The Enterprise South Nature Park near Chattanooga, TN, features one of the area’s most accessible and popular mountain bike trail networks. The 2,800-acre park has long been maintained as a protected natural forest and is home to over 60 miles of trails and roads, which provide access to this beautiful natural area. That might soon change due to a land swap proposed by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp.
On paper, the land swap doesn’t seem too bad: Wamp calls for turning over 500 acres of land in Enterprise South for an industrial development while simultaneously preserving an adjacent 1,300 acres at the McDonald Farm. However, the 535 acres proposed for development at Enterprise South include the Atlas mountain bike trail.
While official documents claim that the park offers 60 miles of trails and roads, only 15.5 miles are bike-legal singletrack. The threatened Atlas trail comprises about 38% of that mileage, at six miles long. It’s also widely regarded by local riders as one of the best trails in the network.
And the local advocacy group, SORBA Chattanooga, didn’t learn about the proposed development until it came out in the news.
Local MTB advocacy group reacts to unexpected land swap proposal
“Like many of you, we learned about this plan from the public announcement and have since been in communication with the County to better understand what it could mean for trails and recreation access,” wrote SORBA Chattanooga on Facebook. “The proposal still requires approval at the city, county, state, and federal levels—so now is the time for our community to learn, ask questions, and share feedback.
“This is an important reminder that access to trails is never guaranteed,” they continue. “As advocates for sustainable mountain biking trails, SORBA Chattanooga remains committed to being a constructive partner while representing the interests of our broader trail community. We’ll continue to push for mountain bike access, explore new trail opportunities, and share updates as we learn more.”
Future MTB trail development opportunities on McDonald Farm
While Wamp noted that the proposed 1,300-acre addition to the park could be used for future recreational development, there aren’t currently any mountain bike trails located on that parcel of land, and the proposed industrial development could destroy an existing trail. However, a survey conducted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in early 2025 found that local residents want the land preserved for recreation, and mountain bike trails ranked highly among the proposed uses.
SORBA Chattanooga has already had preliminary discussions with the County “about trails being a viable option that could serve as both a recreation hub and as an economic driver for the community of Sale Creek,” according to Sunshine Loveless, Executive Director of SORBA Chattanooga, in a statement to Singletracks. “Since the announcement of the proposed land swap, I’ve initiated a site visit to McDonald Farm next week with the Hamilton County Parks & Recreation Director, the Executive Director of the Chattanooga Audubon Society, the individuals who started the change.org petition to Save Enterprise South Nature Park and other stakeholders to better understand the property and its potential for trail development,” they continued.
A false dichotomy?
Many residents have pointed out that choosing between developing 535 acres of Enterprise South and preserving 1,300 acres of McDonald Farm is a false dichotomy. There’s no reason the county couldn’t preserve both parcels of land.
“Citizens are given a false choice here with the ‘in exchange for preserving 1300 acres at McDonald farm.'” wrote Zack Johnston on SORBA Chattanooga’s Facebook post. “Preserving both is possible, and no one that lives and works in Chattanooga is using McDonald farms’s (non-existent) trail systems regularly. [sic] Defend Enterprise or in a few years it’ll be another 600 acres gone.”
SORBA Chattanooga echoed this sentiment. “We’re advocating for the preservation of both properties for outdoor recreation and conservation,” wrote Loveless. “It shouldn’t be a choice between one or the other. We believe the county is capable of and should be preserving both. We’ve encouraged the county to provide more transparency with this proposal and process.”
The future of the Atlas trail is unknown
Even though Wamp claimed that the proposed industrial development would not disturb any existing recreational activities, local mountain bikers quickly took to social media to fact-check that claim, showing the undeniable impact on the Atlas trail, which runs through the proposed parcel.
Haley Burton, a spokesperson for Wamp, subsequently confirmed the parcel does include the Atlas trail. However, “if land appraisers end up pointing out that acreage, including the trail, is valuable for development, the county will work on moving the Atlas trail up into the main body of the park and out of the southern end,” according to an article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
While 535 acres have been proposed for industrial development, it’s not yet clear which portions of land could be deemed viable for development — and whether or not that land would include the Atlas trail. “The acreage the county puts up for development may shrink to as much as half that amount by the end of the appraisal process,” according to the article.
While the Atlas trail measures six miles long, it’s unclear how much of the trail would be destroyed. Maps indicate that only a portion of the trail crosses into the proposed development parcel.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that the Atlas trail has been threatened, according to Loveless. “Earlier this year, TDOT released a design concept for the Hilltop Drive Extension, intended to relieve traffic congestion, which would impact the Atlas Trail,” they wrote. “The project was approved in August 2025 with a budget of approximately $22–25 million. It’s currently in the design phase, expected to take one to two years to complete.”
Next steps
Public presentations could take place soon before both the Hamilton County Commission and the Chattanooga City Council. Initial votes by those bodies would determine whether or not the proposal will advance. If it does, it will have to be approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior. However, at this time, the land swap hasn’t been added to any Hamilton County Commission meeting agenda, according to an email from Wamp.
“The proposed plan remains in its early stages,” writes Wamp. “Public input will be considered and additional features will be incorporated before seeking authorization from the Hamilton County Commission and Chattanooga City Council.”
For their part, SORBA Chattanooga “is responding […] by engaging directly with the parties involved in the proposal and decision-making process,” according to Loveless.
Even if some or all of the Atlas trail is impacted by industrial development, all is not lost. “County officials have stated (and reiterated to SORBA) that if Atlas is affected, there are options to relocate and build additional trails within the park boundary to offset the loss,” wrote Loveless.
A Change.org petition to “Save Enterprise South Nature Park” has gathered 3,780 signatures, but residents are encouraged to get involved by contacting their local, state, and federal representatives directly to share their opinions.
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