Walnut Street Bridge — Attraction in Chattanooga

The Walnut Street Bridge, a restored historic bridge that spans the Tennessee River from Downtown Chattanooga to the Northshore, is for walkers, cyclists and their pets ONLY. It is well used by locals and visitors to Chattanooga. I consider it a "don't miss" activity. Accessing the Walnut Street Bridge via the Riverwalk is almost as fun as walking across the bridge. A stone pathway, with hairpin turns (reminiscent of Lombard Street in San Francisco), led us up the side of the cliff to the Hunter Art Museum. Then we cautiously traversed a glass walkway to the bridge. The walk across the bridge provided many views of the city, river, and the mountains that define the Tennessee Valley. We walked it on an early winter morning, so the landscape was sparse in vegetation and color, providing ethereal views of the Hunter Art Museum, a mix of modern and historic architecture perched on a cliff overlooking the river. About halfway across the bridge we had a nice view of Maclellan Island. Maclellan Island, once inhabited by Native Americans, is now a wildlife sanctuary under the stewardship of the Chattanooga Audubon Society. As you approach the Northshore, you see two riverfront parks flanking the bridge: On the east side Coolidge Park, and on the west Renaissance Park. These family friendly parks are great for walking, picnicking and sunning. After spending the day in the historic Northshore district, we walked back over the bridge to downtown. It was a beautiful sunny winter day and there were lots of people and pets on the bridge. Hint: If you want to save money on parking, park in the South Shuttle Parking garage for $4.00 a day, and take the shuttle to the Aquarium. You can then access the bridge via the Riverside or roadway. We live in Chattanooga and we always park in the south garage and take advantage of the free shuttle. For those who have limited physical abilities, there is a shuttle that will take you over Market Street Bridge to the...

BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK!

First of all, let me just say that the Walnut bridge is absolutely beautiful! I have visited the popular pedestrian bridge a couple of times now and it truly did not disappoint! If it isn't too sunny, a hammock is perfect for lounging the day away and enjoying some beautiful views of the Tennessee river.

Now, having said that.....BE VERY CAREFUL WHERE YOU PARK! I visited Chattanooga THIS June to spend time with my bestie and simply walk the Walnut bridge. I parked on the Coolidge park side in a little parking lot and paid $3 for 2 hours, just to be sure we'd make it back in time with no issues. When purchasing my time, I NOTED THAT THERE WAS AN OPTION TO "BUY MORE TIME" so I assumed that was there in case you did run over accidentally. I THOUGHT THAT 2 HOURS WOULD BE ENOUGH time to walk a bridge and decided that I would add more time later if necessary, since there were no warnings about additional fees if the time ran out. BIG MISTAKE!! When we were almost to the car, literally a stone throw away, the kids asked for ice cream. We knew we were about to run out of time but we thought "Oh well, we'll pay an extra dollar, let's treat the kiddos" again BIG MISTAKE...while we sat there, we got a fine for $16 for Failure to pay parking fee 😲.. what?!? seriously, we already paid $3 for 2 hours.....and now they added $16 for being 30 minutes late. Then, when I went to pay online, they add on an extra $2.50 CONVENIENCE FEE😒 THAT GIVES A GRAND TOTAL OF $21.50 FOR 2 1/2 hours of parking to see a bridge....yeah...be careful where you park. I paid $20 to park ALL DAY in D.C. our Nation's Capital!...

This is an amazing walk and a must for any Chattanooga visitor. Head out to get exercise and fresh air or stroll hand-in-hand with the one you love, this walking bridge offers a spectacular atmosphere.

There are plenty of seating areas over the course of the bridge to simply sit and enjoy the views of the Tennessee River and the beautiful scenery surrounding Chattanooga. With a lot of activity on the river, this bird's eye view allows for great viewpoints. This, in turn, also means excellent photo opportunities.

And for love birds, this would be the perfect location for a first date or a proposal. There are several locations to enjoy a meal on both ends of the bridge as well, further making for a wonderful evening for those out with their loving partners.

And there's a park down below one side for allowing for games and picnics for families and romantics alike.

Visitors to Chattanooga should set aside a couple hours to take in this scenic walk. While a sunrise or sunset is spectacular to see on this bridge, taking a walk on it at any time in the daylight is sure to be a...