The Great Outdoors...

HIKING
Hiking on Signal Mountain encompasses several different trails. Some of these include Rainbow Lake Loop, Rainbow Lake Loop - Shackleford Ridge Park, and the Cumberland Trail State Park (Signal Point - Edward's Point - Prentice Cooper - Suck Creek Mountain).

Rainbow Lake
The Town of Signal Mountain has designated the Rainbow Lake area as a park and natural preserve. The Friends of Rainbow Lake was formed to help curb the destruction of the lake. Once the private sanctuary for guests at the Signal Mountain Inn, Rainbow Lake area and the beautiful falls are now part of the Cumberland Trail State Park.

Edward's Point
This section of the Cumberland Trail State Park in the Prentice Cooper National Forest offers hikers a wonderful opportunity to experience the beauty of the Tennessee River gorge segment of Hamilton County. A 75-foot suspension bridge above the waters of Middle Creek, a tributary of the Tennessee River allows the safe passage of hikers year round and is one of the many assets of the trails connected to Edward's Point.

Signal Point National Historic Park
Union soldiers were stationed on Signal Point during the Civil War. Their purpose was to maintain a signal line between Bridgeport, AL, and Chattanooga. Today Signal Point is part of the National Park Service and a favorite place for residents to take visitors, to picnic under the pavilion, or to enjoy the view of the famous "grand canyon" of the Tennessee River.

The Cumberland Trail State Park
Depending on how you look at it, the Cumberland Trail begins or ends at Signal Point. The southernmost point of the trail extends along Walden's Ridge to Rainbow Lake and on to Edward's Point. The trail then crosses Suck Creek and enters Prentice Cooper National Forest. The trail is well-marked and opened to hikers year round. The rebirth of the Cumberland Trail is made possible through a public/private partnership between the state of Tennessee and the many volunteers of the Cumberland Trail Conference and the Tennessee Trails Association. The Cumberland Trail Conference, http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/ is a nonprofit oganization created in 1997 to focus on the creation of the Cumberland State Scenic Trail. Additional trails within Cumberland Trail State Park are under construction. Please check back for updated information

BIKING

Prentice Cooper State Park
Over 150 acres have been designated as bike paths in the park. However, many bikers choose to go off the designated paths. Because this damages the hiking trails, the Cumberland Conference is encouraging bikers to join together in forming a biking club, which can then help to preserve the Cumberland Trail. Anyone interested in participating in a biking club may contact the Cumberland Trail Conference.