Lookout Mountain Parkway Is A Breathtaking Drive

The Lookout Mountain Parkway is one of the most beautiful drives in the state of Alabama.

Located in the northern part of the state, it goes from Gadsden Alabama to Chattanooga Tennessee along a winding 93 miles stretch of nature.

Along this beautiful parkway you and your family will find breathtaking waterfalls, several canyons, villages and town as well national and state parks.

It is not only beautiful in the fall, but year around as spring time it bursts into numerous mountain flowers.

Lookout Mountain Parkway Road

How to Get to Lookout Mountain Parkway

Lookout Mountain Parkway begins at the Noccalula Park in Gadsden, Alabama on the top of the mountain it is named after.

If you are on Interstate 59 you will take exit number 188 and then follow highway 211 to the Noccalula Falls State Park.

From there you will turn on Tabor Road which will soon turn into Cherokee County Road 3, which will then become Alabama 176.

There you can take a detour into the Little River Canyon National Preserve, or just keep following this beautiful scenic outlook.

Lookout Mountain Parkway

Attractions to See at Lookout Mountain Parkway

There are numerous attractions to see during your drive on Lookout Mountain Parkway, and they include 2 states other than Alabama, Georgia as well as Tennessee.

Alabama Attractions

The Alabama attractions include 12 beautiful sights and the first 6 include the following

Alpine Camp
Greater Gadsden
The City of Fort Payne
Cloudmont Ski Resort
Desoto State Park
The Little River Canyon Area.

The Alpine Camp

The first major Alabama attraction at the Lookout Mountain Parkway is Alpine Camp, which is a summer camp for young men set up on a beautiful 350 acres.

It includes lush and very deep forests, several massive rock formations, as well as waterfalls.

The Greater Gadsden Area

The next attraction is the beautiful city of Gadsden that sets in the foothills of the end of the Appalachian Mountain range.

This beautiful Alabama city is next to the mountains, several beautiful lakes, as well as Noccalula Falls and the Coosa River.

The City of Fort Payne

Next is the City of Fort Payne, which has been voted twice into America’s Best Small Towns.

The Cloudmont Ski Resort

The Cloudmont Ski Resort is next, and this is considered to be one of the southernmost ski resorts in the country. It is an excellent venue for beginners and experienced skiers.

Desoto State Park

Desoto State Park is next on the list of attractions located along Lookout Mountain Parkway and is one on the most beautiful.

There are hiking and biking trails available, as well as a swimming pool, tennis courts, playgrounds and picnic areas within the park for your family’s comfort and pleasure.

This gorgeous natural attraction also features not only waterfalls and canyons, but all kinds of breathtaking scenery.

The Little River Canyon Center

The Little River Canyon Center, which is operated out of Jacksonville State University, is also a major attraction.

This center is next to the Little River Canyon National preserve and serves several important functions.

These functions include cultural demonstrations, outdoor interpretations, as well as an administration center.

Lookout Mountain Parkway

The Next Six Alabama Attractions

The next six Alabama attractions located on the Lookout Mountain Parkway include the following

The Little River Canyon National Preserve
Noccalula Falls Park
The Town of Mentone
Saddle Rock Golf Course
True Adventure Sports
Shady Grove Dude Ranch

The Little River Canyon National Preserve

One of the most beautiful attractions on Lookout Mountain Parkway is the Little River Canyon National Preserve.

In this pristine preserve you and your family will find scenic vistas as well as beautiful waterfalls, and a gorgeous 23-mile drive along the rim of the canyon.

This natural attraction features a 700-foot-deep gorge you can easily see, as long as nature up close.

Noccalula Falls Park

Noccalula Falls Park is next, and this natural attraction features gorgeous waterfalls named after a young Cherokee maiden who jumped off of the cliff.

There is a statue of her at the top of the waterfall, to show where she jumped when her father, the Chief, wanted her to marry someone other than her true love.

This park also includes a War Memorial, a museum, beautiful walking and hiking trails, as well as a sightseeing train.

The Town of Mentone

Setting atop Lookout Mountain Parkway is the beautiful and small hamlet of Mentone, whose name in French means the “musical mountain spring.”

This used to a very hot health resort where people from around the country would come for the natural mineral springs located there for their healing powers.

The springs are now gone, but the beauty that surrounds Mentone still remains and is a great day trip for you and your family.

Saddle Rack Golf Course is also part of the Cloudmont Resort complex and is a nice side trip.

Shady Grove Dude Ranch offers guided mountain trail rides where you can see the beauty of nature firsthand.

True Adventure Sports is an experience where local guides will take you and your family to several spots along the Lookout Mountain Parkway, as well as the town of Fort Payne.

The attractions in Georgia along this beautiful parkway include the Lookout Mountain Hang Gliding resort and training center, as well as Rock City.

Rock City is a spot where you can easily see seven states from the top of the mountain.

The Tennessee attractions include the Chattanooga Electric Map & Museum where you can learn the history of the civil war in Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls.

The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway is called one of America’s Most Amazing Miles, and Ruby Falls included a gorgeous 145-foot natural underground waterfall.

Lookout Mountain Parkway is one of the most breathing taking of all the Alabama day trips you and your family can take.

References

https://drivelookoutmountain.com/