If you’re planning a trip to Lookout Mountain, chances are Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Incline Railway are in the plans. These legendary attractions deserve the top spots for good reason—explore the whimsical rock gardens and mystical caverns of Rock City, marvel at the underground cascade of Ruby Falls, and ride the Incline Railway, known as “America’s Most Amazing Mile.” 

But are you familiar with Lookout Mountain’s other enchanted wonders? Many are unaware of the man-made marvels, natural features that feel almost unnatural, and the ruins of long-lost ambitions that are often hidden in plain sight.

You’ll want to add these incredible outdoor features to your must-see list. All are free to explore and located just a short distance from the Chanticleer Inn and downtown Chattanooga! 

Rockmont Park 

Let’s start at the base—on the lower slopes of Lookout Mountain, just above the historic neighborhood of St. Elmo, boulders sprawl across a grassy hillside reminiscent of scenes from Middle Earth.

Rockmont Park is “the South’s first natural, urban and public bouldering park.” The 50-acre site extends up the mountain’s forested rugged landscape, where finding all 27 boulders to climb feels like an adventure in itself. 

These otherworldly stones come in all shapes and sizes and vary in climbing difficulty, ranging from beginner to advanced. Each boulder has a name—The Twin, Cliff Hanger, Hidden Secret and The Turtle, to name a few. Just be sure to sign a waiver and bring a crash pad before testing your grip strength! 

Eagle Nest 

If it weren’t for a brown metal sign that reads “Eagle Nest”, passing motorists wouldn’t think much of the towering stone walls next to Scenic Highway. Those curious enough to stop will encounter the ruins of what were supposed to be the “hanging gardens” of Lookout Mountain. A dilapidated stone staircase is a faint reminder of a once ambitious project to sculpt a spectacular terraced garden that would’ve dwarfed Rock City in size and splendor. 

Eagle Nest was intended to be just one of many landscaped wonders of gardens, statuaries, waterfalls and more, with views of the Tennessee River and beyond. This vision of grandeur was the brainchild of The New York Times publisher Adolph Ochs and his brother Milton. Both had deep Chattanooga ties and an affinity for Lookout Mountain.

While Milton helped secure swaths of land along Lookout Mountain’s slopes beginning in 1925, Adolph set about creating a terraced garden that would stretch from Cravens House to nearly Rock City. The project, however, proved to be a pipe dream, as only the old quarry known today as Eagle Nest was ever developed. Besides the grand stone staircase, all that remains are two sculpted eagles that sit atop the old quarry walls, from where they once boasted commanding views of Chattanooga. 

Eagle Nest is just north of Ruby Falls along Scenic Highway. It also lies along the Guild-Hardy Trail, which snakes up Lookout Mountain from base to summit. 

Incline bridge overlook 

A little further up Scenic Highway is a narrow bridge with an incredible view. Look right and you might catch the Incline Railway pass underneath as it prepares to climb the steep cliffs of Lookout Mountain’s summit.

The Incline is a funicular railway that scales Lookout Mountain from base to summit. In operation since 1895, the Incline climbs nearly 1,400 feet above the city of Chattanooga, mounting a 72.7% grade near the top, making it one of the steepest passenger railways in the world. With each trip taking about 10 minutes each way, it’s easy to time your opportunity to see the Incline pass, as it runs every 30 minutes on the hour throughout the day (10:00 A.M. through 6:00 P.M.).

Scenic Highway is the only major road that intersects the Incline on its journey up the mountain, and the railway is visible only from the small bridge beside Mountain Memories, a local souvenir shop. Look for the antique Coca-Cola sign that reads “See Incline Here” for one of the most interesting views of “America’s Most Amazing Mile.” 

Natural Bridge 

Lookout Mountain has its share of quirky rock formations—made famous, of course, by Rock City. One such oddity is Natural Bridge, a stone arch spanning 60 feet in length and rising 15 feet above a small spring. 

In the late 1800s, the spring flowing beneath this geological wonder was believed to have healing properties and became a place of refuge for Chattanoogans seeking to escape the city’s yellow fever epidemic. Later, Natural Bridge emerged as one of the most popular sights atop the mountain and, curiously, as a magnet for the occult.

In 1885, the Southern Spiritualists' Association acquired the nearby Natural Bridge Hotel, hosting seances and renowned mediums at the site. This paranormal project only lasted for about five years, after which interest in the site dwindled. Natural Bridge now finds itself as a small park tucked within a neighborhood. 

Natural Bridge remains one of the mountain’s hidden gems. Head up Scenic Highway (TN Route 148) and turn onto North Bragg Avenue—Natural Bridge will be on your left. It isn’t advised to walk across the “bridge”, but trails lead you beneath it. 

Point Park castle 

What’s more enchanting than a castle in the clouds? The fortress-like entrance to Point Park commands attention. Built in 1905, this magnificent “castle” guards the Civil War memorial park along Lookout Mountain’s northernmost crest.

Thousands pass through the gates each year, perhaps unaware of the entrance’s architectural significance. The structure’s two-turret design is a nod to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who constructed the entrance and modeled it after their centuries-old logo. In fact, Point Park’s castle is the largest built symbol of the Army Corps displayed anywhere in the world. 

Point Park is one of the most visited districts in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Established in 1890, Chickamauga and Chattanooga is the oldest such park in the United States. A $10 per-person admission fee is required to enter Point Park, which closes each day at dusk, but the “castle” itself can be viewed from the parking lot. However, roaming the park is well worth the experience—especially if you’ve never been, as the views of Chattanooga are second to none. 

Fairyland 

What stands out to most first-time visitors to Rock City are the fairytale-themed streets in the surrounding neighborhood. This is Fairyland—yes, like Fairyland Caverns. At the corner of Lula Lake Road and Hardy Road, the neighborhood entrance displays the community’s crest—a metal silhouette of Red Riding Wood greeting the Big Bad Wolf. Here, streets like Red Riding Hood Trail or Peter Pan Road are the norm. 

You would think that Fairyland is an homage to Rock City’s fairytale-like theme, but you’d be wrong—it’s sort of the opposite. In 1925—seven years before he opened Rock City to the public—Garnet Carter developed the affluent neighborhood and founded its golf and social club, the Fairyland Club. However, it was Garnet’s wife Frieda who gave the neighborhood its legacy.  

Frieda adored the folk tales of her German heritage and expressed that love in the design of the community. In fact, she designed ten cottages known as Mother Goose Village and also planned the Gingerbread House and other unusual Fairyland homes. Frieda’s love of fairytales was the catalyst for turning her cliffside backyard—full of bizarre, ancient rock formations—into the enchanted garden that would become Rock City. 

Sunset Rock 

Sunset Rock is a magical place to conclude your adventure but consider yourself lucky if you’re able to snag a parking space—only a few get to witness this panoramic spectacle each evening.

As the sun begins its final bow, the quiet neighborhood of Lookout Mountain sees an uptick in traffic on West Brow Road, particularly around a small, unassuming asphalt lot wedged between two homes. Here, people gather to watch the twilight sky. 

Take a short hike to the mountain’s western brow where a secluded outcropping hosts panoramic views of Lookout Valley. Look north for a glimpse of Chattanooga’s twinkling city lights and the purplish-pink reflection of the winding Tennessee River. Hang a hammock or sit on the rocks, because you'll want to stay for a while.  

Though often overlooked, Lookout Mountain's other enchanted wonders testify to the mountain’s eclectic history and natural beauty. It is well worth visiting parts of the mountain that you may otherwise would’ve never considered—which makes these sights excellent side quests for your next Lookout Mountain adventure.