Local Spotlight: Enterprise South Nature Park
We know y'all are always on the hunt for new territory to walk and run. One of our staff's favorite locations is Enterprise South Nature Park! Located off the Volkswagen Drive exit on I-75, the park consists of 2800 acres of natural forests, with miles of trails, picnic areas, water features, and overlooks. About a 20-25 minute drive from downtown Cleveland, Enterprise is only about 10-15 minutes beyond Johnston Woods.
The trails are popular with bikers, runners, and walkers. There are varying levels of trail difficulty: if you're looking for a leisurely walk, a comfortable training run, or a hilly workout, you can find the right route at Enterprise. Trail names, distances, and intensity are well marked and color-coded on maps at the trailheads and along the trails.
I especially appreciate the sections of mulched trail, which can provide some much-needed soft surface after long miles on the pavement. If I'm doing more than 4-6 miles, the extra driving time down to Enterprise is well worth it. Even though the trails are well-used, I often enjoy long stretches of quiet and solitude while out on the system. The trails are open from 7am to sundown, meaning that, especially in the summer, they can accommodate most schedules. Oh, and there are restrooms!
The land originally belonged to the United States Army, who used the area for ammunitions production. TNT storage facilities are scattered throughout (don't worry, they're no longer in use!). They can be helpful checkpoints along your run. The park itself has been open since 2010, serving both the Cleveland and Chattanooga communities. We hope to see you out there!
8015 Volkswagen Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37421
https://parks.hamiltontn.gov/148/Enterprise-South-Nature-Park
Trail Review: Bay Point Loop Trail at Harrison Bay
Harrison Bay State Park is a beautiful state park only 25 minutes from downtown Cleveland. Harrison Bay became the first Tennessee State Park in 1937. Located in Hamilton County, the park name is derived from a large bay at the main channel of the Tennessee River that covers the old town of Harrison, and the last Cherokee Campground, according to the state park website. The parklands are historically significant because the Cherokee Campground consisted of three villages which were ruled by one of the last great Cherokee Chieftains.
If you like to mountain bike, boat, swim, kayak, camp, trail run, or hike, this park is for you! On a warm May Saturday, I headed over to Harrison Bay with my trail running shoes and my kayak for a hot, sunny day outside! I ran the Bay Point Loop Trail, which is marked as 4.3 miles, but my GPS said it was only 3.8 miles. To access the trailhead, take a left at the Y inside the park and head toward the visitor center and marina. Pass the boat put-in and the trailhead is on your right. There is plenty of parking right at the trailhead, as well as a trash can and some park information.
The Bay Point Loop Trail is a mostly-flat trail that is right by the water almost the entire time! The trails are similar in difficulty to Johnston Woods trails, mostly single-track with occasional roots and rocks. I loved that the trail was near the water because I caught cool breeze even though it was 80+ degrees outside! The dense tree cover also provides lots of shade. There were dogs, mountain bikes, and runners on this trail, but it never felt crowded. The trail didn't seem to cross any other trails, so following the red blazes on the trees was easy. I stopped to take a few pictures along the way, and at 3.8 miles I was pleasantly surprised to be done already!
The entire loop only has 125 feet of ascent in elevation, so it's a relatively flat trail. There were two parts of the trail that were on a wooden boardwalk to keep people raised off the low lying muddy areas, but they were really well maintained and easy to navigate.
I love that there are other outdoor activities to do at Harrison Bay that make the drive worthwhile. I followed up my run with a kayak on the water. Entrance to the park is free and it is much busier on weekends and in the summer.
I would highly recommend the Bay Point Loop Trail at Harrison Bay. I hope to visit again soon and try out mountain biking on this trail.