About Santeetlah Overlook
The Cherohala Skyway climbs out of Robbinsville through the Nantahala National Forest, and Santeetlah Overlook is one of the first big views on the climb. It looks north over the forested valleys of the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness toward Lake Santeetlah.
The view
The foreground is unbroken forest, mixed hardwoods rolling away in folds with the Unicoi range as a backdrop. On a clear morning the lake shows as a bright patch in the distance. This is more a forest view than a summit view, and what you notice is how little human work you can see.
In fall the color comes late to the lower valleys. By late October the high ridge has turned brown, and the valleys below hold gold, orange and red.
Planning
- Road: the Cherohala Skyway (NC-143 on this side) is a 43-mile scenic road through national forest. The overlook is within about 15 miles of Robbinsville.
- Season: open year-round, but ice and fog can close it. See the Nantahala National Forest page for updates.
- Facilities: none along the road. Fuel and food are in Robbinsville.
- Cell service: poor or none.
- Time to allow: 10 minutes.
Nearby
Hooper Bald and Stratton Ridge overlooks are on the same stretch. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, with its giant tulip poplars, is a short drive down a side road. The Cherohala is a national forest road, so the parking-tag rules of the national park do not apply. Count on roughly three hours from Gatlinburg.