Profile Trail Restored by Volunteers

Our only single-track trail on campus is now restored thanks to Randy Medley and volunteers from the Scenic City Hiking Club and Chattanooga Hiking Club. The Profile Trail is a peaceful walk in the woods that winds through dogwoods forests, wildflower coves, and untouched beauty.

What was once an overgrown, nearly impassable path is now a scenic hike, thanks to a major restoration led by volunteers. Over the course of the project, volunteers contributed around 250 hours of work!

Originally unveiled in 1994 and dedicated to long-time supporter Muffett Handly Brock, the Profile Trail winds through Reflection Riding’s wooded areas in a 2.9-mile loop. The trail’s name echoes a local Indigenous tale: a chief once looked up from a spot along the current trail and saw his profile outlined in the rocks at Sunset Rock, gazing skyward.

With help from volunteers from the Scenic City Hiking Club and Chattanooga Hiking Club, Randy Medley led the effort to bring the trail back to life. The teams tackled dense overgrowth, cleared fallen trees, and rerouted a damaged section that had eroded into Lookout Creek. They also updated trail blazes and cleared the corridor to 5 feet wide and 8 feet tall, creating a safe, accessible space for hikers.

“Each time we finished a section, we’d look back and see someone already hiking it. That’s what it’s all about — restoring access to nature,” explains Medley. Today, the trail features tree ID markers, wildflowers in the spring, shade in the summer, and is perfect “for anyone who just wants to go for a walk in the woods,” he adds. We are grateful to Randy and every volunteer who contributed to the restoration. Thanks to their hard work, the Profile Trail is once again a place the community can explore and enjoy.