The Bay Point Loop Trail is an easy, family friendly hike along Chickamauga Lake that everyone will love!
It's located in Harrison Bay State Park, just north of Chattanooga, TN!
The Bay Point Loop Trail is a 4.3 mile multi-use trail. It is located on Chickamauga Lake, in Harrison Bay State Park, just north of Chattanooga, TN.
The trailhead for the Bay Point Loop Trail can be found by taking Hwy-58 north of Chattanooga. Watch for the Harrison Bay State Park sign and then turn left onto Harrison Bay Rd. Drive 1.4 miles to the park entrance on the left and just follow the signs. The trailhead parking area is near the marina, just to the left of the boat ramp.
I’ve read that Bay Point Loop is primarily for mountain biking but we didn’t see any bikes on the day we walked it. We met 3 walkers and 1 runner on the trail that morning. This was a weekday morning so maybe that should be taken into consideration when planning a visit.
The Bay Point Loop is a good trail for just stretching the legs while enjoying very pleasant scenery!
The lake shoreline is within sight for most of the way as the trail wanders over several peninsulas.
The terrain is mostly flat, with a rise here or there to keep things interesting and the trail fairly smooth, for the most part. It can be a bit “rooty” at times!
You will probably want to walk a bit off trail to wander a bit on the shore of the lake.
The trail had several wet areas along the way but nothing extreme on the morning we walked. However, after a rain, that might be different. Some wet areas were rather large but we managed to get through them without a significant route change.
There is a long, well built boardwalk over one section of wet ground.
And there are several, very nice benches along the trail where you can sit, rest and enjoy a view of the lake.
If it’s a day when you are looking for a challenging hike, then Bay Point Loop is not the trail for you! But if it’s a day when you are looking for an easy option that provides access to a trail for a long walk with views, then give Bay Point Loop a try!
The Bay Point Loop Trail is a pleasant walk, with beautiful scenery, and an enjoyable way to get in some exercise!
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