The list below includes some of our favorite adventures across the Southeast. To choose a specific destination, check out our curated adventure guides by clicking the links in the sidebar below.
This winding blackwater creek is one of the Lowcountry’s finest places to paddle. From Still Landing, canoes and kayaks can head either direction through the cypress/tupelo stands that line the creek. Warblers, kites, and wildlife are abundant. If you have a second car to drop, it’s a 5...
The Charleston peninsula harbors a fantastic but infrequently used kayak throw-in at Brittlebank Park’s floating dock. From there it’s just a quick half-mile paddle upriver to the creek that leads to Charles Towne Landing, where the Lowcountry’s first settlers arrived in 1670. Look for...
Just 20 minutes from downtown Charleston, the agrarian island of Wadmalaw still exists much as it has for a century. Liberia Rd. (SC 68) allows bicyclists to ride a 9.8-mile loop, or continue down Bears Bluff Rd. another 4.3 miles to White Point Landing and the confluence of the Wadmalaw...
Hooking and reeling in a 50+ pound fish is an incomparable thrill, especially when the experience comes after rousing yourself at 3 a.m. for a two-and-a-half-hour boat ride out to the Gulf Stream. Charleston’s marinas offer a host of offshore guides and charters. Trolling attracts...
Electric utility Santee Cooper built Lakes Marion and Moultrie in the 1940s to generate power, but sixty years later, they’re best known for that project’s welcome byproduct-fish. From bass to crappie, the lakes have historically produced national record catches. Catfish take the prize...
The grassy marshland that lines the West Ashley and James Island side of Charleston harbor is rife with sea trout and redfish. A kayak’s silence and stealth allow anglers a closer approach to their prey than in a motorized craft. Focus on the mouths of small feeder creeks opening up into...
With the recent opening of Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park, fishermen have new access to the waters of Charleston Harbor. The remnants of the infamously narrow bridge over the Cooper River have been repurposed as a fishing pier, and trout, redfish, and sheepshead are all fair game. Bring the...
The former Coast Guard station on the north end of Folly Beach is a favorite local escape with a maritime forest and empty beaches. Set up shop for a day of casting into the surf right where the island turns toward Morris Island and its iconic lighthouse rising from the waves. Fish shrimp...
The Palmetto Trail, a signature project of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, crosses the state from the mountains to the sea with the Awendaw Passage its coastal terminus. The 7 mile Awendaw Passage passes through maritime forests of pine and palmetto and is arguably the northernmost...
Explore the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Carrier Park and the French Broad River Park are the jewels of the 17-mile Wilma Dykeman RiverWay. At these two conjoined parks along Amboy Road, you can run or skate the paved greenways, fish from the piers, or pedal Asheville’s velodrome. Also be sure...
Explore the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Carrier Park and the French Broad River Park are the jewels of the 17-mile Wilma Dykeman RiverWay. At these two conjoined parks along Amboy Road, you can run or skate the paved greenways, fish from the piers, or pedal Asheville’s velodrome. Also be sure...
Catch a Sunrise The best way to start your Chattanooga Perfect Weekend is to take in some great views atop Lookout Mountain. Your best bets are Rock City’s seven state panoramic view or the Mountain Beautiful Trail (see Hiking Adventures) will take you around the cliffs of Lookout...
Mullins Cove Loop (Cumberland Trail, Prentice Cooper State Forest) A 10.5-mile loop that will take runners around the east and west rim of Prentice Cooper. Be prepared for tight and technical hiking trails that seem to have a constant change in elevation. After enduring miles of...
Big Daddy Run (Lookout Mountain) This area has many different trails to choose from, ranging from gradual gravel roads to steep technical hiking trails. Runners can choose the Guild Trail for an easier gravel road run, or opt for the extremely challenging “Big Daddy” run. The Big Daddy...
Coolidge Park (Riverfront Area) Coolidge Park lies on the banks of the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. The park offers multiple grass fields, a giant fountain for kids of all ages to play in, a climbing wall, and a carousel with hand carved animals. Above the middle of the park...
A great place to go for a run in downtown Chattanooga. A paved, 7 mile pathway that will take runners from downtown Chattanooga, along the Tennessee River, to the Chickamauga Dam. After working up an appetite, check out the Boathouse Restaurant located on the River Walk about 3 miles from...
This adventure offers roads and trails that will take runners past scenic views and historical Civil War sites. Many different route options to choose from with over 15 miles of hiking trails and 20 miles of low traffic roads. We suggest checking out the 9 mile Red Trail Loop that is...
This 300-acre arboretum offers gravel roads and trails for runners and walkers. With Lookout Mountain on one side and Lookout Creek on the other, Reflection Riding is sure to have some incredible views. The Chattanooga Nature center sits at the entrance of Reflection Riding and is a great...
Chattanooga has a solid rowing community and a great boathouse a few miles from downtown off Amnicola Highway. If you are new to the sport then check out the classes offered by the Lookout Rowing Club. If you are more of a spectator then check out the Chattanooga Head Race that takes...
This swimming spot in the North Chickamauga Pocket Wilderness area is just 20 minutes north of town. The jump from the cliffs into the 12 to 14 feet deep waters will certainly get your blood pumping. This area also includes some prime kayaking, river rafting, and hiking opportunities so...
The Blueway is a 50-mile stretch of the Tennessee River from the Chickamauga Dam to the Nickajack Dam. The real payoff of this journey is that it takes you through the Tennessee River Gorge-” The Tennessee Grand Canyon.” The Gorge section encompasses 27,000 acres and 26 miles of the river...
The Ocoee River, just 30 miles north of Chattanooga, offers plenty of whitewater rafting action. The 5 mile Middle Ocoee section starts at Ocoee Dam #2 and includes Class III and Class IV rapids with highlights such as Table Saw and Powerhouse. The Upper Ocoee’s claim to fame is that it...
Once again, a very literal trail name! A great hiking trail that takes hikers up to the cliffs of Lookout Mountain and then follows the cliffs around the nose of Lookout Mountain. This trail is quite steep at first, but once to the cliffs, the trail flattens out. Definitely worth the hard...
A must-do hike in Chattanooga filled with scenic overlooks, waterfalls, swinging bridges, and water-side campsites! A short hike from the parking lot, hikers are greeted with an overlook of the Tennessee River Gorge and downtown Chattanooga. A couple of miles further, and hikers will...
Obvious of its name, Sunset Rock offers a great place for hikers to come and watch the sun go down. A short hike from the parking lot and hikers will find themselves atop an 80 ft, cliff with a front-row view of the Sunset. Over 20 miles of trails branch off from Sunset Rock, so hikers...
A 1,180 ft. canyon located off of Lookout Mountain, Cloudland Canyon is claimed as one of the prettiest and least used parks in the state. The West Rim Trail gives hikers an amazing view of the canyon, while the Waterfall Trail will highlight the Sitton Gulch Creek that created the canyon...
The Prentice Cooper segment of the Cumberland Trail, which runs from Chattanooga to the Kentucky border, features over 30 miles of hiking trails with beautiful overlooks of the Tennessee River Gorge. For a short day hike, park at the Snooper’s Rock parking lot and hike to the Snooper’s...
The trophy section of the Hiwassee River is located between the Appalachian Dam and Reliance, TN. Fly fishing standard May Fly hatches with dry flies in the spring and fishing with nymphs year-round, produce Rainbow and Brown Trout. In the summer, anglers concentrate on Stripers that...
You’re willing to drive a little way, you can fish some of the best trout water in the southeast. Enjoy a scenic drive through the quaint towns of Cowan and Winchester to Tim’s Ford Dam. Fishing is strong throughout the year here, offering anglers ample opportunity to catch Brown and...
This family friendly area covers over 220 acres that includes the Greenway Farm and several miles of trails for hiking and biking. With the three river access points, we suggest paddling this gentle section of the North Chickamauga Creek. North Chickamagua Creek Greenway Directions: Take...