Tennessee River Gorge Trust

This Blue Jay seemed keen to pose for the camera at the TRGT Bird Observatory!

Most biologists try to avoid assigning human tendencies and characteristics to wildlife in the name of science. But sometimes it’s hard to avoid when a bird strikes a pose like this as soon as the camera comes out.

Welcome our 2026 summer interns, Dulce and Coral! They have hit the ground running with rare plant surveys, trail work, bird banding, and more.

Dulce is joining us from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga where she is studying environmental science. Coral is pursuing her degree in biology from the University of Alabama Huntsville. Thank you for making this program possible.

Thank you to everyone that joined us for Another Gorgeous Evening!

We celebrated the Tennessee River Gorge with our friends and partners at with the upper stretches of this wild, twisting river canyon within sight.

Attention mountain bikers! The Aetna Mountain Trails FUND-RAC-ER is Friday May 15 in partnership with our friends at . To sign up or learn more, check out https://secure.qgiv.com/for/aetnatrails/event/theaetnatrailfund-race-er2026/

The course for this nighttime team race will include a brand new section of the Aetna Mountain Trails before the opening later this summer. Come ride new trails and enjoy the party.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day- including this bald eagle momma from Edwards Point!

The wildlife families of the Tennessee River Gorge are hard at work this spring as deer fawns, turkey poults, squirrel kits, and more make their debuts into the world.

Have you come across this mysterious matter in the forest lately?

Often confused with a fungus, this is a species of slime mold (Fuligo septica) that can actually move along the forest floor! It’s a large single-celled organism that has even been observed moving through mazes to find food in laboratory experiments. Its common names are a bit vulgar, so we’ll let you look them up on your own.

The Aetna Mountain Trails keep getting better thanks to our community! Thank you to our volunteers from Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences for their hard work helping maintaining public trails.

Spring bird banding at the TRGT Bird Observatory!

Pictured here are TRGT ornithologists, Austin and Robert, showing off a Veery and Red-eyed Vireo to a public group. A bird’s wings and tail feathers can often reveal its age thanks to features like molt limits (contrasting retained juvenile feathers and adult feathers).

🌳Happy Earth Day!!!🌎

Take a moment today to get outside and enjoy a piece of wilderness whether it’s a vast expanse of forest or backyard birds.

📷 Kevin Livingood

Have you seen the artwork for the Another Gorgeous Evening Art Auction? Check out the catalog and register for the event through https://www.trgt.org/age

This group of talented artists sought inspiration from our properties to create unique pieces that truly capture the awe-striking characteristics of the Gorge.