Trust for Public Land, Walker County, and the City of Chickamauga officially dedicated the new John Culpepper Chickamauga Battlefield Connector Trail on Friday.

The new 2.2-mile multi-use trail links the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to downtown Chickamauga. The trail is named in honor of Chickamauga’s longtime former City Manager John Culpepper.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the trail’s northern terminus on Wilder Road, with local elected officials, funding partners, and community members attending the event. The dedication marked the completion of a project nearly a decade in the making.

The trail provides a safe and scenic route for walkers and bicyclists while connecting one of the nation’s most visited Civil War sites with Chickamauga’s historic downtown business district. It also follows portions of the old Dry Valley Road, where Union soldiers once marched, and passes near the Gordon-Lee House, which served as a field hospital after the Battle of Chickamauga.

Trust for Public Land was brought in by the Walker County Commission in 2024 to help manage the project, including land acquisition, trail design, community engagement, and fundraising. The project was funded through grants and local contributions, including support from the Appalachian Regional Commission, several foundations, the City of Chickamauga, and Walker County Government.

Walker County Commission Chairwoman Angie Teems called the trail a “win-win-win” for the region, saying it will promote healthy lifestyles, preserve history, and support the local economy