Scenic Chattanooga Paddle at Harrison Bay State Park

Enjoy a Chattanooga paddle board or kayak trip at Harrison Bay State Park on Chickamauga Lake this season.

Chattanooga is full of paddling opportunities. There’s the Tennessee River, lakes, and smaller creeks that all create the perfect Chattanooga paddling waters. One of which is Chickamauga Lake at Harrison Bay State Park. Continue reading to learn more about this paddle location, where to find the best launch points, and what to bring for your paddle.

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Harrison Bay State Park

Harrison Bay State Park is located off Highway 58 just northeast of downtown Chattanooga. It consists of 1,200 acres and nearly 40 miles of shoreline on the Chickamauga Lake. It’s also the oldest Tennessee state park, reopening its gates in 1937 after being a TVA recreational park in the early 30’s. This was soon after the town of Harrison had to relocate as the Chickamauga Dam forced water to flood the old town and create what is now Harrison Bay, part of Chickamauga Lake.

Today the park has plenty of amenities and activities to enjoy. From hiking and camping, to golfing and fishing, and of course, paddling. There’s plenty to do and explore at this Tennessee state park.

Where to Paddle in Harrison Bay State Park

There are four great places for a Chattanooga paddle launch at Harrison Bay State Park. Some are better than others though, so read about each one below to see which spot is best for you. Please note that all of these areas may contain boulders or tree branches that are submerged near the surface of the water. Stay aware so that your vessel doesn’t get hurt by these items.

Day Use Area

The Harrison Bay State Park Day Use Area is located just outside the main entrance of the park. This is arguably the best launching point for a kayak or paddle board. There’s no elaborate sign pointing to the entrance so keep your eyes peeled for the gravel drive by the water. The gravel road follows the shoreline for a third of a mile allowing you access at multiple points to launch into Harrison Bay. This spot is also the edge of a cove which means there’s plenty of water space to paddle and explore without having to worry too much about boat traffic.

Picnic and Beach Area

Even though there’s a boat ramp and marina in Harrison Bay State Park, the best spot to launch for a paddle inside the main part of the park is actually in the beach and picnic area towards the back. When you drive into the park, simply follow the signs for the campground. You’ll actually have to drive through the campground area to reach this spot. The road dead ends into a loop parking lot where you can park on the right side and get ready to paddle. You’ll see plenty of shoreline that is the beach. It’s a gradual slope into the water, perfect for launching a paddle board or kayak.

Stay close to land as you paddle here. There’s islands and peninsulas to explore around, and even a sandbar right near the parking lot. Be mindful of boat traffic entering and exiting the nearby marina, and also out on the Tennessee River. Keeping close to land will help you stay safe and out of the way.

Boat Shed

Another launch point option inside the main part of the park is by the boat shed. When you enter the park, also head towards the back following the signs for the campground. But instead of entering the campground area, turn right into the small parking lot just before the campground check-in, A-frame building. Here you’ll want to find a parking spot as close as you can to the playground. This is because this launch point is a small hike. Some people find it worthwhile, but others not so much. It’s up to you if you want to hike with all your paddling gear for a tenth of a mile or not. The parking is also on top of a hill so coming back up, you’ll be hiking up a hundred feet in elevation. That makes this spot the least convenient of the four.

But, if you don’t already own a kayak or paddle board and would like to rent something to paddle here, this is your spot. At the concession stand, just past the playground, they also rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, and row boats. Here they’ll give you your life jacket and paddle and let you walk down to the water where the boat shed is storing all the water vessels. The rental option makes this launch point much more worth it.

As for the water here, it’s located on the edge of a small cove before opening up to the Tennessee River. So, be mindful of potential boat traffic nearby. There’s also lots of boulders near the shoreline here so I would not recommend launching any inflatable water vessels as they might scrape and get damaged.

Wolftever Boat Ramp

Lastly, the Wolftever Boat Ramp is actually part of the Harrison Bay State Park. Even though it’s located on the other side of Highway 58, this location is great for a Chattanooga paddle launch as long as you’re mindful of boat traffic. This boat ramp is a popular spot for fishing and boat launching so be prepared. Park in the regular parking area (not the boat trailer sections) and park as close to the ramp as possible since that’s where you’ll be launching.

I would recommend using the boat ramp to launch once it’s clear. And I would launch on the left side of the ramp and paddle upstream. Most boat traffic will be heading to the right, under the bridge and out to open waters. Although you could paddle this way too, the water will be rougher and you’ll have more traffic to watch out for. Going to the left is a quieter section of water with a few coves to explore.

What You Need for a Successful Chattanooga Paddle

If you’ve never paddled before or want to make sure you have everything you need for a successful Chattanooga paddle, read all the details below for what I use all the time to make my paddle adventures more enjoyable. I also have a free paddle checklist for you so you never forget to pack anything.

Paddle Vessel

Obviously, you need a kayak, paddle board, canoe, whatever vessel you want to use to enjoy a paddle. If you don’t already have a paddle board, I can recommend the All Around 11’ Inflatable Paddle Board from iRocker. I’ve used my board from iRocker for 2 summers now and it’s held up super well. It’s both durable and affordable compared to others on the market.

If you go for an inflatable paddle board like I have, I highly recommend getting an electric pump for it. Trust me, you need a high psi that is not worth trying to manually pump. I personally have this pump that runs off your car. I’ve used it a hundred times over the last couple of years and I just now have a broken nozzle, which they’ve recently redesigned to prevent this from happening in the future. Other than that, I’ve had no issues and recommend this pump. Or, if you want to go with a battery powered one that will let you pump up your paddle board away from your vehicle, my friend has used this rechargeable pump for a year now and loves it.

Life Jacket

Once you’ve got your vessel and paddle squared away, you need to have a life jacket. The current Tennessee laws require you to have a life jacket on board your vessel in case you need it. Children under the age of 12 are required to wear a life jacket at all times when on the water. It is your responsibility to keep up with the laws. And, you could be fined if you are found in violation of any of them. I have experienced this while paddle boarding before. I’ve seen someone almost get a fine because they did not have a life jacket. Don’t be that person. Plan ahead and abide by the rules.

You don’t need a fancy life jacket. An inexpensive one will suffice. I personally use this X2O Universal Life Jacket from Walmart. I’ve had this life jacket for paddling and river tubing adventures for a few years now and it’s held up well for my needs.

Waterproof Fanny Pack

So you’ve got your paddle vessel, your life jacket, but what else should you bring along to make your paddle even better?

Start by getting a waterproof fanny pack. This can either be worn or tied up to your vessel. Its purpose is to hold your keys, snacks, phone, anything you NEED to bring with you on the paddle that you don’t want getting lost or wet.

Water

Even though you’re on the water, make a plan to stay hydrated. It doesn’t take long for your body to lose water, especially in the direct sunlight while paddling. So plan ahead and pack a water bottle or two. I like to use the Nalgene bottles because they’re made of a resilient plastic that can handle a beating, but also won’t damage my paddle board or other items.

But, the sun will warm up that water fast! So here’s a tip. The night before your paddle, fill up your Nalgene bottle about halfway with water and put it in the freezer. When it’s time to pack and leave for the paddle, pull it from the freezer and top it off with cold water. Now when you paddle, you’ll have cold water to drink and even more as the ice melts down.

Carabiners and Floats

Any loose items you plan to keep aboard your vessel should be attached in some way so you don’t lose them in the depths. I like to clip all of my items with these carabiners to the bungees on my paddle board. If you don’t have a way to attach any of your items, make sure they have floats on them in case they fall in the water.

Shoes and Sunscreen

Be sure to lather up with sunscreen before you embark on the water and reapply as necessary. You will also need good water shoes as the rocks beneath the water can be sharp. I like to wear my Tevas out and take them off to stow under the bungees on my board once I’m on the board away from shore. Then I put them back on when it’s time to exit and pack up to leave.

Towels

When water is involved, you’ll want a towel. Even if you don’t plan on getting in the water, you never know how wet you may get. I personally love to sit and lie down on my paddle board. The water will splash onto and flow across the top of the board at times. So just remember that anything in direct contact with the board may very well get wet.

It’s also helpful to have a secondary towel ready to dry off your paddle board if you use an inflatable one like mine. When it’s time to pack up and leave, I like to dry and clean my paddle board with a towel after I’ve deflated it. One towel does the job and keeping a clean board prolongs the life of the paddle board.