Tennessee River Gorge Trust

10/22/2026

Just… wow!

Can you recognize this iconic spot in the Tennessee River Gorge?

10/14/2026

Thanks for having us, WTCI-TV!

10/14/2026

Fat Bear Week has nothing on Fat Bird Week!

Fat is a key recipe for success for bird migration. As fall migration commences, migratory birds go through fascinating metabolic and physiological changes to prepare their bodies for their strenuous journeys south. Over the fall, we have captured and banded some exceptionally fat migratory birds at TRGT’s Bird Observatory, and this is great news! This information suggests that the Gorge is providing food rich habitat, and these birds are taking full advantage of it.

Pictured here are 2 Wood Thrush. To put it in perspective, an average Wood Thrush may weigh between 40-50 grams.

10/08/2026

Yesterday, our collaborative efforts at Williams Island were covered in The Independent. This article gives a glimpse into the ongoing work to recognize dark chapters in our history and how we as a community are responding.

Alongside our partners at the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians Tribal Historic Preservation Office and the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, our teams have been focusing on responsible stewardship of this culturally and ecologically significant space.

In the year of America’s 250th birthday, Robyn Wilson travels to the South to learn about the forced displacement of thousands of Cherokee people in the 19th century and discover how communities are coming to terms with a dark period in the nation’s history

09/29/2026

Thank you Tennessee American Water and their hard-working team for cleaning up Suck Creek yesterday!

If you’d like to volunteer with us and help clean up the Gorge, join us at Suck Creek for WaterWays annual Tennessee River Rescue (the longest running clean up in the Tennessee River Basin)! TRGT will be leading the Suck Creek Zone this Saturday, October 3. To learn more and register, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tnrivergorgetrust/event/2026riverrescue/

09/23/2026

Join us for a boat ride through the gorge at peak fall colors! For registration and additional details, check out https://www.trgt.org/gorgeousadventures

When: October 27 and October 28 from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm ET

Where: Participants will meet at the Suck Creek Boat Ramp (across the street from 1901 Suck Creek Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37405)

09/22/2026

The fall color explosion is on the way!

The days are shortening and temperatures are dropping… kind of. This recipe causes leaves to lose the pigment chlorophyll, leaving behind other pigments such as carotenoids and tannins which are responsible for the celebrated oranges and yellows.

09/17/2026

Join the Tennessee River Gorge Trust and Lodge Cast Iron on November 19 at Williams Island for a fall cookout surrounded by the beauty of the Tennessee River Gorge!

Chef Kris from Lodge Cast Iron will be cooking up a delicious meal on the island with Lodge Cast Iron cookware from 4:30–7:00 p.m. The menu will include Cast Iron Phillies (with a vegetarian option), sides, dutch oven cobbler, and a speciality ice cream from Clumpies! Participants will be shuttled over to the island on TRGT’s boat followed by a short hike to the old organic farm for a campfire style dinner.

For more details and registration, go to https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tnrivergorgetrust/event/williamsislandfallcookout/

Composting provided by New Terra Compost.

09/10/2026

Throughout the Tennessee River Gorge, you’ll find views like this one. Thousands of acres of expansive wilderness.

Did you know that if you combine TRGT lands, the Prentice Cooper State Forest, and Tennessee Valley Authority’s Raccoon Mountain property, you get over 35,000 acres of conserved land. Wilderness is certainly harder to come by these days and we’re grateful to have these networks of wild lands in Hamilton and Marion Counties. To see TRGT’s protected lands map, visit https://www.trgt.org/lands.

09/09/2026

Fall bird migration is upon us! As we speak, migratory birds are making bizarre physiological changes and beginning their astounding journeys south.

There is a lot behind the phenomenon of bird migration that is still a mystery to science. We are beginning to uncover some of the tools they use to navigate and better understand why they might be taking on such demanding and dangerous voyages. If you’d like to learn more about migration, join us at the TRGT Bird Observatory this fall for public bird banding. To register for public bird banding, visit https://www.trgt.org/gorgeousadventures