Do you want to visit a nearby park that isn’t very crowded, has miles of hiking and biking trails, beautiful water views, and a great fishing pier? Then Booker T Washington State Park is the place for you.
History of Booker T Washington State Park
Booker T Washington State Park is named after, you guessed it, Mr. Booker T Washington himself. A quick history lesson will remind you that Washington was born in a unique time. Born into slavery, he was freed by the age of 9 as the Civil War concluded. Growing up, he struggled to find better education. Excelling in school, Washington eventually ended up at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, for which he is well known. He spent his career teaching at the school and helped pave the way for better education for African Americans. Washington firmly believed that the betterment of a group of people that had just been freed from slavery was found through hard work and better education, not politics and civil rights movements.
Activities at Booker T Washington State Park
There are nearly 9 miles of trails throughout the 353 acre park. The trails are for both hiking and biking alike. Other outdoor activities include multiple playgrounds, an Olympic size swimming pool, volleyball court, and basketball court. There are plenty of picnic shelters throughout the park as well. A boat ramp at the back of the park allows easy access to Chickamauga Lake.
Other thank hiking and biking, the next most popular activity in the park is fishing. There’s a large fishing pier near the back of the park that’s well-loved by many. And last but not least, there are plaques throughout the park that share the history of Booker T Washington himself. For a map of the park and its amenities, click HERE.
Key Tips for Your Visit
On our last visit we hiked a portion of the outer loop. Even though all the trails are for hikers and bikers, we noted that there were about half and half of both. Be cautious of this because the trail is not very wide. The bike riders we encountered were very courteous and announced themselves as they slowly approached. But of course, I can’t say it will always be this way.
The outer loop trail that we experienced was fairly flat and easy. There are some small inclines and descents through dried creek beds but nothing major. There’s even a few small bridges that cross over the wet creeks. I have not hiked the inner loops yet, but I’m guessing they’re a little more strenuous. I’ll have to visit again at a later date and see so I can let you know.
We did not go out onto the fishing pier this trip. I have walked out there a few times in the past and found it to be quite nice, even as a non-fisher like myself. However it does get crowded pretty quickly. On our hike, there was a point where we were across the water from the pier and could see that it was full of people. We went on a Saturday afternoon so I’m sure that’s to be expected.
That’s about it for one of Chattanooga’s best kept secrets, Booker T Washington State Park. It’s a smaller park compared to the others around but because of this it tends to be less popular and therefore not as busy as the rest. Plus, it’s closer to town than you’d think. For directions, click HERE. It’s right down the road from Harrison Bay State Park which I covered in a blog post HERE.
When you visit Booker T Washington State Park, let me know. I’d love to hear what you think about this little gem. Until next time, I’ll see y’all out Exploring Chatt!
~Amanda