Indian Springs Campgrounds
Campground
Campground · 9.3 mi from the trail
Tennessee · Hiking · Near Red Bank
Big Forest
- 0.3 mi
- round trip
- 180 ft
- climb
- 1,081 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
Big Forest is a short, easy hike in Tennessee, set about 0.8 miles from the town of Collegedale. The route is an out-and-back that covers less than a mile and rises about 50 feet, so it works as a quick stop or a warm-up before moving on to other trails in the area. The hike starts at a low point of 1,017 feet and reaches a high of 1,081 feet, with a total gain and loss of about 180 feet over the course of the trip. The steepest stretch comes early, about 0.2 miles in, where the grade reaches about 4 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 74°F with lows near 51°F, while July and August average highs of about 90°F. Several other trails sit close by, including Oak Hole Lane about 0.1 mile away and Sabbath Trail and Forest Lane each about 0.2 mile away. Climbers can find the Goliath wall about half a mile off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsTVSRR at English Wikipedia . Photo by Jason Trew / TVSRR, Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsTennessee Valley Railroad Museum
Museum
On your way back · 10 miRailroad museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: TVSRR at English Wikipedia . Photo by Jason Trew / TVSRR, Public domain (commons)
More in Red BankBest time to go · Feb–May, Sep–Nov
Best time to visit Big Forest
Best months: February–May and September–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
51° / 32°
11 wet
Feb
56° / 36°
10 wet
Mar
64° / 42°
11 wet
Apr
74° / 50°
10 wet
May
81° / 59°
11 wet
Jun
88° / 67°
11 wet
Jul
90° / 71°
12 wet
Aug
90° / 70°
10 wet
Sep
84° / 64°
8 wet
Oct
74° / 51°
8 wet
Nov
62° / 40°
9 wet
Dec
53° / 35°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Chattanooga Lovell Ap, TN, 9.2 mi away at 671 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Graham Patton, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Lookout Hill
~2 min drive
0.80-mile out-and-back trail at Lookout Hill in Tennessee with 104 ft gain.
HIKE
Forest Lane
Next door
1.48-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 855 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Graham Patton, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Murky Marsh
~2 min drive
3.50-mile loop trail in Tennessee with 851 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Krebs Cycle
~2 min drive
Krebs Cycle is a 1.16-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 284 ft gain.
Photo: Graham Patton, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Pogo's Place
~2 min drive
Pogo's Place is a 1.20-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 388 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Mid Ridge
~2 min drive
1.23-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 507 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Oak Hole Lane
Next door
1.06-mile loop trail in Tennessee with 324 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Atlas Mountain Bike Trail
~8 min drive
5.54-mile mountain bike loop in Tennessee with 796 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Sabbath Trail
Next door
Sabbath Trail is a 1.56-mile loop in Tennessee with 450 ft gain.
HIKE
Lookout Hill
Next door
1.10-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 255 ft elevation gain
Also worth it near here
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
