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Five ways to see fall colors in Chattanooga

Whether you’re hiking, cruising, or road-tripping — these are the best ways to fall for Chattanooga this season.

Fall foliage on the mountains (colors like yellow, orange, red, and green) and showing the Tennessee River

There are so many different ways to enjoy colors like this.

Photo via Chattanooga Tourism Co.

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

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:

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.

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