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Best Scenic Overlooks in the Smokies

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Best Scenic Overlooks in the Smokies

18 curated picks · verified 2026-05-28

Not every pullout on the Newfound Gap Road earns equal attention. This list covers 18 overlooks selected for view quality and practical usefulness across four distinct road systems: the park's main arteries (Newfound Gap Road and Clingmans Dome Road), the Cades Cove Loop Road, the Blue Ridge Parkway near the park's southern boundary, and the Foothills Parkway in Tennessee. Entries are arranged alphabetically.

The jump from "overlook" to "worthwhile stop" usually comes down to one of two things: clear-sky geometry (how much ridge is visible, how far the layers stack back toward the horizon) or historical and ecological context that earns a slower look. Chimney Tops Overlook, around MP 6.7 on the Tennessee side, is the best roadside angle on the Chimney Tops peaks and captures the forest's ongoing recovery from the 2016 wildfires — which itself makes for a compelling visual. Forney Ridge Parking Area sits at roughly 6,300 feet and functions as both a high-elevation viewpoint and the trailhead for the Kuwohi observation tower, the highest accessible point in the park.

A few logistics worth knowing before you go:

  • Park-It-Forward pass: Required at most developed areas inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Current cost is $5/day or $15/week; America the Beautiful and other federal annual passes cover this. Overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway — Devil's Courthouse (MP 422.4) and Bunches Bald (MP 440.9) — fall under a separate system and do not require this tag.
  • Forney Ridge road closure: The Clingmans Dome Road closes annually in late fall and reopens in late March or early April, depending on conditions. Check current park road status before including this stop in a winter or early spring itinerary.
  • Cades Cove: The loop road closes to motor vehicles on Wednesday mornings through the summer to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.
  • Crowd timing: Gatlinburg-side pullouts and the Cades Cove area fill by mid-morning on weekends. Arriving before 9 a.m. solves most of it; midweek visits in April–May or late October are better still.
  1. Balsam Mountain Overlook 1

    Balsam Mountain Overlook

    : The terminus of the one-way section, offering expansive views.
  2. 2

    Bunches Bald Overlook (MP 440.9)

    : Offers views towards Bunches Bald, often with long-range visibility.
  3. 3

    Cable Mill Historic Area (MP 5.5)

    : A cluster of historic buildings, including a working grist mill, offering views of the creek and surrounding fields.
  4. 4

    Cades Cove Overlook (Before Loop Entrance)

    : Offers a distant perspective of the Cades Cove area and its surrounding peaks.
  5. 5

    Cades Cove Overlook (MP 22)

    : Offers a distant perspective of the Cades Cove area and its surrounding peaks.
  6. 6

    Campbell Overlook (TN Side)

    : Approximately MP 5.5, this overlook provides a framed view of the mountains.
  7. 7

    Carter Shields Cabin Pullout (MP 9.5)

    Scenic overlook in GSMNP. Big mountain views.
  8. 8

    Cherokee National Forest Overlook (TN Side)

    Scenic overlook in GSMNP. Big mountain views.
  9. Chilhowee Lake Overlook 9

    Chilhowee Lake Overlook

    Scenic overlook in GSMNP. Big mountain views.
  10. 10

    Chilhowee Mountain Overlook (MP 39)

    : Offers views over Chilhowee Lake and the surrounding mountains.
  11. 11

    Chimney Tops Overlook (TN Side)

    : Around MP 6.7, this is a prominent stop for views of the iconic Chimney Tops peaks, which were significantly impacted by the 2016 wildfires but have shown remarkable recovery.
  12. 12

    Cosby Entrance Overlook

    : Near the junction with US-321 on the eastern end, offering initial views of the park boundary.
  13. 13

    Devil's Courthouse Overlook (MP 422.4)

    : A rugged, bare rock face offering a short, strenuous hike to a summit with 360-degree views.
  14. 14

    Fields of the Wood Overlook (TN Side)

    : Offers a distant view of the "Fields of the Wood" religious park.
  15. Flat Creek Trailhead Overlook 15

    Flat Creek Trailhead Overlook

    : While primarily a trailhead, it offers views of the high-elevation forest.
  16. 16

    Foothills Parkway East Terminus Overlook (near Walland)

    : The western end of the eastern section, offering views towards the central Smokies.
  17. 17

    Forney Ridge Parking Area (for Kuwohi Tower)

    : While the main destination, the parking area itself offers expansive views before the short, steep walk to the observation tower.
  18. 18

    Gatlinburg Scenic Overlook (TN Side)

    : Located just south of Gatlinburg, approximately 1.5 miles into the park, this popular pullout offers expansive views of Gatlinburg nestled in the valley, with the Smokies rising behind it.

Best Scenic Overlooks in the Smokies: FAQ

Do you need a parking pass to stop at these overlooks?
Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a Park-It-Forward parking tag is required at most developed parking areas. Rates are $5/day or $15/week; America the Beautiful, National Parks, and other federal annual passes are accepted in lieu of the tag. Overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway, including Devil's Courthouse (MP 422.4) and Bunches Bald (MP 440.9), are not subject to this requirement — the Blue Ridge Parkway has no entry fee.
Which of these overlooks are best for fall foliage?
High-elevation stops peak earliest. Forney Ridge Parking Area, Balsam Mountain Overlook, and the Blue Ridge Parkway picks typically see peak color in mid-October. Cades Cove and the Gatlinburg-side valley overlooks usually run one to two weeks behind that. Chimney Tops Overlook is worth a separate mention in fall: the recovering burn scar from the 2016 wildfires sits alongside unburned hardwood color, which produces an unusual contrast that's worth seeing on its own terms.
Is the road to Forney Ridge Parking Area open in winter?
No. The Clingmans Dome Road, which leads to Forney Ridge Parking Area, closes annually — typically in late November or December — and reopens in late March or early April. The exact dates shift year to year based on weather and road conditions. Always check the park's current road status page before planning this stop in the off-season.
How do you avoid the worst traffic on the Cades Cove Loop Road?
The 11-mile one-way loop backs up significantly on weekend mornings and during peak fall. Arriving before 9 a.m. handles most of it. Midweek visits in April through early May or the second half of November avoid the worst congestion entirely. The loop also closes to motor vehicles on Wednesday mornings through the summer months for cyclists and pedestrians, so plan around that if visiting on a Wednesday.
Are these overlooks accessible for visitors with limited mobility?
Most are drive-to pullouts with paved parking and short, level paths to the viewpoint. The main exception is Forney Ridge Parking Area: reaching the Kuwohi observation tower requires a roughly half-mile paved trail with significant elevation gain, which is not wheelchair-accessible. Devil's Courthouse on the Blue Ridge Parkway involves a short but strenuous unpaved trail to its summit views. The Cades Cove Loop Road itself is fully driveable; stops like Cable Mill Historic Area and the Carter Shields Cabin pullout are flat and accessible on foot from the road.

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