The Nickajack Naturalist

342 Acres Protected by the Town of Signal Mountain

  Despite considerable controversy among local officials, a conservation agreement was recently reached between Signal Mountain and The Land Trust for Tennessee for protecting 342 acres of public open space through a conservation easement.  Much of this land, in the area of Signal Point and Rainbow Lake, has been used for many years by the public for recreation.  This agreement assures the land will remain protected for many years to come.    Read more.   

Hiking to Three Overlooks at Prentice Cooper

                 By Bob Butters                                                     at Nooga.com  

Looking south toward the Tennessee River from Mullins Cove Overlook.    Photo: Bob Butters

  Just a few miles from downtown Chattanooga lies the approximately 25,000 acre Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area, known to locals simply as Prentice Cooper.  Popular for a variety of outdoor recreation uses, including hunting, horseback riding and off-roading, Prentice Cooper contains 35 miles of hiking trails.

View of the Tennessee River Gorge from Ransom Hollow Overlook.    Photo: Bob Butters

  The Prentice Cooper trail network, considered part of the Cumberland Trail system, is primarily designed for longer hikes of ten miles or more.  But with a little research and willingness to do an out-and-back hike or to incorporate sections of jeep road into a loop, one can find good shorter hikes.  I recommend the following example, a 5.4 mile hike that takes in three great overlooks.  Read more. 

A hiker contemplates the view from Snoopers Rock.                     Photo: Bob Butters

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy City Selected by White House for Local Foods, Local Places Initiative

                                                                                            From The Chattanoogan

  On behalf of the White House Rural Council, six federal agencies joined on December 3rd to announce that 26 communities, including Tracy City, TN, have been selected to participate in Local Foods, Local Places, a federal initiative providing technical support to integrate local food systems into community economic action plans.

  Project proposals include repurposing vacant land into local food production, developing year-around retail markets for local food products, and establishing food hubs to increase local food supply chains.

  Read more.