About Little River Overlook
The Little River rises in the high Smokies, runs past Elkmont and Townsend and leaves the mountains near Walland. This pull-off on the Foothills Parkway sits above that exit, with the river valley opening beyond.
The view
You look south and east over the valley floor, where farms and woodlots follow the river, toward the first ridges of the park. The scene shifts from lowland green to the dark forest of the mountains in a few miles. For anyone who has just driven up from Maryville, it is the first real sense of the mountains in front of you.
The river is not visible as a ribbon; you see its path as a line of sycamores and a gap in the farmland. On a clear morning, with the valley still in shadow, the edge of the mountains is crisp.
Visiting
The pull-off is small and quiet, even on weekends. Plan a ten-minute stop.
- Getting here: from Walland, follow signs for the Foothills Parkway. The overlook is on the western section, a short drive from the Walland entrance.
- Facilities: none. Walland has a general store.
- Traffic: light, with cyclists on weekends.
- Road status: check the Foothills Parkway page; the Parkway closes for ice.
A note on mileposts
Some listings give a milepost for this overlook that does not match the Parkway's own markers. Don't rely on it; use the pull-off's location relative to the Walland entrance.
Pair it with
Townsend, the Quiet Side of the Smokies, is 20 minutes away and has the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and access to Cades Cove. The Parkway also leads to Look Rock and the Missing Link. For a river experience, the Little River Road in the park is the better stop. See the park conditions page before heading out.
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.