home, Lookout Mountain
Tennessee
review from experiences from 2012 through today
Scenic Southern East Coast Flying
Lookout Mountain started as a premium hang gliding spot back in the 70’s and recently developed its own paragliding launch and training program. It’s a commercial site, with hang gliding tandems towed up by ultralights and paragliding foot-launch tandems, and a school for both wings.
It has a strong pilot community, and it’s easy to get rides up from the LZ, which is only a 7 min drive from the top to bottom.
What's Great about Lookout
Huge 1/2mi Landing Zone
Launch is a little tight, but student/ P2-able
Thermals 200-600 fpm with puffy cumie clouds
Great community with saturday night parties in summer
This summer, we had a drought season and incredible flying – flew a whole week in a row! Conditions are generally punchy in the springtime (March/April) and good until it gets super hot and soupy mid-summer. Similar to Henson’s, it’s rare to have more than 2 days in a row flyable, but we typically get at least one day a week.
Generally Lookout and Henson’s have similar forecasts, but Lookout can only take NW, not NE. It’s easier to get a ride at Lookout as the pilot community is bigger, and a little more convenient if coming from Atlanta. It’s tricky to topland the small launch.
I usually pick my site based on the forecast (if it has any NE component likely > Henson’s) and the vibe I’m looking for the day. It’s good to check out both!
Lookout offers a 3 day membership for low-cost, and the shop is closed on Tuesday & Wednesday so if you’re visiting, you’ll need to sort your pass on Monday to be able to fly those days.
Logistics & Visiting
Lookout is appropriate for all pilot levels, and has a school and shop as well.
As our thermals tend to be quite small and sometimes also quite light, it’s a great place to practice patience and working light lift. Of course, depending on the day we also have decently strong conditions. If it’s too strong, the LZ is a great, massive kiting playground.
I’d recommend at least a week for a visit. The LZ offers camping at $5/night along with a hot water bathhouse with paid laundry facilities, or you can book a hotel/home in Chattanooga, TN area for roughly $75/night. Driving up from Atlanta is 2 hours and an easy drive, it’s also possible to catch a shuttle but I’d recommend a car rental ($30/day ish) so you can visit other area sites as needed.
We usually go eat in Chattanooga if given the choice, but Trenton is much closer (the food is just pretty terrible – of the choices, Tres Amigos is the best). I like to preorder a Publix sub from the Mount Vernon store and pick it up on my way up the mountain.
Classic Routes
Our local pilot community has developed a couple of classic routes over the years. My favorites (and the most popular!) are:
- The reverse “milk run” – about 30 miles to Henson’s Gap. Cross Sand Mountain, the river, and head down the Sequatchie Valley ridge. 2-5 hours
- Local triangle from Lookout to Steadman’s Gap to Sand Mountain, to the Training Hills, to the LZ. Surprisingly tricky! Fastest time to date is 1h 45min.
- The Point run – down the ridge to the point, and back. An easy challenge on a soaring day!