Winter in Chattanooga, Tennessee is one of the absolute BEST times for hiking! We will convince you why, don’t worry. We’re Experience Chattanooga and we do private guided hiking tours (with professional photography and transportation included) to the most beautiful waterfalls & mountain overlooks in Southeast Tennessee. Check out why we recommend winter hiking in Chattanooga below!

1) Waterfalls within an hour of Chattanooga are a LOT bigger in the winter due to more rainfall this time of year. It’s the absolute best time to check them out. In contrast, the waterfalls are just a trickle in the summer months of Chattanooga due to droughts! We recommend our Soul Therapy Tour, Chasing Waterfalls Tour, or Fall Creek Falls State Park Tours during the winter months for the best waterfall hiking.

2) Wide open views! Now that the leaves have fallen off the trees, you can see a lot farther at overlooks & catch views you wouldn’t normally see in the lush summer months. Getting outside to hike in the winter is also a great way to exercise and not be cooped up all day.

3) Less creatures out — Do you hate ticks, snakes, and mosquitoes? Well so do we! These pesky creatures are very unlikely to be out and about in the cooler months. Enjoy the Tennessee outdoors without added worry!

4) Less crowds! There are far less people out hiking in the winter here vs. the summertime. There’s a good chance you won’t see another person out on the trails with you if you hike during the week! You are way more likely to have an entire waterfall or overlook to yourself. Whereas, if you don’t get to a trailhead shorty after sunrise in the summer, you might not get a parking spot at all.

5) Looking for cooler weather but not necessarily snow? Chattanooga is a great option as we rarely get snow. If it does snow, it usually dusts the tops of the mountains and doesn’t quite hit the valleys (or melts within an hour of falling). The weather is pretty mild in Chattanooga in the winter! Plus, the crisp air is super refreshing.

Visiting Chattanooga this winter and not sure where to hike to see the best waterfalls & mountain views? Check us out at Experience Chattanooga for private guided hiking tours with professional photography & transportation included!