Raccoon Mountain Reservoir road loop

Parking is available at the Raccoon Mountain Pumped-Storage Plant Visitor Center. From there, you can access the paved road loop around the reservoir.

No, there are no entrance fees or permits required to access the Raccoon Mountain Reservoir road loop or the surrounding TVA facility area.

Yes, the Raccoon Mountain Reservoir road loop is dog-friendly. Please ensure your dog is kept on a leash and that you clean up after them to maintain the natural beauty of the area.

The Raccoon Mountain Reservoir road loop is considered a moderate to hard run for jogging. While it's a paved road, it features significant elevation changes, including an elevation gain of around 112 meters (369 feet) over its 7.4 km (4.6 miles) length. Good fitness is recommended for some sections.

Joggers can enjoy beautiful views of the water from the Raccoon Mountain Reservoir Road Loop itself, along with several scenic overlooks. Depending on your location on the mountain, you might see downtown Chattanooga, the Tennessee River Gorge, and Lookout Mountain.

The Raccoon Mountain area is a designated Wildlife Observation Area. You might spot deer, woodchucks, gray foxes, and during the winter months, a population of bald eagles.

The Raccoon Mountain Reservoir road loop can be enjoyed year-round. Spring and fall offer pleasant temperatures and vibrant foliage, while winter provides opportunities to spot bald eagles. Summer can be warm, so consider early morning or late afternoon jogs.

The loop is entirely on a paved road. Despite being a road, its significant elevation changes contribute to its moderate to hard difficulty rating for jogging.

Yes, some sections of the paved road are one-way, while others are two-way. It is recommended to jog opposite the flow of traffic and always be aware of vehicles on the road.

Yes, the Raccoon Mountain Reservoir road loop is part of a larger network. While jogging the loop, you will intersect with sections of other trails such as Electric Avenue One, Electric Avenue Two, Laurel Point, and Grindstone Ridge, which are primarily used by mountain bikers and hikers.

The area is unique due to its setting atop a mountain housing the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) pumped-storage hydroelectric facility, an engineering marvel. The mountain-top lake is a 12-billion-gallon man-made reservoir, and there's a visitor center where you can learn more about the TVA facility.