The best mountain top views of the Scenic City of Chattanooga can be found at these overlooks.
Chattanooga hosts a plethora of beautiful mountain views, but no two views are alike. So, I’ve gathered three of my favorite Chattanooga overlooks that you won’t want to miss during your exploration of Chattanooga. These overlooks are some of the best in the area for viewing downtown Chattanooga as well as its surrounding suburbs.
Point Park
Atop the point of Lookout Mountain that juts into the state of Tennessee sits Point Park. You may have seen my reference of this park from my post on Civil War Memorials in Chattanooga. Not only is the park full of Civil War memorabilia, it is also home to one of the best Chattanooga overlooks.
The overlook is located inside the park at the point of the mountain. This two-story structure was built as a memorial to Adolf Ochs, a highly respected man credited for the donation of Point Park to become a national military memorial park. Inside is a small museum and out back you can find the overlook, both upstairs and downstairs. I’ll tell you right now, downstairs has the better views as it sticks out further from the mountain crest. Learn more about how to hike to this overlook if you want to add to the view. Keep in mind that there is a small fee to enter and enjoy this park and its views.
TVA’s Raccoon Mountain
For a more peaceful view of downtown Chattanooga as well as the surrounding mountains, you must visit TVA’s Raccoon Mountain. Stop by the East Overlook for this amazing view. Sitting beside the Tennessee River is TVA’s Raccoon Mountain that is the home of TVA’s largest hydro-electric facilities. The mountain also hosts recreation with numerous hiking and biking trails as well as protected wildlife. Learn more about mountain biking on Raccoon mountain or hiking on Raccoon Mountain in the winter if you want to add to the view.
If you want to enjoy a scenic drive, check out this Chattanooga scenic drive itinerary where Raccoon Mountain is a stop on the list. And be on the lookout next week when I share how to get the most out of your visit to Raccoon Mountain as a whole.
Signal Mountain East Brow
Signal Mountain offers one of the widest views of the Chattanooga valley. It’s another peaceful spot that is not so frequented except by locals. However, it’s an easy stop to miss if you don’t know where you’re going so don’t forget to save this spot on your maps. The entire street gives you the same great view all the way until the W Road. There are also two more small pull-off spots but this one is the best of them, in my opinion.
There’s room for only a few cars to park here and it’s a residential street with many houses facing the bluff. Be mindful of the residents when you visit. And even though there’s no gates here, the overlook is only open from sunrise to 11pm. If you are here during closed hours, police will come and ask you to leave. Please be respectful of this location. Check out this spot and others for amazing nighttime views of Chattanooga.
Conclusion
Have you visited these overlooks? Or have you stopped elsewhere to overlook Chattanooga? Let me know your thoughts about these spots or others in the area in the comments below. And watch the short YouTube video summarizing all three locations. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
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