New trail to link Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park to Downtown Chickamauga
Trail \ MGN
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — Trust for Public Land (TPL), Walker County, and the City of Chickamauga have officially dedicated the John Culpepper Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail. This is a new 2.2-mile multi-use path, named for Chickamauga’s longtime former City Manager, which will link the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to downtown Chickamauga.
The trail retraces portions of the old Dry Valley Road, where Union soldiers once marched from Mountain Cove through Crawfish Springs.
It also passes near the Gordon-Lee House, which served as a field hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers following the Battle of Chickamauga.
“Today we’re not just opening a trail — we’re connecting people to one of the most remarkable landscapes in American history. Linking tourist destinations to business districts can grow local economies while protecting irreplaceable natural and historical assets. We want to thank our many funding partners for their support and the people of Walker County for inviting TPL to help bring this remarkable project to life.”
– Noel Durant, Tennessee State Director for Trust for Public Land said.
The project was funded through a $434,131 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
It was supplemented by grants from the Lyndhurst Foundation, Riverview Foundation, Jewel Memorial Foundation, and Ironman Foundation, along with $50,000 contributions each from the City of Chickamauga and Walker County Government.
