Marion County, Tennessee
Where Small Towns Meet Big Outdoors
Foster Falls, the Tennessee River Gorge and the home of Lodge Cast Iron, about 20 minutes west of Chattanooga on I-24.
Drive times
- 20 minfrom Chattanooga
- 1.5 hrfrom Huntsville
- 2 hrfrom Nashville
- 2 hrfrom Knoxville
- 2.25 hrfrom Atlanta
- 2.5 hrfrom Birmingham
Things to do
Pick a trip and go straight to the trail, the ramp or the restaurant.
Six places to start
Each page has directions, hike lengths or hours, and places to stay nearby.
Foster Falls
Waterfall, overlook, and the south trailhead of the Fiery Gizzard.
Plan your visit
Nickajack Lake
Boating, fishing, and paddling on the Tennessee River.
Plan your visit
Snooper’s Rock
The overlook above the bend in the Tennessee River Gorge.
Plan your visit
Fiery Gizzard Trail
A rugged trail between Grundy Forest and Foster Falls.
Plan your visit
Lodge Museum of Cast Iron
The World’s Largest Cast Iron Skillet, in South Pittsburg.
Plan your visit
Hales Bar Marina
Floating cabins, boat rentals and the old dam powerhouse.
Plan your visit
Make it a weekend
A waterfall in the morning, the lake by afternoon, a cabin at night
Foster Falls, Snooper’s Rock and Nickajack Lake fit into one weekend. Pick a base town, book a cabin, lake house or campsite, and follow one of our ready-made plans.
Festivals and events
Cornbread in South Pittsburg each April, crafts at Ketner’s Mill each October.
Pick a weekend
Four ready-made plans, each with places to stay.
Romantic getaway
Family weekendWhere to stay
Cabins on the bluffs, lake houses on Nickajack, hotels at the I-24 exits and campgrounds at the trailheads.
Featured rentals
Pick a base town
Five towns to base a trip from, each with places to eat and sleep.
Jasper
The county seat, in the Sequatchie Valley.
Eat in Jasper
South Pittsburg
Home of the Lodge Cast Iron foundry and the National Cornbread Festival.
Visit the Lodge museum
Kimball
Right on I-24, with hotels and restaurants.
See hotels
Monteagle
On I-24, just north of the county line.
Hike the Fiery Gizzard
Whitwell
Home of the Children’s Holocaust Memorial and Ketner’s Mill.
Read about Ketner’s MillPlanning a group trip or a wedding?
Eight venues hold 75 guests or more, several with cabins on site.