National Trails Day

Hikers head out Saturday

National Trails Day, a celebration scheduled Saturday by the American Hiking Association, has some surprising twists in the region: A creek bottom is among the destinations, and horses will join the foot traffic on a couple of backcountry work outings.

In Chattanooga, the Soddy-Daisy Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association and the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy are inviting hiking and nature enthusiasts to participate in an event at Greenway Farm, 5051 Gann Store Road in Hixson. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers from both groups will greet visitors at the log cabin near the parking area, where bottled water, trail maps and other information will be available.

The event is intended as an introduction to organized hiking and trail conservation.

“The volunteers will acquaint visitors with various Greenway Farm trails that meander through the park and will lead hikes at regular intervals for those unfamiliar with the trail network,” said George Bonneau of the Soddy-daisy Hiking Club in a news release.

Trails in the park vary in difficulty from easy to moderate. These include a 1-mile wildflower footpath and several wooded and graded trails. Cameras are welcome.

Advance registration is requested. Call 667-2960 or email Kopperkritters@yahoo.com.

A view of the bluffs from Cloudland Canyon State Park. Visitors can help with trail maintenance as part of National Trails Day on Saturday.