Raccoon Mountain in Chattanooga is the perfect sunrise spot with two vantage point locations depending on the time of the year.
Are you an early morning riser? If so, you’re probably wondering where to watch the sunrise in Chattanooga. And even if you’re not a morning person, you may still find it worthwhile to wake up early for this one. Continue reading to learn where to catch the sunrise on Raccoon Mountain, the best times to visit, tips for your morning adventure, and how to turn this morning event into a full day of exploration.
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TVA’S Raccoon Mountain: Chattanooga Sunrise Locations
Arguably the best place for sunrise in Chattanooga is found on TVA’s Raccoon Mountain. Not to be confused with the Raccoon Mountain Caverns & Campground across the street. TVA’s Raccoon Mountain is used as a power reserve for Chattanooga by pumping river water up to the water reservoir at the peak. When additional power is needed, they can then use the water in the reservoir to generate power through the hydroelectric power production process. You can learn more about this TVA project on the TVA website.
Best Sunrise Spot: The East Overlook
The best spot to watch the sunrise in Chattanooga is on Raccoon Mountain at the East Overlook. This spot offers the perfect vantage point to watch the sun slowly rise over the Tennessee River, downtown Chattanooga, and the neighboring mountains.
The only downside is that this section of the mountain is gated closed and only opens at 5:30AM central time. That’s 6:30AM eastern time (Chattanooga time). Which means, you can only access the East Overlook in time for sunrise during the months of September through April. The best months to go would be September and April because the weather is typically mild and the sun rises later in the morning so you don’t have to wake up as early.
Photos below taken at the East Overlook in September
Second Best Sunrise Spot: Outside the Gate
The second best spot to catch a Chattanooga sunrise would be just outside the gate. Even if it’s closed, don’t let this stop you from enjoying a cool, summer morning sunrise.
Right in front of the gate leading to the overlook is a small area to park and wait. Here you can enjoy the sunrise through the powerline clearing. Although powerlines may not be the ideal view, it’s still a breathtaking spot to watch the sunrise in Chattanooga.
Photos below taken just outside the gate in July
Start Your Morning on Raccoon Mountain
Stick around and wait for the gate to open. Sometimes it’s late. When I first went in July, it was 15 minutes late but it was well worth the wait. There were only a couple of cyclists meeting there and that was it! I drove up to the East Overlook which only took a few short minutes. From there I was able to enjoy a little more of the sunrise (photos below). After this, you can start your day, or continue to explore Raccoon Mountain with my suggestions below.
5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Chattanooga Sunrise Adventure
Enjoy a Sunrise Breakfast Picnic
Pack a breakfast picnic or pick up some breakfast food on the way to catch the sunrise. Sit and enjoy breakfast in front of the rising sun at the East Overlook‘s picnic table. Or wait and enjoy your picnic by the Laurel Point Loop after the sun is higher in the sky.
Hike the Laurel Point Loop
After your breakfast picnic, or just after the sunrise, take a short, easy hike around Laurel Point Loop. This is a fairly flat, paved trail that loops from one end of the parking lot to the other. Along the way are a few spots you can hop onto a dirt trail and take in the views of the Tennessee River gorge from the rock bluffs.
Have a Raccoon Mountain Photoshoot Session
Take advantage of the early morning hours when Raccoon Mountain is less busy. This is the best time to get photos on the iconic Drivepark Road. This is a popular spot for photos. So much so that people will often hold up traffic here just to take pictures. Don’t be one of those people. Instead, arrive early in the day and park in a designated area. Then you can carefully walk out onto the road to take photos. Please watch out for and yield to traffic while on the road.
Mountain Bike on Raccoon Mountain
If you want to spend even longer on the mountain, consider bringing your mountain bike along to ride some of the 28 miles of trails on Raccoon Mountain. If you want to learn more about these trails and my experience biking some of them, check out my Raccoon Mountain Biking guide.
Spend a Full Day on Raccoon Mountain
Did you know that there’s plenty to do and see on Raccoon Mountain? You could easily spend an entire day here. From waterside walks to hiking trails, from scenic drives to the visitor’s center, there’s so much to explore on this mountain. Learn more about how to spend an entire day here in my Racoon Mountain Day Guide.
In Closing
Considering my first time watching the sunrise here was a Saturday in July, I am so thrilled that I got to enjoy the popular spots of Raccoon Mountain almost completely alone. I spent about 2 hours here and truly enjoyed a peaceful sunrise in Chattanooga experience before getting on with my day.
Be sure to watch the video of my first sunrise experience here. And if you’ve seen the sunrise in Chattanooga, let me know in the comments below where, and how you enjoyed it. Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt!
More of Details for Exploring on TVA’s Raccoon Mountain:
- A Full Day Raccoon Mountain Itinerary
- Mountain Biking on Raccoon Mountain
- Raccoon Mountain Winter Hike
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