5 Hikes With the Best Sunset Views in Tennessee

Tennessee’s hiking trails will take you on quite a scenic journey. From scenic strolls along the Mighty Mississippi in Memphis over to the Great Smoky Mountains, there really is a hiking trail with a view for everyone. Me? I’m a sucker for sunset hikes, so I’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite hikes with the best sunset views in Tennessee for you to add to your bucket list this year. 

I wanted to keep the hiking trails under three miles. I know there are other epic sunset spots in Tennessee, but many of them require 10+ mile treks with steep terrain. This list keeps it contained so that hikers of all skill levels can catch a good sunset view.

1. Sunset Rock Viewpoint via Craven’s House Trail

• Location: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
• Length: 3.2 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

Any viewpoint named “sunset” is obviously going to make the list. The Craven’s House Trail is a 3.2-mile trail near Lookout Mountain that’s a popular area for hiking and rock climbing—and it might just have the best sunset views in Tennessee. The trail leads you straight to Sunset Rock, where you can enjoy views of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River at sunset. 

Please don’t get this sunset spot confused with the next one on our list. They’re on opposite sides of the state.

2. Sunset Overlook Trail

• Location: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
• Length: 2.6 miles
• Difficulty: Easy

You’ll find this awesome hike not far from the Tennessee-Kentucky border. With only about 100 feet of elevation gain across 2.6 miles, it’s one of the easier trails that still gives you a beautiful vista view.

3. Radnor Lake Trail

• Location: Radnor Lake State Park
• Length: 2.7 miles
• Difficulty: Easy

I love an easy lakefront loop trail, and the Radnor Lake Trail is picture-perfect year-round. The sunsets here are extraordinary, and you might even catch some of the deer and other wildlife in the area. Dogs aren’t allowed on this trail, so leave the pup at home for this adventure.

3. Point Lookout Loop Trail

• Location: Panther Creek State Park
• Length: 2.8 miles
• Difficulty: Moderate

This trail in Panther Creek State Park has steep and rocky terrain, so we recommend having an AllTrails + account so you can navigate it properly. The views of Cherokee Lake at sunset are just dreamy!

4. Pickwick Island Loop Trail

• Location: Pickwick Landing State Park
• Length: 2.5 miles
• Difficulty: Easy

This lovely little loop trail will take you through the woods and alongside the water for a serene and scenic hike. The best place to watch the sunset along this trail is about the halfway mark, when it leads past the trail camps and closer to the water’s edge. Pickwick Landing State Park offers some of the best camping in Tennessee, just in case you want to turn your day trip into a weekend getaway!

5. River Line: Big River Crossing to Beale Street Landing

• Location: Memphis, Tennessee
• Length: 2.4 miles
• Difficulty: Easy

The whole family will love this paved waterfront trail in Memphis, which leads right along the Mighty Mississippi. The greenway is peppered with fitness stations, recreational attractions, and benches, and the sunset views are pure perfection.

Share this article with someone you want to watch an epic sunset in Tennessee with. Be sure you have an AllTrails + account before you hit the trailhead.

Inspired for more? Check out some of the most romantic hiking trails in Tennessee.