Indian Springs Campgrounds
Campground
Campground · 8.3 mi from the trail
Tennessee · Hiking · Near Red Bank
Southern Mission
- 2.0 mi
- round trip
- 777 ft
- climb
- 1,142 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Feb–May, Sep–Nov
- best months
Southern Mission is an easy out-and-back hike in Tennessee, about 1.1 miles from the town of Collegedale. The route is 4.1 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 301 feet, and it reaches a high point of 1,142 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 0.5 miles in, where the grade reaches 10 percent. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Chattanooga show October highs around 74°F with lows near 51°F, and April is similar. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher ground run cooler. Several other outings sit close by. The Bobcat and Pine hikes are each within a third of a mile, and the Big Red hike is about 0.3 miles away. For climbing, Goliath wall is roughly 0.9 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 · 9 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 Southern Mission
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
~2 min drive
0.80-mile out-and-back trail at Lookout Hill in Tennessee with 104 ft gain.
HIKE
Mid Ridge
~1 min drive
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)Murky Marsh
~2 min drive
3.50-mile loop trail in Tennessee with 851 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Krebs Cycle
~1 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
~3 min drive
Pogo's Place is a 1.20-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 388 feet of elevation gain.
HIKE
Forest Lane
~2 min drive
1.48-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 855 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
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.
HIKE
Pine
Next door
Pine is a 1.15-mile out-and-back trail in Tennessee with 294 ft gain.
HIKE
Big Red
Next door
Big Red is a 1.34-mile loop trail in Tennessee.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
