Barge Rides
Enjoy the beauty of the Bays Mountain reservoir aboard a pontoon boat while the secrets of local aquatic animals are revealed.
Observe water lilies, deer, raccoons, ducks, geese, turtles, great blue herons, beaver lodges, and sometimes beavers and black bear. Your naturalist will discuss park history as well as the sights and sounds encountered on your trip creating a unique experience. The Barge Ride lasts approximately 45-minutes and may be cancelled due to weather. Seating is limited to 40.
Barge ride times can be found on the calendar. Tickets for barge rides are $6 per person. Park members will receive free passes. To reserve your spot, please visit the Nature Center before the scheduled barge ride. We only accept reservations in advance for parties of 15 or more. Please call 423-229-9447 to make a reservation.
Did you know that you can purchase tickets online at any time through the City’s CivicRec portal? Just use the link button below to see all of the Park’s programming. If you don’t already have a CivicRec user account, create one for yourself and your family and then add your tickets to the cart and pay. There is no service fee and you can avoid the ticket lines. Just show us your tickets on your phone!
It is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets at least 20 minutes before the barge ride time, in-house or online.