Breathtaking Views From Historic Point Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
If we didn’t go on a road trip from Dallas to the Smokys, we would never hear about Point Park in Chattanooga. Not even the city of Chattanooga in Tennessee.
There are so many things to do and attractions to see in Chattanooga. After searching for some info, we even spent one day in Chattanooga. Point Park was one of the places we visited.
Also, I learned that Lonely Planets named Chattanooga “Best in the U.S.” and “10 U.S. Destinations You Need to See” in 2018. It may be from several years ago, but Chattanooga hasn’t lost its charm as one of the best destinations in the U.S.
As such, Point Park in Chattanooga didn’t disappoint us at all. It is rich in history, and the views from above are gorgeous!
Now I’m sharing our experiences from visiting Point Park in Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and Two Worlds Treasures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associate Programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Appreciate the support. For more info, see the Privacy Policy.
What is Point Park Chattanooga?
Point Park is a section of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park on Lookout Mountain in Tennessee. It provides a bird’s eye view of Chattanooga and the Battle of Lookout Mountain, also known as The Battle Above the Clouds. A Civil War site.
A paved walking path encircles the Park and leads tourists past numerous historical tablets, monuments, cannons, and picturesque vistas.
In the middle of the Park stand the New York Peace Memorial Monument. It is the tallest Monument in the Park, erected by the State of New York. The Monument, built after the war, was a tribute to peace and humanity between Union and Confederate veterans.
At the point of the park is the Ochs Memorial Observatory. It is a historic structure built during the Great Depression. You will find exhibits on Civil War signaling and photography here. From the patio, you can see Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.
Just outside the park is the Visitor Center. It houses a 33′ by 13′ The Battle Above the Clouds mural painted by James Walker, an eyewitness to the battle. There are several short audio-visuals about the painting and battlefield of Chattanooga.
Visiting Point Park Chattanooga TN
We knew beforehand that we could use our America the Beautiful National Park Pass to enter this historical site for free. If you don’t have the Pass, you can buy one at the Visitor Center.
I strongly suggest you get National Park Passes if you plan to visit more than one National Park within a year.
If you only want to buy a one-time ticket to the park, you can purchase it at the entrance gate of Point Park in person.
Following the address we punched into GPS, we drove to the top of Lookout Mountain to get to Point Park. We passed Ruby Falls near the bottom and Incline Gifts Shop, which is not too far from Point Park.
Arrived at the top, we turned right onto East Brow Road. We saw the gates of Point Park, constructed in 1904 and modeled after the US Army Corps of Engineers Insignia in front of us. The Visitor Center is on the left-hand side, and free parking is behind the Visitor Center.
Parking is limited, and we were fortunate there weren’t too many cars during our visit. If no parking spot is available during your visit, you can find metered parking around Point Park.
I went to the Visitor Center to get a brochure. Then we walked straight to the gate as we had our National Park pass. There was a guided-tour program at 11 that we missed. So, we did a self-guided tour following the brochure.
Point Park is not large, and it’s easy to navigate. We stopped at every tour stops and read all the tablets and information regarding the tour stops.
The tour’s first stop is the gate, followed by an artillery battery. Here, they put cannons in a spacious opening overlooking the city of Chattanooga. It was a beautiful sight!
From there, we moved to New York Peace Monument in the middle of the park.
Then we walked to Garrity’s Battery. The view of downtown Chattanooga is even better from here. I think it’s the best view of Chattanooga from Point Park in Lookout Mountain.
Our next stop was Ochs Memorial Museum, at the point of Lookout Mountain inside Point Park. We could see the whole Moccasin Bend National Archeological District and the Tennessee River from this tour stop.
Here we learned about The Battle Above the Clouds, Cracker Line, and Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.
Near the Museum, we saw the famous Tennessee Umbrella Rock. The park put a fence around it due to growing safety concerns.
Umbrella Rock was one of the popular photo spots back in the 1880s to the mid-1940s. It became famous after a local photographer took pictures of Civil War troops on the rock.
From here, we continued to Roper’s Rock. We didn’t go to the trail. We just looked around from above.
Our last stop in the park was Van Den Corput’s Battery.
Then we visited the Visitor Center to see the giant mural.
Lookout Mountain
Lookout Mountain is an area famous for its 1863 Battle Above the Clouds. It is about a fifteen-minute drive from downtown Chattanooga.
Point Park perch on the point of Lookout Mountain. Here are a few other things that you need to know during your visit:
– Lookout Mountain Battlefield Walking Tours
Walking Tours of Point Park are offered on the weekends at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and typically last 30-45 minutes. A Park Ranger will guide visitors through a paved path and share information about the Battle of Lookout Mountain, the history of Chattanooga, and the Park. Programs begin just inside the gate at Point Park.
However, they may be canceled the tours due to a shortage of Park Rangers in the Park.
– Cravens House
On November 24, 1863, much of the fighting in the Battle of Lookout Mountain took place on the Cravens’ property. Union Troops under the command of General Joseph Hooker swept the northern slopes of Lookout Mountain in what became known as the “Battle Above the Clouds.”
Both army forces used the property as their headquarters during the war.
After the war, the Cravens family returned to Lookout Mountain. They rebuilt the home and completed it in 1866.
Today the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park preserved the house. It is open to the public every weekend in the summer and during special programs.
There are no admission fees for the Cravens House. The property is open from sunrise to sunset daily.
On the property, you will find several monuments, markers, and cannons that tell the Battle of Lookout Mountain.
You can find Cravens House on Cravens Terrace Road, just off the Scenic Highway in Lookout Mountain. It is also accessible via the Lookout Mountain trail system.
– The Lookout Mountain Trail System
There are more than thirty miles of hiking trail crisscrossing Lookout Mountain. You can access a few of them from Point Park. For example, you can go to Cravens House from Point Park.
– Sunset Rock and Wauhatchie
On the western side of Lookout Mountain is the Civil War site of the Battle of Wauhatchie. In late October 1863, Confederate Generals James Longstreet and Braxton Bragg stood on Sunset Rock, looking at the Union Army below, who attempted to open a supply line through the valley. They planned their attack, which culminated on October 28-29, 1863.
Today Sunset Rock is a popular destination for hikers, rock climbers, and sunset chasers. Its location is on West Brow Road near Point Park. Parking is limited, and you can’t park in the streets or the nearby yards. You can also access Sunset Rock via the Bluff Trail.
Are dogs allowed at Point Park Chattanooga?
Yes! Dogs are more than welcome in the park. Remember to keep them leashed at all times. Don’t forget to pick up the excrement and dispose of it in trash containers.
Our dog Snoopy had fun walking around Point Park with us.
Point Park Chattanooga Basic Information
Point Park Chattanooga Address
110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350.
Point Park Chattanooga Hours (EST)
Open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Point Park Chattanooga Admission
$10 per adult, ages 16 and over. The entrance is good for seven days. Children 15 and under enter free. Or, show the Park Ranger your America the Beautiful National Park Passes for free admission.
Admission to the Point Park Visitor Center is free. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
And here are the entrance fee-free days for 2023:
– January 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
– April 22 – First Day of National Park Week
– August 4 – Great American Outdoors Day
– September 23 – National Public Lands Day
– November 11 – Veterans Day
Point Park Chattanooga Directions
From Exit 178, turn left onto Broad Street. Broad Street will become U.S. Highway 41 (Cummings Highway). Turn left onto TN Highway 148. Continue on TN Highway 148 to the top of Lookout Mountain. At the top, turn right onto East Brow Road. The Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center will be at the end of East Brow Road, across the street from the Point Park Entrance Gate.
If you come from Georgia direction like us, stay on highway I-24 E. Take Exit 174 for US-41/US-64/US-11 toward Lookout Valley/Lookout Mountain. Turn right onto US-41 S/US-64 E/US-72 E/US Hwy 41 S. Turn right onto Alford Hill Dr. for a few feet, and make a left onto TN-318 S/Old Wauhatchie Pike. Less than a mile, turn right onto TN-148 S and keep driving until you reach the top.
Dog-friendly Hotels in Chattanooga
Home2 Suites by Hilton Chattanooga Hamilton Place
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Chattanooga- Lookout Mountain
Red Roof Inn/Lookout Mountain dog stays free
I have never been to Tennessee but I would love to visit. All these historical places are so interesting to me and I feel like there is so much about the civil war times that I could still learn. Best part about this kind of parks is that at the same time as you learn about the history you can be outside. I had to google this exact location because I have been to Chattanooga River in Georgia. I see that it is not that far from Chattanooga Tennessee which is interesting.
Yes. Both Chattanooga Tennessee and Chattanooga Georgia are right by the state line.
Wow! The view is beautiful. Happy to know that there are many things to see and do in Chattanooga. It’s cool that they allow dogs in the park since we usually travel with our furbaby. 🙂
Point Park in Chattanooga is a historical place not to be missed. I can imagine the scenic vistas from the top of the mountain. No wonder Lonely Planet named it as one of the Top destinations in US. The view of the Tennessee river from Ochs memorial museum is amazing and so is the robust architecture of Park Point Gate, the New York peace monument. I would definitely be interested to take walking tour of Lookout Mountain sharing the information on “Battle above the Clouds” and hiking across would be great to explore the place
Having never spent any time in Tennessee or in Chattanooga, I would never have known about Point Park in Chattanooga. We might be confused by the gate that looks like a castle entrance but would certainly visit for the amazing panoramic views. I love when spots like this have lots of information signs to learn about the history as you wander. Might mean we can pass on taking a guided tour. With 30 miles of hiking trails I am sure we could return several times and explore.
We were surprised to see the entrance gate, too. It does look like a castle entrance.
As I only have a very general knowledge about the civil war it would be definitely interesting for me to visit Point Park Chattanooga and learn some new things. I always like it if you can combine some hiking with some historical sightseeing. And also good to read that the Visitor Center offers material for self-guided exploring of the area. I really enjoyed reading your post!
There seem to be a lot of things to do at the lookout point in Point Park. The view over Chattanooga and the surrounding area is breathtaking. The Cravens House looks very interesting and provides a great way to bring your imagination to life. It’s great that you can go on a guided tour as well and learn more about the battle above the clouds. It’s also good that dogs are allowed in Point Park as well.
Interesting to know that Chattanooga has been listed as Lonely Planet’s best in USA! A place that’s full of history and nature? Wow! That’s totally my kinda place to be. America the Beautiful National Park Pass is something I’d buy the moment I land in USA. We, both me & my daughter, are interested in military history, and we love hiking to see some spectacular views and Chattanoonga checks both the boxes. Wouldn’t miss it.
I never heard about Chattanooga but it seems a great place for a day trip. I like the Point Park especially Lookout Mountain Battlefield Walking Tours. Maybe I ill visit soon this place for a good day trip and enjoy these places on my own.
It looks like exploring Chattanooga would be enjoyable. From Garrity’s Battery, I can picture how great it must be to overlook the spectacular vistas! The Point Park tour stops all seem to be worthwhile. Its massive rock formation entrance gate has such a distinctive architectural design. The history of the place is another factor that has me curious.