Lower Pot Point Boulders
Hike, Camp, Climb!
By Eliot Berz
Over millennia, chunks of sandstone broke away from the bluff and tumbled down the mountain into the Tennessee River Gorge. Many of these giants’ journeys came to a halt on flat terraces along the mountainside. Today, these tranquil boulders show no sign of their chaotic past as they rest on the terraces providing habitat for an array of plants, animals, and fungi. For our community, they offer a glimpse into geological history and opportunities for meaningful experiences within wilderness. One of these remarkable boulder fields sits on the Tennessee River Gorge Trust’s Pot Point Property.
Photo by David Campeotto
TRGT is expanding our Pot Point Nature Trail to include 3 backcountry campsites within the Lower Pot Point Boulder Field to enable our community to experience this unique place. The new recreation area will provide 3 free campsites equipped with elevated camping platforms, picnic tables, fire rings, and a shared composting privy. The facilities, manageable hike-in, and proximity to downtown Chattanooga will help promote the use of this new site to a range of users from beginner backpackers to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts searching for an easy backpacking trip in the gorge. A portion of the boulder field is also being developed for rock climbing in partnership with the Southeastern Climbers Coalition (SCC). Although these boulders have been historically climbed, the use has been seldom. Our partners at SCC and wonderful volunteers have further developed the area and identified over 30 boulders with unique problems (climbing lingo for a specific route up the boulder).
These campsites will help fill the void of designated camping options in the immediate Chattanooga area. The Lower Pot Point Boulders will open in the fall of 2021. This project was made possible by the Lyndhurst Foundation, Black Creek of Chattanooga, and the Chattanooga Hiking Club. TRGT and our wonderful partners hope you get outside this fall to experience it for yourself! To learn more about this site or reserve a campsite for your next adventure, visit the Lower Pot Point Boulders page.
