Fall Hiking is one of the best ways to experience the colorful autumn leaves. There are so many places to go for fall hiking in the Chattanooga area. Today I’ll explain why Benton Falls is one of the places you should add to your fall bucket list this year.
Benton Falls and The Chilhowee Recreation Area
Benton Falls is the most well-known feature in the Chilhowee Recreation area. In fact, I wrote a blog post earlier this summer about Benton Falls, which I hiked down to and enjoyed the cold water on a warm summer day. If you’d like to see photos of the 65 foot waterfall and learn more about it, click HERE. I did not hike down to the falls on this visit.
The Chilhowee Recreation Area is also popular for camping. They offer an array of sites for tent and RV camping in April through October. Another highlight is McKamey Lake which has a beach for swimming in the summer months and fishing as well. One of the main attractions, besides Benton Falls, are the 20+ miles of biking and hiking trails throughout the park. Please note there is a $3 fee per vehicle for using the park during the day. This helps with the upkeep of the facilities and making sure we can continue to enjoy this park for years to come.
Hiking Trails
There are nearly 20 different shorter trails in the park that make up the 20+ miles in the Chilhowee Trail System. Last time I visited, we parked in the main lot and hiked down to Benton Falls and back. This time, I wanted to explore some of the other trails. We went on a Saturday afternoon and I must say, I was surprised how most of the foot traffic sticks to the Benton Falls Trail. We saw no one on the other trails we explored.
Above is a visual of the hike we took (highlighted in grey).
- This includes Benton Falls Trail. The hike down to the actual falls is a separate extension of the trail from the main one.
- A short there-and-back stint on Red Leaf Trail. There’s a small creek crossing I did not want to make on this trail and that is why we turned around.
- After passing the downhill hike to the falls, we continued on to Clemmer for a little bit. There was another small creek crossing that I was able to safely make it across and stay dry.
- After reaching yet another creek crossing, the intersection for Slick Rock Laurel Loop was before it so we took that instead of continuing on Clemmer.
- From here we looked for Slick Rock Hancock Loop Trail. We ended up passing by a small meadow and then on a service road before coming across the trail sign.
- It was a gradual but consistent uphill hike from here to Slick Rock Naked Widow Loop. This was our goal as we knew that Naked Widow meets up with Benton Falls Trail towards the park entrance.
I utilized the park map up front that I took a photo of and we never got lost using that. For a trail map, click HERE. However I have noted that the map posted at the entrance looks slightly different in design than this one posted online. Overall, it’s the same layout though and you can get a good idea of the trails and how you want to hike them from these.
Fall Hiking Tips
Peak fall foliage should start this week and continue through next weekend. So to experience the best fall scenery, I suggest making plans later this week or over the weekend to get those fall hiking colors in.
Fall hiking is one of my favorites because of the colors and the cooler weather. However one thing that makes me very cautious are the fallen leaves. It’s ironic how the key element that excites me for the hike is also the key element that scares me. What I mean by this is that the leaves that have already fallen can heap up and create a faux floor. You never know what will be lurking underneath them. Sometimes they hide tripping hazards such as small rocks and tree roots. Other times they hide footholds like small crevices between large stones. And lastly, fallen leaves are a slip hazard, especially if there’s recently been some wet weather.
The trails we explored at Chilhowee Recreation Area are probably some of the safest fall hiking trails as far as fallen leaves dangers go. That’s why I highly recommend this for your fall hiking list.
When planning for your fall hiking trip, I highly suggest doing a little trail research before you go. This way you know what to expect on the trail. Also, check out the park’s website for any immediate hazards or warnings to be prepared in advance. Of course, check the weather too. You wouldn’t want to be caught out on a hike in the fall when it starts raining. The colder weather will make hiking in the rain freezing and miserable.
That’s all I have for you for now about fall hiking. There are countless trails that will be awesome for fall hiking in the Chattanooga area. If you’re interested in learning about some other trails that will be perfect for fall hiking this next week, check out the list below. Tomorrow I’ll be sharing the video from my hike that includes some of the early fall foliage I was able to enjoy.
One day I’d like to hike more of the trails in this park and maybe even try biking. I would also love to camp here sometime as well. When I go back to explore some more, I’ll be sure to take you with me. Until next time, have fun Exploring Chatt!
~Amanda
Click the names below to explore other great fall hiking trails: