Tennessee · Hiking · Near Red Bank

Bluff Trail

Bluff TrailPhoto: Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
0.5 mi
round trip
438 ft
climb
1,922 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Nov
best months

Is Bluff Trail open right now?

No closures listed

The National Park Service lists no closures for Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

As of · Source: NPS · Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Bluff Trail is a short, moderate hike in Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park in Tennessee, managed by the National Park Service. The trail is an out-and-back route of about a mile, with a low point of 1,857 feet and a high of 1,922 feet, so the total climb is about 60 feet one way. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show October highs around 67°F with lows near 51°F, and May highs around 74°F. That station sits about 190 feet higher than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the trail run a little warmer. Several other trails start close by. Upper Truck Trail and Cravens to Mtn Beautiful Trail are each about 0.4 miles away, and Rifle Pits Trail is about 0.5 miles away. Climbers can find Sunset South about 0.6 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Raccoon Mountain Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 3.4 mi from the trail
  • If it rainsPub. by Cline Photo Co., Chattanooga. Tenn. "Tichnor Quality Views," Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Made Only by Tichnor Bros.,..., Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

    Ochs Memorial Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 1 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Pub. by Cline Photo Co., Chattanooga. Tenn. "Tichnor Quality Views," Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Made Only by Tichnor Bros.,..., Public domain (commons)

More in Red Bank
  • Best time to go · Mar–Nov

    Best time to visit Bluff Trail

    Best months: March–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.

    1. Jan

      46° / 29°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      49° / 31°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      58° / 39°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      68° / 47°

      11 wet

    5. May

      74° / 57°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      81° / 65°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 67°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 67°

      10 wet

    9. Sep

      78° / 61°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      67° / 51°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      57° / 40°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      48° / 32°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lookout Mtn-Point Park, TN, 0.3 mi away at 2,110 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Use Caution When Hiking Bluff Trail on Lookout Mountain

      Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park · seen Sep 15, 2026 → lifted Oct 30, 2026 · National Park Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Upper Truck TrailPhoto: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Upper Truck Trail

Next door

0.46-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 150 ft of elevation gain.

Rifle Pits TrailPhoto: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, CC0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rifle Pits Trail

Next door

0.64-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 360 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Gum Spring Trail

~1 min drive

0.57-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 325 ft elevation gain.

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Mountain Beautiful Trail

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1.38-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 2,800 ft elevation gain.

Whiteside TrailPhoto: Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Whiteside Trail

~1 min drive

0.60-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 546 ft elevation gain.

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Hardy Trail

~1 min drive

1.24-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 2,276 ft gain and 2,063 ft loss

Blue Blazes TrailPhoto: Teke, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Blue Blazes Trail

~4 min drive

1.53-mile loop trail in Tennessee with 176 ft elevation gain/loss.

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Skyuka Trail

~1 min drive

Moderate 5.68-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with forest scenery.

Browns Ferry Federal Road TracePhoto: Teke, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Browns Ferry Federal Road Trace

~6 min drive

0.62-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 43 ft gain and 130 ft loss.

HIKE

Shingle Trail

~2 min drive

0.74-mile out-and-back hike in Tennessee with 1,731 ft elevation gain.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors