Written by: Elsie Pak
Nestled just east of Chattanooga in the suburban area of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University’s location offers access to the rich surrounding nature of the Tennessee River Valley.
Exploring the nearby trails, many students, faculty, staff and alumni traverse the well-worn paths, navigating the dense, leafy forests that lead to rocky crags, steep overlooks and colorful views of the rising dawn or sunset.
Doug Brown, an associate professor at Southern and the Outdoor Leadership Coordinator, has lived and hiked in Collegedale and the larger Hamilton County area for about eight years. When asked what trails he enjoys hiking, Brown highlighted the Biology Trails on White Oak Mountain and the Bauxite Trails on Bauxite Mountain.
“Both of these are on property that has been gifted to Southern for the purpose of having green space with trails that the community can use,” Brown said. “Together, these trails make up a network of over 20 miles that are maintained for mountain bikers and hikers.”
Brown said several trails are designated specifically for hikers. One trail that he noted in particular was the Sabbath Trail, which is a part of Fenton Forest on Bauxite Mountain.
Southern alumnus Nadezhda Kichuk also enjoys walking the Sabbath Trail. The looping one-mile pathway is marked with inscriptions of biblical history and verses honoring the Sabbath, culminating in a large stone rendition of the Ten Commandments.
In the spring, the landscape is decorated with bright wildflowers and shaded by green trees.
“It’s a perfect trail for people to not only explore, but to learn something,” Kichuk said.
Another unique part of the trail Kichuk said she enjoys is the bend where the nearby field of cows becomes visible.
Jonathan Ziesmer, 2021 Southern alumnus, is another individual who enjoys the trails around the university. Ziesmer has been hiking the Hamilton County area since he was 7 years old. When asked to name some of the best trails in the county, Ziesmer noted Lookout Mountain for having lots of long climbs and great views.
Lookout Mountain also features Sunset Rock via Point Park. It’s not only a hiking route, but also a rock-climbing spot. Recommended by numerous students and the online magazine Atlanta Trails, it is considered one of the best places to watch the sunset over the Tennessee River and the city lights of downtown Chattanooga.
When hiking in the Collegedale area, Joy Burdick, sophomore business marketing major, likes to gather grass and clovers along the Sabbath Trail to tempt the cows to come closer.
“We can take [nature] for granted since we have so much of it here,” said Burdick, who enjoys hiking with her friends on Sabbath afternoons. “But I would encourage other college students to get out there and explore the local and immediate area. It’s a fun way to meet people from the community, and there are plenty of groups who love to hike and want to enjoy nature with others.”