Things to do at Chickamauga Lake

One of the best ways to see Chattanooga is from the water. Chickamauga Lake to be exact. With 810 miles of shoreline, it’d be hard not to see most of Chattanooga from Chickamauga Lake. If you have your own boat – or jet ski (we see you) – then the easiest places to put in are Island Cove Marina & Resort, Chickamauga Marine, Harbor Lights Marina, and Lakeshore Marina just to name a few. If you’re in town hanging with the locals and didn’t bring your own boat, don’t worry – there are plenty of places to rent one. If you’re wanting to rip some lips, or for you non-Southern folks – go fishing, on Chickamauga Lake, rent a fishing boat from Lakeshore Marina. If a party barge is more your style, rent a pontoon boat and relax. Whatever floats your boat. 

The Chickamauga Dam might be considered the great divide of Chattanooga. Separating two major reservoirs: Chickamauga (shocker) & Nickajack which is south of the Chickamauga dam. Right above the dam you’ll find a quaint park with a roped-off portion for swimming and more kayaks than you can count. You’d be happy to know that Chickamauga Lake is a bass fisherman's dream due to the cooler water in the summer and the currents of the river. If you forgot the poles at home or are trying fishing for the first time, you can book a trip with Scenic City Fishing Charters and they’ll show you the ropes of Chickamauga Lake. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. 

It’s no secret that Chattanooga is a premier outdoor destination, I mean have you seen the place? Crawling with mountains and rivers in what seem like every direction, spending a day out on the water is a no brainer! If you’re wanting to keep your trip on Chickamauga Lake local (and by that we mean downtown), rent a paddleboard or kayak from L2 Outside in Coolidge Park to see the urban side of the river. You might even be able to catch the sunset from the water.