Aetna Mountain Trails Opening to Public!
By Eliot Berz
We are thrilled to announce the opening of the first phase of the Aenta Mountain Trails on September 29, 2023. For the past few years, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust has been working alongside our community to add a trail system that fits perfectly into our region’s existing trail network. From the start, this project has been a community driven process in which local mountain bikers, hikers, and trail runners helped us design a trail system that meets the community’s needs. The first phase includes roughly 4 miles of multi-use trails for hiking and mountain biking with a 1.4-mile beginner level loop trail and a 2.4-mile intermediate level loop. The trail system has also been built with adaptive mountain biking in mind to ensure a variety of trail users can enjoy the property. The trails offer segments for beginner to advanced riders with by-passable advanced mountain biking features to allow riders to progress their skills. Ultimately, the trail system will host over 10 miles of multi-use trails that cater to a variety of skill levels and trail users.
This project was made possible through the support of local foundations, businesses, and community members. We would like to give a special thanks to Black Creek, the Lyndhurst Foundation, Tower Community Bank, Chattanooga Tourism Co, Rock Creek, RH Aviation, Fox Factory, the International Mountain Biking Association, and many generous community members. Now that the first phase is complete, planning and fundraising for the second phase in underway.
The trails will officially open on Friday September 29, 2023 following a few remarks at 2:00 PM ET. If you would like to join us to celebrate the opening, register here. The trailhead is on River Gorge Drive halfway up Aetna Mountain. We also welcome and encourage any feedback or questions about the trail through our trail reporting form on the Aetna Mountain Trails webpage. See you on the trail!
