Aetna Mountain Trails
Neighborhood Trails for Everyone
Tucked into the Black Creek neighborhood on the slopes of Aetna Mountain, this 8-mile trail system represents the cutting edge of modern, community-driven trail building. Managed by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust and master-planned by IMBA Trail Solutions through an Accelerator Grant, Aetna is the region’s first fully adaptive mountain bike (aMTB) friendly network, delivering world-class trail access for riders of all abilities.
The system features a progressive stacked-loop layout shared with hikers and runners. Riders will experience a smooth green loop designed to warm up legs and build momentum, before transitioning into a flowy blue intermediate loop packed with playful features, lively elevation changes, and sweeping corners. Because it is designed for multi-directional use, it offers two completely distinct riding experiences depending on which direction you drop in.
Recommended Routes
Aetna Mountain Green Loop
Distance: 2.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 360 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Start/End: River Gorge Drive Trailhead
This route explores both green loops on the Aetna Mountain Trails and is one of the friendliest routes in the Chattanooga trail network. Under 3 miles with just 360 feet of climbing, this figure-8 loop is built for riders who are brand new to the sport, families with little legs in tow, and adaptive mountain bikes alike. Wide trail tread and wide, forgiving berms mean there's plenty of room to find your balance, while the gradual climbing keeps the effort low. For those that need an even friendlier kid ride, take on the Skull Cap Loop and skip the Homestead Loop.
Why ride it: The easiest, most welcoming way to experience Aetna Mountain, no matter your skill level or ride.
Aetna Mountain Flow Loop
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation Gain: 610 ft
Difficulty: Intermediate
Start/End: River Gorge Drive Trailhead
A step up from the green loop, best suited for riders ready to build speed and confidence on more dynamic terrain. This nearly 4-mile loop starts with a smooth, rolling warm-up before shifting into livelier singletrack, where playful turns and engaging elevation changes keep intermediate riders on their toes.
Why ride it: The ideal next step up from Aetna's beginner loop, delivering flow, speed, and challenge.