Midway up Lookout Mountain is a narrow bridge with a peculiar view. Winding through dense greenery, the bridge’s coin-operated binoculars look out of place, or at least useless – unless you know where to look.

Under the bridge are the small tracks of the famous Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. And if you drive by at the right time, you’ll be greeted with a view of the bright yellow train as it passes by.

A fun way to explore Lookout Mountain is to journey down the roads and trails that intersect the Incline. The aforementioned bridge is along Scenic Highway next to a rustic souvenir store called Mountain Memories. Look for the faded Coca-Cola sign that reads “SEE INCLINE HERE.”

Other spots of interest are found at the Incline’s top and bottom stations. Let’s start at the bottom. 

A cool feature of the bottom station is that it’s located in a neighborhood, meaning the train passes directly next to homes. Adjacent to the parking lot, head up West 40th Street, where an eight-foot-tall bridge carries the Incline overhead. Further up Old Mountain Road the train travels only seven feet above your car!

But perhaps the coolest feature at the bottom station is that there’s a Clumpies ice cream shop within the station! 

It’s a similar experience along the various hiking and biking trails toward the top of the mountain, albeit bridges with taller clearance.

The top station is also a great place to see the Incline – for free! Yes, no entry ticket is needed to visit the station and its two-tiered observation deck. In addition to offering panoramic views of Chattanooga, look straight down to see the seemingly vertical railway carved into the mountainside.