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| Road Trip to Fall Color | ||||||
| Cruise along the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway for some of the South's prettiest views. | ||||||
Curling past fields and farms, canyons and clouds, waterfalls and other wild wonders, the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway reveals some of the best fall color you'll see this season. The parkway stretches for almost 100 miles along a spiny mountain ridge from Chattanooga to Gadsden, Alabama. We've come up with a list of places you don't want to miss. Included are well-known sights such as the famous Rock City Gardens and lesser-known areas such as Little River Canyon National Preserve. We've separated the drive into three sections. Each could be done in a day, or you could fit all three into a long weekend. Note: Because the parkway passes through three states, highway numbers change, so pay close attention to your map. Expect to take a wrong turn or two. Choose Chattanooga The Chattanooga area contains the most attractions per mile of the scenic highway. We're hooked on Rock City Gardens though. The views are jaw-droppingly spectacular, and the trails are well-kept and clean. A new, more naturalistic overlook and path to the left of the main entrance opened earlier this year. Another spectacular vista awaits at Point Park on Lookout Mountain, a unit of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Here's where to get the best view of Moccasin Bend, a mile-wide curve in the Tennessee River. For a delightful contrast to these mountaintop views, head down Tennessee State 148 to Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden, a 300-acre botanical garden showcasing native plants, and the adjacent Chattanooga Nature Center. A 3-mile driving tour winds along dense woods, a horse pasture and pond, a creek, and other natural beauties. Watch the time. You don't want to miss the day's end viewed from the mountain (be there around 5 p.m.). Curl back up the road to Sunset Rock, just above Reflection Riding on the mountain, to catch the sun's rays acting like a huge bellows blowing the coals of color to red-hot. You'll trek 5 or 10 minutes to the overlook. From the rock outcropping, an astonishing panoramic view spreads out in all directions. Covenant College to Cloudland Canyon State Park We'd rather educate you about Cloudland Canyon State Park, about 18 miles south (the road becomes Georgia State 136 on this stretch). The park spans a deep, tree-lined gorge cut into Lookout Mountain by Sitton Gulch Creek. The main parking lot leads you right up to the rim of the gorge, and a large picnic pavilion lets you savor the view. Hiking trails lead down to the creek and waterfalls; it's a vigorous 20-minute walk. Alabama Bound Continue south on County 89 to DeSoto State Park, a 3,000-acre property highlighted by DeSoto Falls, which cascades 104 feet into a rocky canyon formed by the Little River. Ten miles of hiking trails lead through deep woods to scenic views of rock cliffs and waterfalls. Little River Canyon National Preserve, 8 miles down Alabama State 35, ranks among the prettiest, lesser-known areas in the state. Pull into the parking lot at G. E. Hill Bridge for an up close look at Little River Falls, which tumbles 45 feet at the canyon's entrance. Then cross back over the bridge, and turn left on Alabama State 176 for a drive along the canyon's rim. If you have time for only one stop, turn off I-59 at Exit 188 for Noccalula Falls in Gadsden. It's not quite as impressive as the other natural wonders along the highway, but there's something about the sound of water cascading down a ledge that holds endless appeal--especially in autumn.
Directions: To get to the Lookout Mountain Scenic Highway from I-24 in Chattanooga, take the Lookout Mountain Exit 178 to South Broad; continue along Tennessee Avenue to the Ochs Highway (you'll see the signs for Rock City/Incline Railway). From I-59 in Birmingham, take Exit 188 to Noccalula Falls Park/Gadsden; then turn left on Tabor Road. Attractions
LODGING
Northeast Alabama
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