A new chapter in outdoor recreation and historic tourism officially began Friday as local leaders gathered to dedicate the John Culpepper Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail, a 2.2-mile multi-use path linking the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to downtown Chickamauga.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the trail’s northern terminus on Wilder Road and brought together elected officials, community members, and project partners to celebrate the completion of a project that had been in development for nearly a decade.
Named in honor of longtime former Chickamauga City Manager John Culpepper, the new trail provides a safe and scenic route for walkers and cyclists traveling between the historic battlefield and Chickamauga’s downtown business district.
The connector trail also carries significant historical importance. Portions of the path retrace the route of the old Dry Valley Road, where Union soldiers once marched from Mountain Cove through Crawfish Springs during the Civil War. The trail also passes near the historic Gordon-Lee House, which served as a field hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Chickamauga.
Trust for Public Land was brought in by Walker County in September 2024 to oversee the project, handling land acquisition, trail design, community engagement, and fundraising efforts. Construction officially began with a groundbreaking ceremony in August 2025.
“Noel Durant, Tennessee State Director for Trust for Public Land, said the project is about more than simply opening a trail.”
“Today we’re not just opening a trail — we’re connecting people to one of the most remarkable landscapes in American history,” Durant said. “Linking tourist destinations to business districts can grow local economies while protecting irreplaceable natural and historical assets.”
Funding for the project included a $434,131 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, along with additional support from the Lyndhurst Foundation, Riverview Foundation, Jewel Memorial Foundation, and Ironman Foundation. Walker County Government and the City of Chickamauga each contributed $50,000 toward the project, marking the county’s first financial investment in a new public trail in nearly ten years.
Walker County Commission Chairwoman Angie Teems called the project a major asset for the region.
“The Battlefield Trail Connector is a true win-win-win for our entire region,” Teems said. “It will promote healthy lifestyles, preserve our history, and stimulate our local economy — and it’s a considerable quality of life enhancement for the people of Walker County.”