About Unicoi Crest Overlook (State Line)
The Cherohala Skyway crosses the Unicoi Mountains near the Tennessee-North Carolina line, and the overlook on the crest has one of the longer views on the road. It is a large pull-off, easy to reach, and rarely crowded.
The view
You stand on the spine of the range. To one side the ridges fall away toward Tennessee and the Tellico River; to the other they roll toward North Carolina and the Little Tennessee River valley. The land is almost all forest, and little of it shows signs of settlement. On a clear day the horizon holds several ranges, and in late October the ridges below the crest are a mix of bare gray hardwood and the dark green of pine.
At 4,500 feet or more, the weather here is a few degrees colder than the valleys and much windier. Fog can arrive without warning, and in winter the road can ice.
Visiting
- Where: at the state line on the Cherohala Skyway, between Tellico Plains and Robbinsville.
- Parking: a large paved pull-off, bigger than most on the road.
- Facilities: none. Fuel and food are in Tellico Plains and Robbinsville.
- Time to allow: 15 minutes.
- Road: open year-round, weather permitting. Check the Nantahala National Forest page for closures.
Why it works
The Cherohala is a road with room to breathe. Compare the lot here with the cars at Newfound Gap on a fall Saturday, and you see the difference. It is also a good place to bring a thermos and sit for a while. The Skyway is national forest, so the national park's parking tag does not apply.
Stratton Ridge, Hooper Bald and Santeetlah overlooks follow on the North Carolina side. Allow about a half day for the whole 43 miles with stops.