North Chickamauga State Park Campground

About

North Chickamauga Creek Gorge became Tennessee's 59th state park in September 2024, protecting a spectacular 10-mile gorge carved through sandstone on Walden's Ridge. The 6,000-acre park sits just 15 miles north of Chattanooga and offers some of the most scenic backcountry camping along the Cumberland Trail. All camping is primitive backcountry style, accessible only by foot via the Montlake Road or Barker Pounds trailheads. Designated campsites include Stevenson Branch Campsites 1 & 2, North Chick Campsite, and Cooper Creek Campsite. The Stevenson Branch site is particularly notable, nestled at the base of a vertical sandstone wall with a waterfall and plunge pool less than 50 feet away. Sites can accommodate 2-3 tents and include fire rings. Backpackers should come prepared for primitive conditions: no potable water is available, so water must be filtered from the creeks or packed in. Leave No Trace principles apply throughout. The entrance gate at Montlake Road closes at 7 PM daily, and all campers must reach their sites before dark.

Directions

From US 27 north of Chattanooga, take the Thrasher Pike exit. Turn northwest and proceed 0.5 mile to Dayton Pike traffic light. Turn right and go 0.6 mile to Montlake Road, then turn left. After 1.2 miles, turn left into the parking area. Note: During construction (March 2026+), use Barker Pounds Trailhead instead by continuing past Montlake Road 3.5 miles, turning left on Poe Road, staying 6.2 miles to Grant Road, turning left for 0.2 mile, then left on Barker Camp Road for 3.9 miles to the gate.