Julia Falls Overlook Signal Point Park, TN
miles
LENGTH 1 MILE
DIFFICULTY 4.1 Easy
DURATION 1 hour
ELEVATION GAIN
380
feet
TRAIL TYPE
There And
Back Again
Julia Falls Overlook

Grab several amazing views on this short hike along the Tennessee River Gorge just outside Chattanooga. At just 1 mile, you'll get 3 panoramic views to make the short trip from Signal Point to Julia Falls Overlook well worth the drive outside the city. A popular park, get there early.

Start your hike at Signal Point Park. Take the short paved path to the overlook and pavilion down the hill for your first view. Then follow the split rail fence to the right to an opening in the chain link fence to get on the Cumberland Trail. Drop down 150 feet through the mousetrap, a series of steep steps, rocks, and ramps. At the bottom, a side trail leads straight out to a rocky ledge for your second overlook.

Continue following the white blazed trail along the edge of the gorge. A few small side trails are easy to navigate past. The trail splits around a large boulder, reconnecting shortly afterward. At half a mile you'll arrive at Julia Falls Overlook with a view over the Tennessee River Gorge and towards Edwards Point. From here you can continue on the Cumberland Trail for a longer hike to Edwards Point or just to the suspension bridge over Middle Creek. But if you're just looking for a short hike for the day, turn around here and head back the way you came for a 1-mile round trip hike.

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Elevation Map Length (miles) by Elevation (feet)
Slope Breakdown
Elevation Gain
Elevation Range
Grade Range
Length
Elevation Gain
0 - 250 ft/mi
~ 0 - 5 %
0.1 mi
14 ft
250 - 500 ft/mi
~ 5 - 10 %
366 ft
27 ft
500 - 750 ft/mi
~ 10 - 15 %
0.1 mi
62 ft
750 - 1000 ft/mi
~ 15 - 20 %
522 ft
82 ft
1000+ ft/mi
~ 20+ %
0.1 mi
216 ft
For out-and-back hikes, elevation loss is the same as the gain.
Terrain Map Click to control map
Navigation
0.0 mi
0.0 mi - Trailhead
0.07 mi
0.07 mi - Signal Point Overlook Continue from the overlook to the right, following the split rail fence to the opening in the chain link fence to get on the Cumberland Trail.
0.2 mi
0.2 mi - Side Trail to Overlook After descending the final steps, a side trail leads straight out to another overlook.
0.5 mi
0.5 mi - Julia Falls Overlook
Details
length1 mile
difficulty4.1 Easy
duration1 hour
trail typeThere And Back Again
blazeWhite
elevation gain380 ft.
state Tennessee 
park/forestSignal Point Park
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
hoursSunrise - Sunset
parking feeNone
trailhead coordinates 35.120345, -85.366629 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 35°7.22, W 85°22 (Degree Minutes, MinDec)
N 35°7'13'', N 35°7'13'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Trailhead Directions
35.120345, -85.366629 (Degree Decimal, DegDec)
N 35°7.22, W 85°22 most GPS units use this one
N 35°7'13'', N 35°7'13'' (Degree Minutes Seconds, DMS)
Google Map It
Parking Capacity
16 parking spots, overflow along road
Notes
Steep ledges and drop offs at the overlooks. Be extremely careful with children and dogs.
Go slow heading down the "mousetrap", a steep series of steps and ramps.
Nearby Hikes
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Reviews / Comments
Average Review Rating
5 (1)
hikethesouth-5 years ago
3 Epic Views in a Mile
For a short trail, this one is jam packed with views. Although listed as easy, the initial descent along the Cumberland Trail is very steep, making both ascending and descending more difficult. But the effort is well worth it for stunning views.
Easy | Hiked Summer 2019
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