You don’t have go far to find top of the world views. These four hikes offer breathtaking mountain top views, all within an hour of Chattanooga.
Starr Mountain
Getting to Starr Mountain means hiking straight up the side of a mountain. Trudge through mud, scramble over boulders, and cling to roots on your journey to the sky. There’s a waterfall a third of the way up that makes for a nice breather spot. A little further in you’ll reach a rocky bluff that feels like the top. It’s not. Keep hiking and you’ll soon be there. If the climb doesn’t leave you breathless, the view from the top will.
Why you’ll love it: Because whoever said, “the hardest climbs lead to the best views” was right. With panoramic views of the Hiwassee river and a lack of crowds, Starr Mountain is a wilderness escape.
Get there: Take I-75 to Cleveland then head east on highway 64. Turn north on highway 411 and follow the road until you see signs for Hiwassee Ocoee State Park. Take a right on Spring Creek road and follow it past the campground and onto the gravel. There’s no sign for Starr Mountain, but there is a small pull-off on the left side of the road that you can park 2-3 cars in. Cross the railroad tracks and join the trail, which runs parallel to Coffee Branch Creek.