Enterprise South Nature Park is full of varying levels of bike trails so you’ll never get bored of this Chattanooga park.
Do you like bike riding on gravel or a paved surface? Or, do you prefer dirt trail mountain biking? No matter your preference, this park has it all. Keep reading to learn more about these Chattanooga bike trails.
Enterprise South Nature Park
Enterprise South Nature Park opened to the public in 2010, but before it was a nature park it was home to ammunition plants. The land was used in the the late 1930’s and early 1940’s for this purpose until the 1990’s when the government offered it to the local city and county. Over 10 years later, the ammunition plant property was turned into a nature park for all to enjoy.
Today, you can still see hundreds of the concrete magazines (more commonly called “bunkers”) throughout the park. These dome-shaped storage containers were used to house TNT which was manufactured at this site. Some are now opened to the public so that you can walk through history and have fun with the sound phenomenon the concrete spheres create. I believe these bunkers are what this park is best known for as it’s a unique feature you won’t find in many places.
Chattanooga Bike Trails of Enterprise South Nature Park
If you’re looking for some mountain biking trails, Enterprise South Nature Park has 16 miles worth of them. These are one directional trails that change direction depending on the day of the week. I personally have not tried any of these trails as I’m not a very experienced mountain biker. But my friends have and say good things about them. You can find more info on the length, difficulty, and directions of these trails on the Enterprise South Nature Park website.
My biking experience is on the paved trails. There are 9 miles of paved pathways that are used by cyclists and pedestrians alike. My friends and I rode most of these trails one weekend and I will say it wore me out! All the trails have a good amount of uphills and downhills which account for the exhaustion. I’m still not really used to all the hill climbing on my bike as it’s quite the workout if you’re not accustomed to it. But the downhills make it so rewarding and worth it!
Tips for Your Visit
I highly suggest looking over the park map and making a plan before your visit. You can also download a copy of the map via a QR Code which is handy while you’re exploring the park. There’s little to none cell signal in the park so downloading your map offline prior to your arrival is key. Also, make note, do NOT ride down Connecter 3 Road. It has a steep hill and nowhere to go at the end. Basically, it’s a there and back path if you’re on your bike. This road is used for exiting traffic from the parking lot by Gate 10.
After you look at a map, you’ll note there are various parking lots. You can park in the lot at the front or the visitor’s center parking lot. If you park in either of these, you’ll have to bike uphill to the start of the trails. It’s a gradual incline that’s not visible but you will definitely feel it! If you don’t want this extra warmup, I suggest driving into the park a little further and parking in the lot by Gate 10. Gate 10 is the beginning of all the paved bike trails so it’s a good place to start.
Make note of the park hours and special conditions. The park is gated and locks promptly at closing time. Sometimes special events or weather will determine trail closures. Before you go, be sure to check and make sure the trails you want to ride are open by clicking by checking the park website. It’s common for the bike trails to be closed if we’ve gotten a lot of rain. These trails are designed for dry weather only and cannot be ridden on when wet. I will also note that there are multiple picnic locations throughout the park as well as restrooms for your convenience.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a good workout on your bike, these Chattanooga bike trails are the place for you. However, if you’re looking for something less strenuous and hilly, I suggest trying the Tennessee River Park instead. But if flying downhill at high speed on a bicycle sounds fun to you, I cannot recommend Enterprise South Nature Park enough.
Be sure to watch the video of this bike adventure with my friends. This park has something for everyone, including footpath only trails and a scenic drive. I’ll be sharing more later on the hiking trails in the park as well as the drive around the park at a later date. Until then, have fun exploring Chatt!
