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 that in large part have been preserved by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. A recent option for paddlers when coming off the TN River Blueway is to stay at the Chattanooga Nature Center’s Paddler’s Perch, an elevated creekside cabin that can be rented for overnight stays. The Perch is right off Lookout Creek and features a boardwalk, boat storage, and dock.
Tennessee River Directions: There are numerous spots to access the Tennessee River. If you are downtown the best spot would be Coolidge Park on the north shore right under the Market St. Bridge.
