Discover a Chattanooga Hiking Gem: Ritchie Hollow Trail

Ritchie Hollow is a hidden hiking gem close to downtown Chattanooga that features beautiful creek crossings along with Blowing Wind Falls.

Some of my favorite trails are ones found off the beaten path. Of course I love nearly all the trails I explore, popular or not, but there’s something special about a more secluded trail. It’s like knowing a secret that’s right in plain sight. Ritchie Hollow Trail is just that. Many people know about it, but you have to know about it to find it. Continue reading to learn more about where to find it and what secrets this Chattanooga hiking gem holds.

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What is the Ritchie Hollow Trail?

The Ritchie Hollow Trail opened in 2018 after being built by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. However, the trail is actually part of the Prentice Cooper State Forest Park. Since it’s part of Prentice Cooper, check before you go to make sure the park isn’t closed for hunting. Hunting seasons run throughout the year so don’t assume it’s open. Scroll down their site’s page and click “hunting” for a drop down of the nearest hunting dates.

Ritchie Hollow Trail starts at the base of the mountain and takes you up to Blowing Wind Falls after 1.8 miles. But the trail continues from there up to the top of the mountain where it connects to other trails within the Prentice Cooper Park trail system. In total, the trail is 2.7 miles long and is one of the only trails that leads you up the mountain from the bottom. For our hike, we just went up to Blowing Wind Falls and turned around from there to head back down.

The trail is well marked and easy to follow. In the first section you’ll find it to be fairly easy with minimal incline. There are several creek crossings, but nothing too crazy. Just over a mile down the trail it starts to get steep and becomes a strenuous hike as you climb the trail up the mountain to get to Blowing Wind Falls. Overall you’ll go through about 700 feet of elevation gain and the round trip hike will be nearly 4 miles if you just go up to the waterfall and back.

Ritchie Hollow Trail Creeks and Blowing Wind Falls

What makes this Chattanooga hike incredible are all the beautiful creek crossings and a waterfall. There’s two main creek crossings that are easy to pass by using rocks. And if you know me, you know I hate rock hopping. But these crossings are much more stable than most and have been well maintained. If it has rained recently, the crossings should still be passable. It had recently rained and snowed when we hiked and I was impressed with how easy it really was to cross these two. There’s other small run-offs that may cause parts of the trail to be muddy if it’s recently rained as well.

At the end of the nearly two mile hike is Blowing Wind Falls. You can see the waterfall from the top of the trail or you can carefully hike down to the base of it by using a very short spur trail. Blowing Wind Falls is a 30 foot tall cascading waterfall that is hidden away near the top of the mountainside. The spur trail leading to it hugs an overhanging bluff that eventually creates Blowing Wind Falls itself.

Tips for Your Hike at Ritchie Hollow Trail

The Ritchie Hollow Trail hike is not the most challenging but it is a workout. The nearly two miles of hiking to Blowing Wind Falls is uphill with almost 1,000ft elevation gain. Basically you’re hiking from the base of the mountain to almost the top. The first half is gradual, but the second half gets much steeper requiring you to constantly push yourself and stop for lots of breaks. But it’s all worth it!

The descent to Blowing Wind Falls could be wet and slippery. It was still cold when we went so the bluff overhanging the trail down to the waterfall was lined with dripping and falling icicles. If it’s rained recently, water will be dripping from here too, causing the trail to become slick and muddy. Please use caution while hiking down to the base of the falls.

I have not been during any other time of the year, but I’ve heard this trail gets overgrown and is heavy with ticks in the summertime. I highly suggest planning to hike here between fall and early spring to avoid any obstacles that late spring and summer bring. Plus, if you hike while the trees are bare you’ll have a better view of the Tennessee River below and the surrounding mountains.

Closing Thoughts on Ritchie Hollow Trail

You can find the Ritchie Hollow Trail on River Canyon Road, off of Suck Creek Road. River Canyon Road is a long, narrow road so be prepared to make room for any oncoming vehicles. Parking at the trailhead is somewhat limited but there were still plenty of spots open when we visited on a cold-weather Sunday afternoon. Just follow the signs for parking at Pot Point when you arrive. Since this trail isn’t directly on a main road, I think it stays a little more secluded. There’s also Pot Point Nature Trail at this parking area as well. It’s a four mile loop hike that stays near the base of the mountain. I have yet to try this one, but I’ll let you know about it as soon as I do.

Be sure to watch the video of this Ritchie Hollow Trail hike. It displays the beauty of this trail and explains how some of the surrounding trails are laid out. This hike is worth the uphill struggle, but if you don’t want to do the hike up to Blowing Wind Falls, it’s still worthwhile to visit. The first creek crossing is two tenths of a mile in and that creek alone makes the trip worth it. Let me know your thoughts on this hike in the comments below. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!

More Secluded Waterfall Hikes

• Sitton’s Gulch to Hemlock Falls
• Heiss Mountain Trailhead to Richey Ridge Falls
• Newby Branch Trailhead to White Pine Cascades

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