Above: Ragwort species blooms on Raccoon Mountain
Chattanooga Camping Trip Raccoon Mountain
Saturday March 25 through Monday March 27, 2023
Kenny, Dana, Gabriel and Mia Koogler
Photos are here: Raccoon Mountain Pix
The children had been at us begging to go on their first camping trip of the season. It did not take any arm twisting to persuade us to go. We first considered somewhere down along Tellico Plains, but the forecast was for rain some days. I thought better of it, and decided Chattanooga would be a better kid friendly camping trip. I had a long list of fun stuff I wanted to take the little ones to do. It would be Mia's first time there! We used to stay at Raccoon Mountain Campground, but it had been a long time between visits. I looked them up to see if they were still open. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only were they open, but the place was thriving.
They had made many improvements since the last visit we made. Now they had a playground, a mining sluice, and a pool! We got us some reservations booked and we were set.
Kenny had to work rather late on Friday evening so we would not try to head out then.
Chattanooga is an easy 2 hour drive. We'd get going after an early breakfast arriving around noon. The kids travel so much better now. A two hour drive to them is nothing. We got there around 11 am and checked in. We went to our campsite and parked. It was pull through so it was easy. The atmosphere was very cheerful and it was obvious the place was family friendly.
Day 1 --Raccoon Mountain
I took the kids to the playground while Kenny set up. Mia immediately started bossing around some older boy. The young man looked to be about ten. He looked at me bewildered as if to say "Who does she think she is?" I told him not to pay her any mind. She is bossy and was giving him all kinds of safety reminders so he did not get hurt. He just laughed and kept on playing. It was funny watching her try to run him, but I soon had to call her down. She has Kenny's directive personality. I hope she goes into management or law enforcement. Gabe was playing together with the older boy and having fun. Soon we went back to the camper to eat lunch. We got that out of the way and headed out to see some sights.
I had learned since our previous visits that there is a lot more to Raccoon Mountain than I ever gave credit for. I have stayed at the campground and visited the caverns. I knew of the pumped storage project, but had never visited it. I knew there were a couple waterfalls up there. We decided to correct than omission. I had the really bad waterfall jones back then. There had better be a spectacular waterfall in a place or I had no time for it. I remembered reading in Waterfalls of Tennessee about a waterfall on the mountain. It was not supposed to be any great shakes so I ignored it. Laurel Falls is supposed to be a 48 footer, but the photo did not do anymore to impress me than the book did. Alan's photo of downstream John McNabb Falls is a lot more appealing. I had a feeling the mountain probably had more falls on it if you looked around a bit.
Above: photo of the view from closer to the actual dam
We drove up the mountain to the summit. We followed the signs directing us to the overlooks. The first one was to the north providing a grandstand view of Chattanooga sprawling in the distance. The trains, the bridges, buildings and cars along with the dramatic mountains were very pretty. TVA has done a lot to make this area an excellent place for recreation. Information kiosks with maps. Trash bins. Ample parking and picnic tables are available. They have a visitor center, but it was not open when we were there. They have info on how the pumped storage project works. It is quite impressive!
The mountain is covered in mountain biking and hiking trails. It is a paradise for either one, but we talked to a mountain biker who drove all the way from Michigan to be there! He was stoked. He said that the trails here were way better than anywhere he'd been thus far. We are not mountain bikers so we took him at his word.
Below: View from Raccoon Mountain to the north.. back toward Chattanooga
Below: Mia and Gabe at the overlook
Below: Gabe actually smiling for the camera.
We enjoyed the summit and then drove down off the mountain a different way. Kenny knows a fair amount about the mountain and pumped storage because of his work with TVA. He explained many facets of the things we were seeing along our drive. What the tunnels are for. What the big pieces of machinery are for. Along the opposite side of the mountain we passed a spot where water flowed down the slopes in many streams. We stopped and got out to explore. It was a fun little side trip. Sure enough there are some waterfalls and cascades on the mountain!
Above: Beautiful spot in the creek. Gabe and I got there first. Mia had to change shoes and Papaw put a dry diaper on her.
Below: The best view of the pretty cascade we found
We explored this little pocket of the mountain awhile and when we were through headed back to the truck. We continued down the same direction and headed for a spot I'd wanted to check out for a couple years. Grant Cave and Falls. I knew about where it was, but did not know if we'd be able to get to it. Turns out it is viewable from the road. I am unsure of the status of the property ownership. It is nature conservancy signed that you must have a permit to enter the caves. We had no intention of entering caves today and since it was right by the road we chanced walking over to take a look. It was worth the stop! Adventures like this were part of what shaped me into the person I am today.
Below is a short video of this little side trip.
Grant Cave and Falls is a spot where water flows out of the side of the mountain, drops over rocks and re-enters the ground at a cave. It may be a sump cave where you have to dive to visit? I am unsure. It has a pretty pool of blue water. Quite a few downed trees around and over it, but it was still pretty. Spring wildflowers were popping up all round it. What was bonus was that there are two or three additional spots where water shoots out of the ground and reenters. Grants Cave is the largest and most attractive. We checked them all out. We saw lots of jack in the pulpits here.
There was one other cave and falls further down the road that we did not visit. This would be a good place to visit on a subsequent trip. 
Above: Pretty Grant Cave Falls under blue skies
Below: This angle shows the blue hole of water at the cave
Below is a short video of Grant Cave Falls
Once we got done with our exploring we headed back to the campground. We had dinner and relaxed. Afterwards we hiked on Raccoon mountain's trails immediately near us. It was a short, pleasant, easy hike. The kids loved the feeling of exploring and discovering things.
We did find a swinging bridge I don't think was there when we camped here in the past. We also found a spot where there used to be a bridge above a nice cascade. Mia took off running like a little banty hen. She was having so much fun.
Below: Kenny, Mia and Gabe on the swinging bridge
Below is a short video clip of the bridge and of the pretty cascade we found where there used to be a bridged crossing of the trail.
Below: Nice cascade at the old bridge site.
Day 2 -Creative Discovery Museum
We had managed to fill up day one with a fair amount of exploring and scenery. Day Two of our trip was reserved for the Creative Discovery Museum. It is big and can take up a full day if you like to play. We saved it for Sunday. We got an early start so we'd find parking. We need not have worried. It was not as crowded as the previous time we visited, but we were still glad to have arrived right as they opened.Below is a photo of the outside of the museum upon our arrival viewed from where we parked!
The above photo was all new stuff since a year ago. The kids were totally stoked to see it as were we all!
Once inside there are so many eye catching, fun activities it is hard to know where to begin. The kiddos want to run from one thing to the next. They typically start off at water play and the indoor playground. They love both those spots. It is totally ok for grown ups to do it with them. I did, but I got so tickled. One of the most hilarious conversations took place right by me. One family group with two kids and two parents were having a blast. Dad was kinda like me. He was getting maybe a little TOO into it. He prepared to go down the curly slide. Mom looks at him and asks "Is this ok for you? Aren't you a little too big for this?" To which he responded with a grin " I don't know, but if I don't see you again I love you!"
Above: Mia plays in the water with other kids
Below: Gabe has to be a river boat captain
Below: Sister is going to drive! ahhhhh!
Below: buildable ball track
Below: Gabe on the tractor
It was great fun. Below is a photo of the art desk area.
Below: many of the artistic works using spheres. Two of mine are on there. See if you can pick them out? Kenny got them right!
We had a grand time and wore ourselves slap out. We went to Jack's for lunch and had the best fried chicken and crinkle fries. We are hooked on Jack's now.
Back at the camper later they played on the playground. They played with their souvenirs from the gift shop. Mia got a rubber tyrannosaurus rex that she just loves! It is her pet.
Day 2-- Part Two --Pumpkin Patch Playground
After lunch the kids rested a little and once Mia had a brief nap she was good to go. I had long wanted to take them to see a special playground on Signal Mountain. It just looked so cool. It is huge and very unique. We all loaded up and headed that way. The only blooper of the whole weekend was trying to take Kenny's pickup truck up The W Road. It is no place for a full sized Silverado. You don't have room to cuss a cat on that road really. Come by way of the main road Hwy 127 Taft Highway. Much easier. 
Above: View on our return trip via Hwy 127 Taft Highway. Beautiful redbuds and plenty of curves and scenery without pissing off locals in their compact cars on the W Road.
We found the Pumpkin Patch Playground without any trouble. It is situated atop Signal Mountain in the little town of Walden. It is charming in every way. We met so many terrific families. We had fun and saw so many other hilarious and heart warming scenes of other families and kids. Our children made friends and at days end they did not want to leave and their new friends whined and did not want them to go. That is a blessing in itself. To have good children who make friends wherever they go. Better to have to pull them away tearfully than to have to end their play with squabbles and bad behavior.
Bedtime tonight had kids asking to go to bed again. That is a win for parents! They had fun and so did we. Gabe has been to the Creative Discovery Museum a couple times before, but this was Mia's first visit. We were happy to make these memories with them.
Below: Gabe & Mia go down the big Fallingwater Slide for the first time.
Below: This mamaw and her family went down the big slide too! They were hilarious and awesome!
Below: A photo that gives an overview of most of the playground. It incorporates nature and is just the coolest ever! One of the funniest things I saw was a dad playing hide and seek with his three sons. I could see that the dad was moving around just a little. He'd creep closer and closer. It was hard to keep from laughing and giving him away. Dad won!
Above: This was Mia crawling through a tire tunnel
Below: Gabe is lost in thought plotting his next move
Below: This bit right here was golden. These kids including ours built a wigwam of sticks by a boulder. They pretended to have a campfire. This was the kind of stuff I did when I was a child.
Experiences like this give me hope for this old world. Not all that is good and pure and copacetic is lost. There are some wonderful families with healthy, happy kids who will grow up to be fine adults with good ideas and hopefully a cooperative spirit.
Day 3-- Gold Panning and Gem Mining and Home!
We originally planned to tour the Raccoon Mountain Caverns, but found that no one under age 4 is allowed to go. This prevented two year old Mia from going. We were ok though. The consolation prize was getting to enjoy the gem mining. The kids sluiced for precious stones. It was fun and they found some neat crystals.
We were able to get packed up and head home at a reasonable time. Camping and traveling are fun, but they are still work so we try not to put too hard when it comes to children and working adults. Kenny had work the following day. Gabe had school.
All in all it was a fun trip and worked out great.
Below: Mia and Papaw with her Fun Dip.
Watching her with her Fun Dip made me think of the song "Summer Girls" by LFO
"You like Fun Dip & Cherry Coke. I like the way you laugh when I tell a joke".
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Dana 🐝