About Chimney Tops Overlook
There are mountains in the Smokies that you have to hike to see. The Chimney Tops are not one of them: from the pull-off at about mile 6.7 on Newfound Gap Road they stand straight ahead, two bare rock spires against the sky, and you can photograph them from the car door.
The view
The twin summits, around 4,800 feet, are what is left of a formation of Anakeesta slate, a dark, flaky rock that erodes into sharp shapes. In November 2016 a wildfire started here and spread into Gatlinburg; the summit rock is now bare and the slopes below carry a mix of silver snags and young green growth. A decade after the burn, the lower forest has come back thick and the summits read more sharply for the contrast.
The trail to the top of the Chimney Tops is closed to the summit scramble and ends at a rebuilt overlook platform, which is a different place from this pull-off. This roadside stop is for looking, not hiking.
Practical notes
- Where: about 6.7 miles up Newfound Gap Road from the Gatlinburg entrance, just before the Chimneys Picnic Area.
- Parking: a small pull-off. The trailhead lot a few minutes uphill fills before 9 a.m. in October, and cars spill onto the shoulder. Do not park in the roadway.
- Facilities: none at the overlook. The picnic area has restrooms.
- Park rules: a parking tag is required for stops over 15 minutes.
Timing
Plan 10 to 15 minutes. The road is open year-round but closes for ice and high wind; the road closed on October 9 this year for a wind warning. If you want a view that is less busy, Morton Overlook, farther up, has more room and a broader scene. The Carlos Campbell Overlook, lower down, is temporarily closed.
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.