TVA Raccoon Mountain is a unique Chattanooga destination that has so much to see and do in just one day or less near downtown.
Want to take a short hike, watch the sunrise, fish, take a scenic drive, and see some amazing views? You can do all this and more at TVA Raccoon Mountain. Keep reading to learn more about how to make the most out of your visit to this beloved Chattanooga mountain.
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Purchase a downloadable Google Map with the route and additional stops listed in this post so you’re ready to explore TVA Raccoon Mountain!
TVA Raccoon Mountain
TVA Raccoon Mountain was built in the 1970’s as a hydroelectric facility. It helps provide power to the Chattanooga area when the need for power is in high demand. It’s TVA’s largest hydroelectric project and part of the reservoir is TVA’s largest rockfill dam. The reservoir sits atop Raccoon Mountain as a pumped storage facility. Water is pumped up to the top from the Tennessee River below and stored there until needed to produce power.
Along with producing electricity for Chattanooga by use of water, TVA Raccoon Mountain is also home to wildlife, about 30 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, overlooks, a fishing pier, and a boat ramp. With numerous recreational opportunities, TVA’s Raccoon Mountain can easily fill your day with outdoor adventure.
Raccoon Mountain Fishing and Boating
After entering the TVA Racoon Mountain via the main entrance off Cummings Highway, you’ll soon see the Tennessee River to your left. First you’ll see the boat ramp where you can put your boat in the river. I don’t suggest paddling this section of the river as it’s very narrow and close to the pumps of Raccoon Mountain. If you boat on this section of the river, be sure to keep an eye on your surroundings as commercial barge traffic is common through here. Keep clear of any barges to make sure you both have safe passage.
A little further down the road is another parking area. Here you can get out and explore the fishing pier. Not only is this a great place to fish, it’s also the location of the pumps that carry Tennessee River water up to the reservoir on top of Raccoon Mountain. Even if you don’t plan to fish, I recommend checking out this spot on foot to watch for water movement as they pump water up the mountain and just to see this unique riverside spot.
Raccoon Mountain Views
Now it’s time to drive up the mountain. Along the way, you may see deer and other wildlife along the road. As soon as you reach the top, follow the signs and turn left to visit the East Overlook. This is a great spot for sunrise when the weather and timing is right. It’s also one of the best overlooks in Chattanooga as you can see downtown Chattanooga, the Tennessee valley, and nearby Lookout Mountain from right here.
After you’ve enjoyed your time at the overlook and taken in the views, continue your drive to the Visitor Center. You’ll see a sign for it to your right after driving up the road for a little ways. Note, the Visitor Center is only open during April through October from 9AM to 5PM and November through March from 11AM to 3PM. It’s closed on federal holidays and everything on Raccoon Mountain operates on central time. Even if the Visitor Center is closed, you can still park here and get out to examine a turbine up close and enjoy the view behind the Visitor Center of the Tennessee River Gorge. There’s also restrooms here that should be open as well, even if the center is closed.
Across from the Visitor Center, to the left when you came in, is the reservoir overlook. From here you can get a better look at the 230 foot tall, 8,500 foot long reservoir. It holds about 107 billion gallons of water which translates to 528 acres over the surface. You can also see the pump from here which transports the water from the river below.
Need a map? Here’s directions:
Purchase a downloadable Google Map with the route and additional stops listed in this post so you’re ready to explore TVA Raccoon Mountain!
Chattanooga Scenic Drive
Continue your drive around the reservoir via a single lane, one directional drive. This is one of the most unique places in Chattanooga. A large body of water to your left and beautiful mountain landscapes to your right. It feels surreal as you drive along the edge of this rockfill dam which is what makes Raccoon Mountain one of my favorite places to visit in Chattanooga. If you want to spend your day on a scenic drive, check out this Chattanooga scenic drive itinerary which includes Raccoon Mountain.
Hiking and Mountain Biking on Raccoon Mountain
Just over halfway around the reservoir, you’ll notice a driveway to the right. This will take you to Laurel Point. There’s a few different parking lots here to choose from as well as restrooms nearby. If you’re interested in mountain biking, this is a great place to start. Raccoon Mountain is known to be one of the best places to mountain bike in the Chattanooga area. Even I, not an avid mountain biker, have enjoyed these trails and definitely recommend them. For more tips and to learn how my experience was biking here, be sure to check out my Raccoon Mountain Biking blog post.
If you’re short on time and just want to get out and stretch your legs, I recommend simply following the paved trail. It loops from one end of the parking lot to the other and features a few places to get on a dirt trail where you can enjoy rocky bluffs and some views slightly blocked by trees. If you want to hike more along these trails, be sure to check out my winter hiking on Raccoon Mountain blog post.
After your time at Laurel Point is complete, finish your drive around the reservoir. The road will take you back to the intersection where you can visit the East Overlook one last time, or head back down the mountain to leave.
In Closing
Lastly, we enjoyed dinner at El Taxqueno the last time we visited Raccoon Mountain and I highly recommend it. It’s a local restaurant that’s authentically Mexican. The food is fresh and made to order and it’s close by along Cummings Highway.
It’s easy to spend a full day on TVA Raccoon Mountain, or just keep your time here short and sweet while doing a Chattanooga scenic drive. Whichever you choose to do, you’ll quickly see why this is one of my favorites and a very unique place in Chattanooga.
Watch the video version of this itinerary on YouTube to get a better visual of what this place is like. Share this with a friend or on your social media if you think they will find it helpful. Thanks for reading and sharing! Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
Need a map? Here’s directions:
Purchase a downloadable Google Map with the route and additional stops listed in this post so you’re ready to explore TVA Raccoon Mountain!
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