Indian Springs Campgrounds
Campground
Campground · 8.5 mi from the trail
Tennessee · Hiking · Near Red Bank
Big Red
- 1.3 mi
- loop
- 128 ft
- climb
- 1,168 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Feb–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
Big Red is an easy 1.3-mile loop hike in Tennessee, about 0.8 miles from Collegedale. The route starts at 1,062 feet and reaches a high point of 1,168 feet, with a total elevation gain of 128 feet, before descending to a low of 895 feet. The steepest stretch comes at 0.29 miles, where the grade reaches 18 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons. A nearby weather station in Chattanooga records typical average highs of about 74°F in April and October, while July and August average around 90°F. That station sits roughly 500 feet lower, so temperatures on the trail run a bit cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. Several other short trails start close by, including Bobcat and Barred Owl, each about 0.2 miles away, and Southern Mission at 0.3 miles. For climbing, Goliath Wall is about 0.8 miles 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 · 8 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 Red
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, 8.1 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
~3 min drive
0.80-mile out-and-back trail at Lookout Hill in Tennessee with 104 ft gain.
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Krebs Cycle
Next door
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)Murky Marsh
~3 min drive
3.50-mile loop trail in Tennessee with 851 ft elevation gain.
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Mid Ridge
Next door
1.23-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 507 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Graham Patton, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Pogo's Place
~3 min drive
Pogo's Place is a 1.20-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 388 feet of elevation gain.
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Forest Lane
~2 min drive
1.48-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 855 ft elevation gain.
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Bobcat
Next door
0.41-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 159 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Atlas Mountain Bike Trail
~7 min drive
5.54-mile mountain bike loop in Tennessee with 796 ft elevation gain.
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Barred Owl
Next door
0.77-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 215 ft gain.
HIKE
Southern Mission
Next door
2.03-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 706 ft elevation gain
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
