North Chickamauga Creek

North Chickamauga Creek

Hamilton county • 5,400 acres

No motorized vehicles outside parking areas. Units closed after sunset except to opossum and raccoon hunters. Trespass prohibited by non-hunters on hunt days. Hixson, Rogers, Varner and Vandergriff Units closed to all forms of trespass except hunting and trapping during the late waterfowl seasons.

Big Game, Small Game Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. All hunting ends on Jan. 31,  2024, except spring squirrel season and spring turkey season.

Hunting only allowed on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, unless exception is indicated.

Shotguns loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller only (except waterfowl).

Closed to quail hunting.

Bag limit for rabbits is three per day.

Hixson, Rogers, Vandergriff and Varner Units closed to all forms of trespass except hunting and trapping during the late waterfowl seasons.

Big Game, Small Game Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. All hunting ends on Jan. 31,  2024, except spring squirrel season and spring turkey season.

Hunting only allowed on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, unless exception is indicated.

Shotguns loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller only (except waterfowl).

Closed to quail hunting.

Bag limit for rabbits is three per day.

Hixson, Rogers, Vandergriff, and Varner Units closed to all forms of trespass except hunting and trapping during the late waterfowl seasons.

Dove  Sept. 1, 2023, and every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday of the statewide dove season. Dove hunting from noon to sunset on Sept. 1, 2023. No dove hunters or dove hunting equipment on dove fields prior to 7 a.m. on the opening day of the first segment on the dove season.

Deer Hunting with archery equipment only. Archery hunters must comply with blaze orange requirements during the statewide deer gun and muzzleloader seasons.

Deer (Archery - Wheelchair-bound Hunter Only) Varner Unit Wheelchair Accessible Blind Site Only) - Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Hunting only allowed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To reserve blind call the Region 3 office.

Turkey Hunting ends at noon each day. Fall turkey season is archery only.

Turkey (Wheelchair-bound Hunter Only - Varner Unit Wheelchair Accessible Blind Site Only) Same as statewide season, except as noted. Hunting only allowed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Turkey hunting ends at noon each day. Shotguns loaded with No. 4 shot or smaller only. To reserve blind call the Region 3 office.

Waterfowl  Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and the first and last day of the statewide season and the youth waterfowl season. Shotguns loaded with No. 2 shot or smaller. Waterfowl hunting ends at noon each day, including the youth waterfowl season. Hunting from temporary blinds only. No blinds, blind materials, boats, or decoys may be left overnight.

Waterfowl (Wheelchair-bound Hunter Only

Varner Unit Wheelchair Accessible Blind Site Only) - Same as statewide seasons, except as noted. Hunting only allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hunting ends at noon each day. Waterfowl hunting restricted to use of shotguns loaded with No. 2 shot or smaller. To reserve blind call the Region 3 office.

Trapping Friday before Thanksgiving - Jan. 31. Traps must be checked each day.

Dog training (all breeds) Sept. 1 - Jan. 31. Hixson, Rogers, Varner and Vandergriff Units closed to dog training from the first opening day of the late duck season until the end of duck season.

Patton Unit Special Use - Hooved animal riding, bicycling and Off -Highway Vehicle (OHV) use permitted only by individuals possessing a valid hunting and fishing license and WMA permit or a High Impact Conservation Permit. Possession of alcoholic beverages prohibited.

Big Game Small Game and Trapping same as statewide seasons, except as noted.

Quail - Nov. 4, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024.

Site Description: North Chickamauga Creek is a 7,093-acre natural area located in Hamilton and Sequatchie Counties. It is an outstanding deep gorge cut into the sandstone plateau of Walden's Ridge on the Cumberland Plateau.

The gorge is approximately ten miles long with steep slopes, sandstone bluffs, and rich coves. A high diversity of plant and animal habitats exists in the gorge.  Ten state and/or federally listed plants occur there. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons have also been reported there.

A mixed mesophytic forest combines with oak-hickory, and oak-pine forests to form a rich mosaic throughout much of the gorge. Small pockets of old-growth forest with towering tulip poplar, yellow buckeye, and basswood occur in remote locations where rugged topography has protected the forest from past logging.

On the uplands and bluffs, there are oak-hickory and oak-pine forests, upland ponds, and sandstone glades and barrens.

Riverside shoals and stream cobble bars in North Chickamauga Creek provide habitat for several threatened and endangered plants.

The creek is a popular kayaking stream during parts of the year. It is also a popular destination for hikers.

Wildlife to Watch: General woodland birding is excellent year-round. 

NOTE:  Some areas are used for recreational purposes.  Please use these links before visiting the location.

• North Chickamauga Creek Gorge SNA