Walden’s Ridge Park
In 2016, the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy began the work to turn a 117-acre property on the side of Walden’s Ridge into a premier downhill mountain biking, climbing and hiking park. The following year, The Conservancy approached the donors of the original parcel to secure an additional 100 acres that would provide access to Reads Lake Road, the W-Road, and Mountain Creek Road. After acquiring the adjacent parcels, NCCC approached the Parks Department of Hamilton County with a proposal: NCCC would gather a coalition of conservation and trail building partners to create a unique park focused on downhill mountain biking, climbing, and hiking; upon completion, NCCC would turn Walden’s Ridge Park over to Hamilton County. When the Hamilton County Commission voted to accept the park, the work began.
Working in lockstep with the Land Trust for Tennessee, the Southeastern Climbing Coalition, the Southern Off Road Biking Association, and the Access Fund, NCCC worked to develop a strategy for raising funds and completing the design and build out of Walden’s Ridge Park. The project won a Recreational Trails Program grant through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and many community partners such as the Lyndhurst Foundation, Hydroflask, and many others stepped in to see the fundraising to its completion.
With a unique opportunity to make a regionally recognized park, the partner organizations selected Trail Solutions to design and build the mountain biking trails. The Southeastern Climbing Coalition prepared the climbing sites and trails, and a wide variety of volunteers helped to bring the project to its fruition. Park partners are currently planning the final stage of Trail Construction to begin Fall ’21 with an anticipated completion during Summer ’22.