SUNSETS that color the sky and bring beauty to your eyes
If you’re like me, then you love a good sunset. And what is better than knowing a great place to catch a good view of one? With a city surrounded by mountains, it’s important to find a good spot so you can have the best viewing experience. For your convenience, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite Chattanooga sunsets that are worth the drive.
Taft Highway Lookout
On the west side of Signal Mountain sits the Taft Highway Lookout. It’s about a 30 minute drive from downtown Chattanooga, up Signal Mountain, and across it. Be sure to watch out for the lookout as it’s easy to miss in the mountain road curves. I took these pictures just recently and the sun set more behind the trees as it does this time of year, but closer to summer time you’ll get a better view of the sunset from here where it sets more to the left behind the distant mountains.
Scenic Overlook of Sequatchie Valley
Unlike the previous location, you will be able to view the sun setting behind the distant mountains no matter what time of the year it is. This Scenic Overlook is definitely one of my favorite spots, even just to stop at during the regular daylight hours. The overlook is serene as you can see the rolling farmlands of the Sequatchie Valley below, away from the hustle and bustle of the Chattanooga suburbs and city. It’s about a 40 minute drive from downtown Chattanooga as you travel north along Highway 27 and then Highway 111. If you’re coming from the Chattanooga side of the mountain, you will have to drive past the overlook, get off the next exit, and get back on going the other way as the overlook is on the other side of the highway.
Sunset Rock
Parking is taken seriously up here. 
View of downtown and Moccasin Bend 
Part of the trail down to Sunset Rock 
You’ve arrived: Sunset Rock 
The most popular location is popular for a reason. Sunset Rock boasts some of the most beautiful views of Lookout Valley below Lookout Mountain. You can also see downtown Chattanooga a little bit around the point of Lookout Mountain as well as the Tennessee River flowing around Moccasin Bend. Sunset Rock is about a 20 minute drive up Lookout Mountain from downtown Chattanooga. Because of this spot’s popularity you’ll have to be prepared for no parking. The small parking lot only holds 8 vehicles. There is however paid parking quite a ways down the street by Point Park and the Incline Railway. I would suggest arriving an hour or two before the sun is to set and on a weeknight to help your potential for a free parking spot. Also note, it’s a short hike down to the rock which means it’s a slight uphill coming back.
If you have enjoyed a sunset at any of these locations before, leave a comment below and let me know. Have you see Chattanooga sunsets before? If so, have you seen a good one at another location that I didn’t mention above? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time, I’ll see you out Exploring Chatt!
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