Top 4 Places to Visit for the Best Views in the Smoky Mountains
While the Smokies look beautiful from every vantage point, don’t miss the chance to experience some of the area’s best views! If you love to hike, you’ll find several excellent options that lead to stunning overlooks with sweeping mountain vistas that go for miles! Don’t like to hike? No need to worry as you’ll still find some incredible viewpoints – including from our resort in Wears Valley! Here are the top 4 places to visit for the best views in the Smoky Mountains:
1. Clingmans Dome
Clingmans Dome is not just the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but is also the highest peak in Tennessee at 6,643 feet! An observation tower on the summit offers spectacular panoramic views of the Smokies and you can see for more than a 100 miles on clear days! You can access the tower via a half mile paved trail from the large parking lot just off of Clingmans Dome Road. Just keep in mind that the temperatures at the summit are generally 10-20 degrees cooler than the lowlands and the road leading to the tower is closed seasonally.
2. Look Rock
Another one of the top places to visit for the best views in the Smoky Mountains is Look Rock, which is located on the scenic Foothills Parkway. This is a natural observation ledge overlooking the National Park, and an easy half mile hike leads to an observation tower with 360 degree mountain views! If you don’t feel like making the hike, the parking area for the Look Rock Trail offers plenty of impressive views of its own! Note that in the winter months, the Foothills Parkway may be closed due to snow and ice so be sure to plan accordingly!
3. Newfound Gap Road
Newfound Gap Road makes a fantastic alternative for those who are mobility impaired, but still want to enjoy some of the best views in the Smokies! This 31 mile road is not only the lowest pass through the Smoky Mountains, but the only fully paved road that runs directly through the National Park! While driving through this beautiful area, you’ll have the opportunity to see a variety of forest ecosystems ranging from cove hardwood, pine-oak, northern hardwood, and spruce fir. The gap itself is near the midpoint of the road at mile-post 14.7, just north of the intersection of Clingmans Dome Road.
4. Our Wears Valley Resort
If you want to experience some of the best views in the Smoky Mountains, you’ll want to plan a vacation at our Wears Valley resort! Our resort is considered the highest elevated resort in the Smokies and when you stay at our cabin rentals, you’ll truly feel as if you are on top of the world! Whether you’re looking for a one bedroom cabin for a romantic getaway or a multi-bedroom cabin for a family reunion, it’s just a matter of stepping onto your private deck to witness the stunning natural views of the mountains!
Check out all of our cabins in Wears Valley TN today to experience some of the best views in the Smoky Mountains! We look forward to welcoming you to the Smokies!
