Hikes Map Explore
Cravens House and Point Park Loop Lookout Mountain Battlefield, TN
miles
LENGTH 2.7 MILES
DIFFICULTY 5.2 Easy
Medium
DURATION 1-2 hours
ELEVATION GAIN
620
feet
TRAIL TYPE
Loop
Cravens House and Point Park Loop

Hike from one historic point to another on this scenic loop at Lookout Mountain Battlefield Park outside Chattanooga. Starting at Point Park, take in epic views from both sides of Lookout Mountain before descending alongside vertical rock bluffs to the historic Cravens House. Add a side trip to Sunset Rock for even more adventure.

You can start at either Point Park or Cravens House trailhead, but since Point Park is a fee area and you would still need to pay even if starting at Cravens House, this description will begin at Point Park. Follow signs for parking behind the Visitor Center across from the castle-like entrance to Point Park. All other street parking is an additional fee.

From the entrance, a paved path makes a loop around the tall New York monument with incredible views on both sides of Chattanooga nestled snugly around the twisting Tennessee River. At the far end, follow the sign for Ochs Museum to another loop with even more views.

On the left/west side of the Museum, a connector trail heads down the steps just outside the old stone building. Pass another view, heading down a couple sets of metal steps before reaching the intersection with the Bluff Trail to the left and the Mountain Beautiful Trail to the right. For this description, turn right, but either way is fine.

Follow the Mountain Beautiful Trail below Point Park alongside tall exposed rocky bluffs. After a third of a mile make a sharp left with the wider trail. A more narrow trail continues to the right. Just after this stay left at another signed intersection toward Cravens House. There may be another side trail on the left before reaching the Cravens House trailhead, but if so it was small and/or overgrown that I didn't notice. My gps data for these few intersections don't really line up with any maps I've looked at.

From Cravens House, follow the rock sign for Point Park. At just under a tenth of a mile, a signed but overgrown side trail on the left leads to several more monuments. Just after this the Rifle Pits Trail splits off to the right. Stay to the left, following the sign. From here the trail gets considerably more rocky until it connects with the Bluff Trail. Right takes you to Sunset Rock but for this hike, turn left to head back up to Point Park.

Read More

Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Free parking at the lot behind the Visitor Center across the street from the entrance to the park. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. The entrance to Point Park. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Point Park has views on both sides of Lookout Mountain. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Follow the sign for Ochs Museum in Point Park. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Approaching Ochs Museum from the left. Just before the building, steps leads you down the connector trail to the rest of this hike. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. View at Ochs Museum. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Heading down the steps of the connector trail from Point Park to the intersection with the Bluff and Mountain Beautiful Trails. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Hiking along the Mountain Beautiful Trail on the below Point Park. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Cravens House and trailhead parking lot. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. The Rifle Pits Trail branches off to the right, so stay left, following the sign. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Intersection of the Cravens House Trail and the Bluff Trail. Turn left to head back to Point Park. Right will take you to Sunset Rock. Cravens House and Point Park Loop. Hiking up the Bluff Trail toward Point Park.
Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Slope Breakdown
Elevation Gain
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Gain
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.5 mi
59 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.5 mi
192 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.1 mi
79 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
0.2 mi
186 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
364 ft
127 ft
Elevation Loss
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Loss
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.4 mi
47 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
0.3 mi
88 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.3 mi
172 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
0.2 mi
135 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0.1 mi
196 ft
Terrain Map Click to control map
Navigation
0.0 mi
0.0 mi - Trailhead, Turn Right You can go any way you want at Point Park, but for listing mileage this navigation will describe staying to the right.
0.13 mi
0.13 mi - Follow Sign for Ochs Museum On the opposite side of the paved path, turn right to follow the sign for Ochs Museum at the far end of another loop. Turn right on this loop as well.
0.23 mi
0.23 mi - Ochs Museum, Views and Connector Trail The museum is inside an old stone structure. Outside you'll get views from the tip of Lookout Mountain. On the left/west side of the building take the steps down for the connector trail to the Mountain Beautiful and Bluff Trails.
0.31 mi
0.31 mi - Turn Right Turn right on the Mountain Beautiful Trail, following the sign for Cravens House. Again, this mileage will be based on turning right around this loop, but you could turn left here as well.
0.63 mi
0.63 mi - Turn Left The wider trail will turn back sharply to the left. A much more narrow trail continues to the right.
0.67 mi
0.67 mi - Turn Left Turn left at the signed intersection for Cravens House.
1.07 mi
1.07 mi - Cravens House Trailhead Reach the Cravens House trailhead where you can explore the historic building and other monuments in the area. From here, follow the carved rock sign for Point Park and Sunset Rock along the Cravens House Trail.
1.16 mi
1.16 mi - Stay Straight On the left an overgrown side trail leads to a couple monuments.
1.18 mi
1.18 mi - Turn Left Turn left to stay on the Cravens House Trail. The Rifle Pits Trail branches off to the right.
1.91 mi
1.91 mi - Turn Left Connect to the Bluff Trail. Right leads to Sunset Rock and left leads back to Point Park. There is a posted map at the intersection.
2.41 mi
2.41 mi - Turn Right Turn right back onto the connector trail up to Point Park, completing the loop to Cravens House.
2.5 mi
2.5 mi - Stay Straight then Right Stay Straight to leave the short loop for the Ochs Museum, the turn right to round out the main Point Park loop back to the park entrance.
Details
length2.7 miles
difficulty5.2 Easy-Medium
duration1 - 2 hours
features Dog Friendly  History  Views 
trail typeLoop
blazeNone
elevation gain620 ft.
state Tennessee 
park/forestLookout Mountain Battlefield
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
hoursSunrise - Sunset
parking fee$7/person entrance fee to Point Park, free parking behind park Visitor Center, extra cost for street parking.
trailhead coordinates 35.009862, -85.343755 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 35°0.59, W 85°20.63 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 35°0'36'', N 35°0'36'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
35.009862, -85.343755 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 35°0.59, W 85°20.63 most GPS units use this one
N 35°0'36'', N 35°0'36'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
Across the street from the park entrance is the Visitor Center. Follow the sign for free parking behind the building. Otherwise, parking on the street is an additional fee managed by the city. If you want to begin at Cravens House, the coordinates are 35.013494,-85.341761.
Parking Capacity
19 parking spaces + 2 handicap. Additional street parking. Cravens House parking lot also has 19 parking spaces.
Notes
Visit the Visitor Center across the street from the park entrance for restrooms and maps.
There are several steep drop offs. Pay close attention to kids and dogs.
Nearby Hikes
Sunset Rock via the Bluff Trail
Sunset Rock via the Bluff Trail
Length3 mi Difficulty5.8 Tennessee
Point Park
Point Park
Length0.5 mi Difficulty0.7 Tennessee
Sunset Rock via Cravens House
Sunset Rock via Cravens House
Length3.1 mi Difficulty5.1 Tennessee
Sunset Rock
Sunset Rock
Length0.2 mi Difficulty0.9 Tennessee
Edwards Point via Signal Point
Edwards Point via Signal Point
Length5.4 mi Difficulty10.2 Tennessee
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Sunset Rock via the Bluff Trail
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
4 (1)
New Review New Comment
hikethesouth-5 years ago
Triple Loop
This route is actually 3 loops making one large loop. Start with amazing views then head down the mountain along steep bluffs to Cravens House and other historical monuments. All the trails are well maintained and most intersections have signs or posted maps so you can't get too lost. The Mountain Beautiful trail section is much less popular than the other trails on this loop and as such you'll most likely find yourself alone on this section.
Easy-Medium | Hiked Fall 2019
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Disclaimer: Hiking can be dangerous. The information on this site is meant as a guide and represents trail conditions at a given time. Always let someone know where you are going. A basic knowledge of first aid, backcountry navigation, and some common sense are highly encouraged. The difficulty and duration ratings are subjective and will not be representative of everyone's experience.

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