Lookout Mountain Parkway traverses three states as it meanders 93 miles along Lookout Mountain. The avenue offers panoramic views and many recreational opportunities. The path is particularly beautiful in spring, when the rhododendron and mountain laurel are in bloom, and in autumn when the leaves are changing. The southern end of the parkway begins in northeast Alabama, near Gadsden, at Noccalula Falls Park. Then AL Hwy 176 and County Road 89 take travelers through scenic Little River Canyon, past DeSoto State Park, and into the quaint mountain town of Mentone, Alabama. The route becomes AL Hwy 117 and crosses into Georgia, where travelers can detour to Cloudland Canyon State Park. GA Hwys 136 and 189 continue at the top of Lookout Mountain towards Chattanooga, Tennessee. Along the way, visitors can stop at the well-known Rock City and Ruby Falls attractions. These are the highlights of the scenic stops along the Lookout Mountain Parkway in Northeast Alabama.

Noccalula Falls Park features a 90-foot waterfall that tumbles into a beautiful gorge. The park also features hiking trails, caves, a botanical garden, an animal habitat exhibit, a deer park, and a Pioneer Village with historic structures. Admission to the park is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for children ages 4-12.

Little River Canyon is a scenic natural gorge where the river drops 1,350 feet over 12 miles. There are beautiful views from the canyon rim. Activities to enjoy include hiking, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and picnicking. The Canyon Mouth Picnic Area is a popular day-use area.

DeSoto State Park is one of the most popular parks in Alabama. Visitors can enjoy twenty miles of hiking trails and see a series of waterfalls, including DeSoto Falls, which drop more than 100 feet. The dam over the falls produced the state’s first hydroelectric power in the 1920s. Other park amenities include a restaurant, swimming pool, nature center with live animals, and campground.

The town of Mentone, Alabama, was a popular spa in the late 1800s, when people considered the area’s mineral springs to have healing properties. Today, Mentone is a rustic mountain resort town with shops, restaurants, bed-and-breakfast inns, and cabins for rent. The city hosts large arts and crafts festivals in the spring and fall. A nearby vacation ranch and golf course also draw visitors to Mentone.

Lookout Mountain Parkway is part of the world’s longest garage sale every August. Bargain hunters can follow the parkway and US Hwy 127 for more than 600 miles from Alabama to Michigan in search of great garage sale deals. The 4-day event has been featured on HGTV specials.