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With the weather heating up, now is as good a time as any to be spending time outside and getting in shape. This month we are strapping on our walking shoes to venture down the Tennessee Riverwalk, all the way from the Chickamauga Dam to Ross’s Landing.
The Riverwalk is a part of Chattanooga’s Riverpark system, and runs a stretch of 13 miles between the parks. The parks include Tennessee Riverpark, Coolidge Park, Renaissance Park, Ross’s Landing and the Walnut Street Bridge.
The Riverwalk is a great way to get in shape for the summer. You can walk, run, skate or cycle your way through the paved boardwalks and bridges along the side of the river, get some sun and enjoy the scenery.
I began my journey down at the Chickamauga Dam with a few other brave souls as we decided to walk the entire thing in one shot. Not mentioning any names or anything, but let’s just say that wearing sandals is not a very good idea for doing this. By the end of the long walk your feet will pay dearly.
Also, when walking that far in a group, one must remember that not everyone’s strides are the same. For instance, if someone walks in large strides they do not have to take as many steps, and will inadvertently leave those with shorter strides behind, particularly those in sandals, and will have to constantly be reminded, “This isn’t a race.”
It is a good idea to be completely aware of what is going on around you when walking the Riverwalk. You have to remember that you are sharing the trail with people on bicycles, who will sometimes have a bell or yell to let you know they are coming, but not always. There were definitely a few close calls with that, and a few surprises when not paying attention.
There are several entry points along the Riverwalk so anyone can start their journey at different spots, and not have to walk the entire course like we did. For those walking the entire trail, each of the entry points is spaced out conveniently enough for having to stop to use the restroom or get a drink of water, or to let slowpokes catch up.
Each mile marker along the walk is a brightly colored silhouette of various people, which is a good way to tell how far you have gone, along with maps that show where you are so you can gauge how much farther you have to go to reach the end. There are also several signs explaining the wildlife in different areas.
After going through the Riverpark, the next area is the Amnicola marshes, which are pretty neat with plenty of wildlife to see. I saw a turtle sitting high up on the branch of a log in the middle of the marsh.
I’m not sure how the turtle got up there, but it was an impressive feat nonetheless.
After twisting through the marshes the path follows alongside the Tennessee River the rest of the way. It was a great view of the river, and the scenery throughout the journey definitely makes the walk less of a chore.
At about three quarters of the way, I could really start to feel fatigue coming on. Walking that far is not something I do often — or ever for that matter — but I was actually surprised that I didn’t feel as tired as I thought I would. Others in the group really started getting tired as well, so I wasn’t alone in this, but we ventured on with the journey regardless.
Close to the end of the walk, the trail twists up the 80-foot bluff of the art district. For those who have never seen the art district, it is impressive in itself. The buildings are very stylish and there are several sculptures throughout the area. Right alongside the Riverwalk is a sculpture garden, as well as the Hunter Museum.
In total, the walk took us about three hours. At the end we walked across the Walnut Street Bridge and stopped in Coolidge Park, where we hung out for a bit enjoying the sun and getting some much-needed rest. We were picked up there so we didn’t have to walk back, though I felt like I could have done it if I had to. It was a fun experience and I recommend anyone to try it at least once, even if for no other reason than being able to say you did it.
I will probably do it again soon.
Coming Up
One of the reasons for doing this walk was in part to get ready for my trip to Scotland, where I will be doing a lot of walking. I will be in Scotland for three weeks in June taking part in a UTC digital media class, where we will be based at the University of Edinburgh.
Next month I will be talking about my experiences roamin' around Scotland, from Edinburgh to Glasgow to Ayr, several areas in the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye, and a brief trip down to England as well. This is going to be a fun trip.
Chattanooga native Roman Flis is a senior at UTC majoring in communications. He serves as assistant features editor of the school’s Echo newspaper, and writes both journalism and fiction. His columns profiling places around the area appear in Community News the second Wednesday of each month.
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