North Shore sits across the Tennessee River from downtown, and the Walnut Street Bridge connects the two on foot. You can walk there from downtown. The city’s plan describes it as home to bustling shops, restaurants, and parks, and popular with tourists and locals alike.
Parks on the water
Coolidge Park is one of the city’s signature parks. It has walking paths, a splash pad, and a carousel. Residents named it their favorite park in the city’s public survey and liked that it sits close to restaurants and shopping. Renaissance Park, also on the river, has trails and river views, and survey responses describe it as a place that “feels like you’re not in the city.”
A hike close to town
Stringer’s Ridge is a nature preserve on the North Shore side of the river. Residents describe it as quiet hiking in thick woods in the heart of the city. If you want a trail without leaving town, start here.
Some history
The western side of Market Street in North Shore is still called Hill City. The name goes back to the Camp Contraband settlement that grew up there after the Civil War.
Getting around
CARTA’s North Shore Shuttle runs every 30 minutes between downtown and North Shore, with stops at the Tennessee Aquarium. It runs 6:50 AM to 6:10 PM on weekdays and 9:50 AM to 6:10 PM on Saturdays, and there’s no Sunday service. Plan Sundays around that. If you drive, CARTA runs public parking lots at Coolidge Park and Renaissance Park.
Transit times and fares come from the city’s 2024 transit study, and places come from the Plan Chattanooga planning documents. Schedules change, so check CARTA before you ride.