River Mile:   453.3
GPS Coord: 35 06'34.69”N 85 21'56.12”W
Location:     U.S. 27 South/Suck Creek Road
Access:      Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency public power boat launch. Free overnight parking.

Address:
1907 Suck Creek Road
Chattanooga, TN 37401

River Mile: 443.55
GPS Coord: 35.04863238445237, -85.43076345718123
Location:    Wohali Nvya
Access:      Private Property. Follow directions below for parking and to access finish line

Address to Plug into your GPS to the finish:
22573 US-41, Chattanooga, TN 37419

DIRECTIONS TO SWIM FINISH

The finish is on private property called Wohali Nvya and is NEAR this address but not AT this actual address. 

1. Exit Highway 24 at the Lookout Mountain Exit #174.

2. Turn Right onto Cummings Highway 41 W. Around 2 miles look for a sign on the right that says TVA Raccoon Mountain. Look for Triangle type median and Swim the Suck Signs. This is Raccoon Mountain Road but NOT have an actual road sign.

3. Turn right on Raccoon Mountain Road. About 100 yards down this road there is a sign on the right side that says "TVA Raccoon Mountain" and there is a large metal turbine by the sign. Drive about 1 mile down this road and Look for Swim The Suck sign on the LEFT at McNabb Road.

4. Turn LEFT onto McNabb Road (name on GPS systems but does not have an acutal road sign) to enter Wohali Nvya (Swim Finish). This turn is almost 120 degrees. Drive down this hill for 0.6 miles and you will see the Tennessee River and parking in the field on the left. Please park behind the tape. If it has been raining we cannot park in the field and will need to park alongside the hill on the right side of the road.

NOTE: 

There is a road that traces the swim course on the right side of the river (Suck Creek Road and then Mullins Cove Road), which is great for viewing, HOWEVER, there is NOT a bridge that crosses the river from down in the Gorge on Mullins Cove Road to the swim finish. 

The Swim Finish is a 15 mile ~25-30 minute drive from the Suck Creek Boat Launch.    Swimmers and Pilots will park at the Swim Finish in the morning and be shuttled by school busses to the Swim Start at the Suck Creek Boat Launch.

COURSE OVERVIEW

The swim starts at the Suck Creek Boat Launch at River Mile 453.3 on the right side of the river (North shore) and finishes at Tennessee River Gardens at River Mile 443.55 on the left side of the river (South shore). The river course twists and turns making an “S” curve through the steep canyon walls of the protected Tennessee River Gorge. Pilots drop their boats off at the swim start the morning before the race and then drive to the finish line to park. Swimmers and pilots park at the finish line in the morning and ride busses which transport swimmers and pilots to the start. The race begins at 9:30 a.m. and most swimmers arrive at the finish within 4-5 hours. Post race meal, drinks, and awards take place at the Swim FINISH where everyone parked their car. See timeline.

Swim Start

Suck Creek Boat Launch (right side of river).  At start swimmers immediately cross to the left side of the river, meet their pilot at an assigned buoy, and keep red channel markers to their right.

Swim Finish - Wohali Nvya (left side of the river) at 10.36 miles.  River Mile: 443.55
The official finish is in the river by touching the buoy next to the timing tent on a large barge cell.   Swimmers and kayakers exit the river on a little beach shown after the barge cell.