If you're looking for a quiet hike away from more popular trails, check out Little Cedar Mountain along the shore of Nickajack Lake just outside Chattanooga. With a couple views of the lake, large boulders, and a small pond, this is a good trail to find some solitude or give the dog some exercise.

The 7 car parking lot is quite small, but on a sunny weekend day in June there was only one other car there, so parking shouldn't be an issue. The details of this hike are for the outer loop and don't include the Pond Trail. This trail is no more or less difficult than the rest so mix it up if you come here often.

Begin this hike by walking the short distance to the beginning of the loop. Hiking clockwise, the trail immediately begins to climb in elevation. This can also be the most overgrown section of the trail if it's been awhile since it was maintained. Drop back down to the edge of the lake before making the longer ascent to the top of the mountain. Along the way there is one unmarked point that looks like a junction. Just keep heading uphill. The trail quickly peters out the other direction.

After passing the blue blazed Pond Trail the path begins to descend with two views of the lake and surrounding mountains along the way. After looping around to the other side of the Pond Trail the hike descends a little more quickly down the west side of the mountain. The rest of the loop is flat and easy to follow.