Now that it’s officially fall, we can’t wait to see red, orange, and yellow added to Chattanooga’s color palette.
The city is expected to show out for three weeks of fall colors, from Sunday, Oct. 26 to Sunday, Nov. 16 — with peak color around Sunday, Nov. 9.
We’ve rounded up the five best ways to get your foliage fix.
Take a guided tour
- On water: Paddle through the Tennessee River Gorge with a guided kayak tour from Chattanooga Guided Adventures.
- On foot: Hike to scenic overlooks + waterfalls on a private tour with Experience Chattanooga.
If you prefer a self-guided hike, check out our hiking guide for the best trail options.
Take a scenic drive
Skip the steps and hit the road with these five scenic drives recommended by our readers:
- Reservoir Loop on Raccoon Mountain
- Taft Highway Lookout
- East Brow on Signal Mountain
- Lookout Mountain Parkway
- Cherohala Skyway
Cruise the river
If staying on land is so last season, how about you check out the leaves from the water? The Southern Belle Riverboat is offering three-hour fall foliage cruises of the Tennessee River Gorge with lunch and narration.
Hop on a train
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is doing fall train rides through late November. Pro tip: If you’re looking for max color, the Hiwassee Loop is considered one of the best routes for peak fall foliage. It leaves from Delano, TN, which is a ~1-hour drive from Chattanooga.
Chill in a park
If you want to see some fall colors but you’d prefer to keep things low-key and free, grab your favorite book and settle in at one of Chattanooga’s parks.
