May is National Bike Month, so it’s a fitting time for officials to look into connecting a 21-mile stretch from Cloudland Canyon State Park to Chattanooga + allowing mountain bike use there.

The National Park Service is seeking public comment on the issue through June 4.

NPS officials are recommending mountain bike use on two trails in the Lookout Mountain Battlefield, which is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park that spans through Tennessee + Georgia. Those two trails are currently only open to hikers.

If biking is approved on the Jackson Gap Trail and part of the John Smartt Trail, riders would no longer hit a dead end on the Chattanooga Connector.

🚵 Fast facts

Currently, the Jackson Gap Trail and part of the John Smartt Trail are only open to hikers, not mountain bikers.
That means, only hikers have access through the park to the regional trail system in both Georgia + Tennessee. Bikers hit a dead end.
The NPS has gotten requests from stakeholders for bike access to the entire trail system in both states.
A previous public comment period found support for this change. The NPS has a preference for allowing bikes.

Officials have laid out a plan for signs + educational materials to provide guidance for proper trail usage + etiquette.

This map shows the trail system, the proposed bike trail + where signs would go to help guide riders. (Map: National Park Service)

🚵 Environmental assessment

The local park superintendent can approve bicycle use on trails that currently exist and does not require construction or significant modification to accommodate bikes.
Officials conducted an environmental assessment to ensure that allowing bikes on the trails wouldn’t harm park resources or create conflicts among users.
The environmental assessment didn’t find any major negative impacts of allowing mountain bikes.

🚵 More info, weigh in

Members of the public can comment about the proposal to allow bikes through June 4 online or by mail.
Check out the entire bike-use plan here.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press also has more info.
Email us at hello@noogatoday.com if you have thoughts to share on this.

🚵 Poll

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