Most people in Chattanooga think of the plateau as something you drive through on the way somewhere else. A weekend getaway from Chattanooga Tennessee that goes up instead of out is worth reconsidering. The Cumberland Plateau is about an hour away, and what’s up there is genuinely different from what’s down in the valley.
The Drive Up
There are three ways up depending on where you’re coming from. West side of Chattanooga, take I-24 West and the highway climbs the escarpment for you. Downtown or central, Suck Creek Mountain Road is the better option: almost entirely winding back roads through the gorge, genuinely scenic, and more fun than any highway on-ramp. East side, Highway 111 North brings you up the other side of the plateau. All three routes run about an hour to Coalmont. The Getaway on Ranger Creek is waiting at the end of whichever road you pick.
What’s Up Here
The Cumberland Plateau sits roughly 1,000 feet above the surrounding valleys. Grundy County alone holds more waterfall hikes than most people get through in a single trip. Greeter Falls is approximately 12 minutes from the property: a 1.2-mile loop, two waterfalls, a spiral metal staircase into a sandstone gorge, and a cold swimming hole at the base. The Stone Door trailhead is about 20 minutes away, with overlooks above a 150-foot-deep crack in the plateau rim. Grundy Forest and the northern trailhead of the Fiery Gizzard Trail are about 22 minutes out.
South Cumberland State Park covers over 30,800 acres and more than 85 miles of trail across this part of the plateau. Most of it is an easy drive from the property. Our FAQ has the full list of trailheads with drive times from The Getaway.
The Caverns
Chattanooga people tend to already know about The Caverns. If you’ve been meaning to go, a night at The Getaway on Ranger Creek puts you approximately 30 minutes away. Here’s what to expect when you see a show inside the cave. The cave stays 59 degrees year-round. Shows run across a wide range of genres and the acoustics are unlike anything above ground. Check the current schedule at thecaverns.com before you book your weekend.
Where You’ll Stay
Five units on the property: the Geodesic Glamping Dome, the Scandinavian Cabin, the Glamping Tent with Deck, the Porch House Cabin, and the Nordic Spruce Cabin. Private decks, real beds, climate control. Propane grill and fire pit at each unit. The creek runs through the property and you can hear it from most of the decks.
A Weekend Getaway from Chattanooga Tennessee: How to Spend It
Friday: leave Chattanooga after work and pull in at roughly the same time you left. Coalmont runs on Central Time, so the clock actually works in your favor. Sit outside before it gets dark. No agenda.
Saturday morning: Greeter Falls. Two hours out and back, two waterfalls, and a pool at the base cold enough to wake you up. Back at the property by noon. Afternoon is yours: nap, read, grill lunch on the deck. Saturday evening, either head to The Caverns if there’s a show, or stay on the property and watch the stars come out through the tops of the trees.
Sunday: coffee on the deck. Drive back to Chattanooga relaxed.
Book Your Stay
Check dates and availability at thegetawayon.com. An hour from home, far enough to feel like somewhere else.