Foothills Parkway - Foothills Parkway Today

Foothills Parkway Today

Much like the Blue Ridge Parkway, Foothills Parkway traverses what would be otherwise-roadless ridge crests, allowing for spectacular views of the surrounding areas.

The Chilhowee section of the parkway, which has been open since 1966, has 8 overlooks on its south side, looking into the Smokies, and 4 overlooks on its north side, looking into the Tennessee Valley. An observation tower has been placed atop Look Rock, allowing for a 360-degree view of the Western Smokies and Blount County. A half-mile trail connects the tower to a parking area along the parkway.

Several of the highest mountains in the Smokies can be seen from Look Rock. Clingmans Dome and Thunderhead Mountain are visible to the south, and Mount Le Conte is visible to the southeast. On a clear day, the high peaks of the Eastern Smokies— Mount Guyot, Mount Chapman, and Old Black— are visible toward the east. The Rich Mountain/Cades Cove Mountain massif dominates the view immediately to the south and southeast. Gregory Bald rises like a giant dome to the southwest. To the west, the Yellow Creek section of the Unicoi Mountains is visible, along with a dramatic view of Chilhowee's crest.

Looking north from Look Rock, most of Blount County and parts of Loudon County and Monroe County are visible. McGhee-Tyson Airport presents as a long greenish strip to the north, and the lights of South Knoxville begin to appear around sunset. The Cumberland Plateau dominates much of the northern horizon.

Foothills Parkway crosses Green Mountain in diagonal fashion, traversing the southwest and northeastern flanks of the mountain. From the southwest section, Mount Cammerer and the Eastern Smokies dominate the view. From the northeast section, English Mountain presents as a large ridge to the northwest, and Hall Top rises in peak-like fashion to the east. The lights of Newport are visible early in the morning and later in the evening.