Bonus: Check out the center’s full calendar of events.
Chattown Skate Park, 1801 Reggie White Blvd.
This park is equipped with ramps for rollerbladers, skateboarders, and BMX bike riders — plus, there’s a hockey rink.
Westside Park, 1195 Grove St.
This park located in Chattanooga’s Westside has baseball fields and tennis courts for the sporty folks — while also offering a recreation center, playground, walking paths, and more.
Your four-legged friends can join in on the park fun, too.
Photo by @playwashpint
Dog-friendly parks
Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, 1800 Polk St.
This Southside spot features 33 acres of parkland that showcase large, contemporary sculptures from all over the world. Families can come to fly kites, picnic, and bring their leashed dogs. Bonus: This park has two stations at the front of the park for cleanup.
Renaissance Park, 100 Manufacturers Rd.
Spanning 23 acres along the shore of the Tennessee River, this park features nature trails and views filled with native plant life. Leashed pets are welcome to join you.
Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd.
Dogs on leashes can come along while you explore Reflection Riding’s 300-acre campus.
Greenway Farms Dog Park, Hixson
Your four-legged friends are welcome to tag along on your visit to North Chickamauga Creek Greenway. The dog park features several agility ramps + water sources for pups to enjoy.
Red Bank Dog Park, 798 Ben Miller Pkwy., Redbank
This park located near White Oak Park offers a spacious, fenced space for dogs to play off-leash.
Heritage Dog Park, 8090 Hitchcock Rd.
This membership-based park provides an off-leash environment for your dog.
Play Wash Pint, 113 Johnson St.
Socialize with a beer in hand + your furry friend playing at your feet. This unique park also features a self-wash station for hassle-free, post-play pup cleaning. Check out memberships or day pass options.
GoDog Chattanooga, 255 W. 20th St.
This recently opened business has an outdoor dog park and bar + offers boarding, daycare, and bathing services.
Your park grab bag
Picked your perfect park? Make the most out of your experience with our favorite items for a relaxing day outside:
- Is there anything quite like sitting in the shade and enjoying a good book? Check out our guide to books by local authors to help choose your next great read.
- The Kindle Paperwhite is a lightweight e-reader option that stands up to bright sunlight.
- A good water bottle keeps you hydrated — we’re big fans of the best-selling Owala FreeSip + this insulated stackable tumbler from Asheville NC-based retailer Pirani.
- Heading to the park with kids? Check out the Owala FreeSip for kids.
- Don’t forget the travel-size bug spray and sunscreen.
- These sunglasses from Nordstrom Rack are available at discount prices + have a style for everyone.
- Keep it all together in a handy tote bag — these adorable tote bags are all crafted by small businesses and local makers.
Ready to visit these local parks but don’t know where to start? We’ve created this handy map so you can find all of these featured parks.
