Skyuka and Bluff Trails Loop is a 10.8 mile loop trail located near Chattanooga, Tennessee that features a great forest setting and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and running and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
A great single track workout on Lookout Mountain. This route involves 7 trails on Lookout Mountain and together these offer a tour of what makes Chattanooga a great trail running city. Located within minutes of downtown the trailhead is behind the historic Craven's House where you can also view Civil War monuments. Begin on Rifle Pits Trail and descend until the intersection with the Guild Trail. A left on the Guild and you will transition to Upper Truck Trail where Guild turns right around hairpin corner. Truck Trail will be left and Guild to right at turn. After a very short distance, take next right onto Lower Gum Springs Trail until the next intersection with Skyuka Trail and turn left. Follow Skyuka until it ends at John Smart Trail. Turn left and climb John Smartt Trail till you arrive at Bluff Trail. Do not take Jackson Gap Trail, stay left at sign. Follow Bluff until you come to Craven's Trail near Point Park, there is a wooden kiosk and signs to guide you. Craven's Trail is a quick descent and brings you back to Craven's House.
Carry water and study the route. There is a very detailed map of all Lookout Mountain available on the Wild Trails website. Be prepared for a thigh burning ascent up the John Smartt Trail and then a remarkably scenic run along the Bluff Trail being treated to why Chattanooga is called the Scenic City.
December 6, 2020November 14, 2020great hike
November 14, 2020We started this hike a the Craven's House although it's mostly a walk in the woods with not many views, we still enjoyed the up and downs of the elevation changes. If you want a nice long hike, this is it. We actually cut ours a little short, so instead of hiking the Skyuka and Bluff Trails Loop, it was the Skyuka and Upper Truck Trail loop that we did. We were afraid we would run out of daylight and I had heard that they lock the gates at dusk, so we didn't want to take a chance on getting locked in. The trail is VERY well marked too. Although not necessarily our favorite trail, we'll definitely go back and do the full Skyuka and Bluff Trail loop.
November 13, 2020November 2, 2020Great hike will come back
November 2, 2020The trail was really nice. I went the opposite way the app suggested in the directions, but I enjoyed it regardless. Sunset Rock is beautiful! Also, very thankful I had the map, there were definitely a few instances I would have taken the wrong path.
October 17, 2020I loved this trail. It was a workout. The weather was perfect and the scenery amazing. I would recommend getting there early. I got there at 9:00 AM and easily got a parking spot. When I finished, it was packed with nowhere to park.
September 19, 2020September 8, 2020Level wide and smooth.
August 29, 2020It was aight, real muddy
August 8, 2020Fun trail, that was a great workout. There are some great bluff views and some amazing rock faces that you can see rock climbers climbing. The app was very necessary, I would have totally gotten lost.
July 9, 2020June 11, 2020I just finished this hike today (6/11/20). As a previous reviewer mentioned, the first 7 or so miles until you get to the Bluff trail are nothing special. It's just a long slog through the woods without any views. I suspect the Bluff trail would be more scenic in the late fall and winter once the leaves drop. The All trails map was essential to completing my hike.
June 6, 20206/6/2020 - Parking lot and trail head closed.
February 17, 2020Started this trail after lunch, a little after 1. I did the bluff trail first and came back up the Skyuka trail. The bluff trail is beautiful, you’ll also see more people on the bluff trail, it is popular among trail runners and it has great views of the bluffs and the area below. Be sure to give yourself a little extra time (as I did not) to enjoy those views! The ridge up there is relatively flat but after that you do have a couple of decent hills before you make it back to the end. Great hike. I would probably hike it in the other direction if I were to do it again to end on the good views, and there would be a long climb coming onto the bluff trail in the middle of the hike.
January 4, 2020Great trail, phone died halfway through hence the incomplete recording. It was a little muddy due to rain the previous few days. Saw some whitetail deer, but no snakes being that its January. The temperature on the bottom of the trail can definitely change once you reach the top and I actually encountered both some rain and hail so it was an interesting one for sure!
December 23, 2019November 29, 2019Great trail. Easy to get to and very quiet out in the am. Deers, squirrels and waterfalls are plentiful.
November 10, 2019Great views and cardio! Wow!!!
September 7, 2019This trail has both good and not so great qualities. It was not very well marked (I wouldn't have known which way to go really without using All Trails map while recording). Which way to go on the split depends whether your someone who likes the good or bad news first. I would probably recommend going right on the split. You will be greeted with a 7 mile hike down a mountain and just 2 or so miles (a little steeper, but shorter length) up the mountain. Nothing too crazy. When you finally make it back up the mountain, you have beautiful hike and views, whereas the first 7 miles are a little bit of a dull struggle. Not much to see or do. But I would rather end the hike off on good note. There were quite a few people at the top of sunset rock too, surprisingly. Seeing as it is just over 1 mile from the parking lot, maybe not so surprising. We may try to come back in the spring when there may actually be some water coming from the "springs". It's been so dry that there were less bugs than usual. Otherwise, good trail.
July 20, 2019Aside from being the first on the trail and running into every single spider web in Tennessee, I really enjoyed this trail. However, be sure to check back to your route as the signs can be very deceiving. It isn't the best-marked trail in Chattanooga but, the sights are beautiful and the loop, with its significant gain, is a great long run for moderate level runners.
May 18, 2019The trail itself isn’t difficult/hard, but it is definitely long. Great views along the bluff trail portion of the trail. I passed by several people rock climbing coming back towards Cravens House. I ran into only a few people along the trail and otherwise was alone. I hiked it at a moderate pace and completed in 4 hours. Lots of bugs and a snake passed along the trail in front of me! Overall enjoyable, relaxing, and a good workout.
March 23, 2019November 19, 2018this is a very enjoyable trail if you are looking for lots of nature and a peaceful environment. ive been going since I was a child and first enjoyed it with my girl scout troop. I'm 41 now and still find new things when I walk it. the hike isn't for amateurs because it gets a little challenging in a spots. it takes a while to walk so allow yourself plenty of time before dark and definitely bring a lunch and plenty of water. plan to spend several hours and wear good hiking shoes/ boots you'll need them! this is the kind of trail you need to bring a back pack with supplies on. flashlight and bug repellent are probably good ideas as well! overall this is probably my favorite trail. there are some spectacular views and you'll never see the city the same again!!
October 6, 2018I also accidently did this trail. It's difficult to navigate due to bad and broke signs. Lots of steep, rocky terrain. Not a trail for beginners. As usual, the area under power transmission lines is not maintained, so be careful through there. Would not recommend. This trail shook our confidence as it took way too long, so we were out there well past dark. Bring plenty of water and a good flashlight. Watch for spiders.
August 12, 2018Did not plan accordingly. Signage wasn't the best and did not know where we were going. However they are worn paths so we didn't necessarily get lost just turned around. Views were spectacular!!
July 31, 2018Ended up doing this trail accidentally. Very difficult, but we managed to plow thru it. 11 miles of hard hiking. Not a lot of signage throughout the hike.
July 17, 2018This “Big Daddy” loop trail is one of my favorite and harder trail runs I’ve done. Got a little sandbagged on this one. Loved the traverse to Skyuka Springs. Hated the 2 mile climb to Bluff view Trail via John Smartt.
June 30, 2018Accidentally did this. Amazing Civil War signage. Not for kids.
