Take the Incline Railway up Lookout Mountain on your way to Ruby Falls and Rock City and you’ll understand why the journey is often half the fun. In operation since 1895, the funicular has a maximum grade of 72.7 percent, making it the world’s steepest passenger railway and earning it the nickname “America’s Most Amazing Mile.” For its age and impressiveness, the railway is now a designated National Historic Site and a Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Before your ride, visit the machine room to see the enormous gears that drive the train, then sit back and enjoy the sweeping views of the valley below as you creep steadily up the track. Sure, you could just drive to the top of Lookout Mountain, but where’s the fun in that?
Lookout Mountain Incline Railway in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
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America's Most Amazing Mile
Chattanooga’s oldest attraction is the Incline Railway, which brings visitors up to the top of Lookout Mountain. The vintage trolley cars are on a steep 72% grade, but seats face outward so you can see yourself rise above the trees to see the city from above. In the 1800s, there was a luxury resort on top of the mountain, which you accessed by the railway. Now the top end is home to a Civil War battlefield, while the bottom is in the St. Elmo neighborhood, which has lots of bars, restaurants and shops. You can purchase combination tickets with other nearby attractions like Ruby Falls and Rock City.
