The Tennessee River Blueway is a section of the

Tennessee River The Tennessee River is a long river located in the Southern United States, southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. Flowing through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, it begins at the confluence of Fren ...

that flows between the

Chickamauga Dam The Chickamauga Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. The dam is owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the late 1930s as part of a New Deal era initiat ...

and the

Nickajack Dam Nickajack Dam is a hydroelectric dam in Marion County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is one of nine dams on the Tennessee River owned and operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, which built the dam in the mid-1960s to replace the outdated ...

and through downtown

Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...

and the

Tennessee River Gorge The Tennessee River Gorge is a canyon formed by the Tennessee River known locally as Cash Canyon. It is the fourth largest river gorge in the Eastern United States. The gorge is cut into the Cumberland Plateau as the river winds its way into Ala ...

. The City of

Chattanooga Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...

, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, and other agencies have designated the section of river as a blueway for canoe and kayak paddler. The Blueway has camping areas next to the river, as well as museums, restaurants, activities, entertainment, and natural attractions. From there, the Blueway meanders its way to quieter places like Williams Island State Archaeological Park. Williams Island divides the river channel with a tract of land inhabited only by wildlife. From about 1000 to 1650, this area was home to several Native American tribes. It is now managed by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. Then next of course is the stretch of the Tennessee River Gorge, a steep canyon formed by the Tennessee River. The land provides habitats for more than a thousand varieties of plants, ferns, trees, grasses and flowers as well as a wildlife population. Many of these are rare or endangered species such as the mountain skullcap. Dozens of archaeological sites bear evidence of man's presence in the Gorge for at least 10,000 years. There is a secluded spot where you can see Nickajack Cave from the water.

Tennessee Valley Authority The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a federally owned electric utility corporation in the United States. TVA's service area covers all of Tennessee, portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, and small areas of Georgia, North Carolin ...

biologists monitor its bat population and encourage the public to "bat watch." There is no cave access, but canoeists and kayakers can observe the bats from the river.

Map of the Tennessee River Blueway

View a Google Map

Gallery

Image:Gallery-canoe-800.jpg, Early morning Image:Gallery-gorge-800.jpg, Tennessee River Blueway Image:Gallery-camp-800.jpg, Camp on the Blueway Image:Gallery-canoe2-800.jpg, On the Blueway Image:Gallery-osprey2-800.jpg, Osprey Image:Gallery-heron2-800.jpg, Great blue heron Image:Gallery-vulture-800.jpg, Turkey vulture Image:Gallery-raccoon-800.jpg, Raccoon

External links

Tennessee River Gorge Trust Website

Tennessee River Blueway Website

Canoeing the Tennessee River Blueway

City of Chattanooga Website
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