Where would you like to begin/end in Lookout Valley? Where is the most ideal place to connect to the Riverwalk?
This section offers Routes Options (rhubarb-red dashed line) between Lookout Valley and the Riverwalk. Below each map is an elevation profile showing the approximate change in elevation and general conditions on each route. Options are presented in order of low to high elevation change. Details of the surfacing and safety features are discussed on the Trail Types page.
Route 1: Riverside to Riverwalk in Alton Park (2.5-miles)
This route's Lookout Valley trailhead is proposed in a new park (NPS) in the Cummings Bottom area of Lookout Mountain Battlefield. The route would wind along an existing lane through the Bottom's wetlands, underpasses, and historic Civil War sites. A spur trail southward would provide a connection to Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center and Lookout Mountain's extensive recreational trail system. Where Lookout Creek meets the Tennessee River, the greenway route would continue onto an elevated trail, on the riverbank for the next 0.85-miles with spectacular views of the river and Moccasin Bend. At Chattanooga Creek the route turns inland and onto a paved trail connecting to the existing Riverwalk on St. Elmo Avenue near the Mt. Vernon Publix. This 2.5-mile route is completely separated from vehicular traffic.
This diagram (created with ridewithgps.com) shows the elevation change from Lookout Valley trailhead on Parker Lane to the Riverwalk in Alton Park at St. Elmo Avenue.
Route 2: Riverside to Riverwalk at Tannery Flats (3.1-miles)
Like the option above, this route's Lookout Valley trailhead is proposed in a new (NPS) park in the Cummings Bottom area of Lookout Mountain Battlefield. The route would wind along an existing lane through the Bottom's wetlands, underpasses, and historic Civil War sites. A spur trail southward would provide a connection to Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center and Lookout Mountain's extensive recreational trail system. Where Lookout Creek meets the Tennessee River, the greenway route would continue onto an elevated trail, on the riverbank for the next 1.5-miles with spectacular views of the river and Moccasin Bend before connecting to the Riverwalk at Tannery Flats. This 3.1-mile route is completely separated from vehicular traffic.
This diagram (created with ridewithgps.com) shows the elevation change on this route from the Lookout Valley trailhead on Parker Lane to the point of connection with the Riverwalk at Tannery Flats.
Route 3: Overland Route via Cummings Highway (2.6-miles)
This 2.6-mile route, beginning in the heart of Lookout Valley's Village Center, relies upon a "4-to-3 road diet" for Cummings Highway. This would provide a protected two-way bike lane(s) parallel and at grade with Cummings Highway. The bike lanes would be separated from traffic by permanent vertical structures. For vehicular traffic, alternating passing lanes in uphill sections of Cummings Highway would alleviate congestion. Challenges for this route also include the narrow underpasses at either end where traffic lanes are reduced to one lane in each direction. The route would connect to the Riverwalk at St. Elmo Avenue/S. Broad Street.
Spur trails from the Lookout Creek Bridge on Cummings Highway could provide access to both Cummings Bottom and Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center.
This diagram (created with ridewithgps.com) shows the elevation change on Cummings Highway between Brown's Ferry Road intersection and St. Elmo Avenue/Broad St. intersection.
Route 4: Overland Route via Old Wauhatchie Pike (3.7-miles)
This 3.7 mile route relies upon improvements to Old Wauhatchie Pike as well as Cummings Highway. The route follows Cummings Highway from Lookout Valley's Village Center (at Brown's Ferry Road) to Old Wauhatchie Pike. Spur trails from the Lookout Creek Bridge on Cummings Highway would provide access to both Cummings Bottom and Reflection Riding. The route (bike lanes) would turn off Cummings Highway onto Old Wauhatchie Pike, traverse Lookout Mountain, then turn right on Church Street, and right on W 38th St to connect to the Riverwalk at W 38th St/St. Elmo Avenue. This alternative avoids the east underpass on Cummings Highway.
Old Wauhatchie Pike is already partially non-vehicular, however safety measures would be needed on blind curves while still allowing vehicular access for residents. Challenges for this route include the narrow underpass on Cummings Highway, where traffic lanes are reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternatively, the route could also pass through the east Cummings Hwy underpass as in Option 3.
This diagram (created with ridewithgps.com) shows the elevation change from Browns Ferry Road/Cummings Highway intersection to the intersection of W. 38th St. at the Riverwalk on St. Elmo Avenue.
