About Chilhowee Mountain Overlook
Chilhowee Mountain Overlook faces south across the Tennessee lowlands, which changes the usual rule. Sun is in front of you at midday and flattens the distant ridges, so the best time is the first or last hour of light, when it rakes in from the side and gives the folds some shape.
The view
Chilhowee Mountain runs for miles along the Foothills Parkway West, and the overlook looks across the valley toward the high Smokies. The foreground is the lower land of Blount County, with farms, woodlots and the occasional road. Above it the park's own ridgeline steps up in layers. In clear fall air the high range stands out in sharp layers; in humid air the distant ridges dissolve into blue haze, which is how the Smokies got their name.
The Parkway's own milepost posts are the reliable way to place yourself along the road, so photograph the one nearest the pull-off if you want to find it again.
Visiting
Nothing is built at this pull-off: no restroom, no sign beyond the Parkway's standard marker. Allow ten minutes. Because the Parkway has few exits, fill your tank and use restrooms in Walland or Maryville beforehand.
- Road: a two-lane Parkway with 45 mph speed limit and sharp curves. It sees limited traffic, mostly cyclists and weekend drivers.
- Season: open year-round when dry. Ice and tree falls close sections in winter.
- Nearby: Look Rock tower and picnic area are a short drive away and add a 360-degree view for a short walk.
The best months are April for dogwoods and October for color. For updates, see the Foothills Parkway page and the park conditions page.
Good to know
- Do I need a parking tag?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.