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Top 6 Places in the Smoky Mountains With the Best Views

Do you want to see incredible views of the Smoky Mountains? We want to share some of the best places you can drive or hike to so you can see sweeping mountain views. Taking in these sights are some of the best parts of visiting the Smokies. Check out these top 6 places in the Smoky Mountains with the best views:

1. Cades Cove

Road in Cades CoveCades Cove is the most popular destination in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You drive along an 11-mile loop that has plenty of places for you to stop and enjoy the historic buildings and wildlife you might see. You drive through a valley surrounded by gorgeous mountains, which provide you with a beautiful view. Everything in this area is incredible to see, and it’s no surprise why photographers love this area!

2. Clingmans Dome

Clingmans Dome is actually the highest point of elevation in the national park. Since this is the tallest point, you will have breathtaking mountain views from this vantage point. The hike to get to the observation tower is about 1 mile, but the hill is very steep and paved. The view from the top is worth the hike!

3. Foothills Parkway

foothills parkwayAnother great drive in the Smoky Mountains is Foothills Parkway. This road has been under construction for years, and it still has 33.5 miles left to be completed. Whichever section you decide to drive, you’ll see incredible mountain views. There are areas where you can stop and enjoy the views out of the car, as well as picnic areas where you can enjoy a meal.

4. Alum Cave Trail

If you love to hike, you should go on Alum Cave Trail to see mountain views. Along this hike, you will see all kinds of cool geological features, including Arch Rock. Stairways have been built to make climbing the area easier. Once you reach Alum Cave at about 2.5 miles in, you will see beautiful mountain views.

5. Newfound Gap Road

newfound gapNewfound Gap Road is another great scenic drive in the Smoky Mountains where you can see incredible views. This road runs from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina. It’s the lowest drivable pass through the national park, and there are several hiking trails and scenic sights along this road.

6. Chimney Tops Trail

Another popular hiking trail with incredible mountain views is Chimney Tops Trail. Although the hike to the top is only 2 miles, this trail is considered difficult because of the 1,400-foot elevation gain. When the wildfires happened in 2016, the trail to the original lookout point was damaged. Chimney Tops has a new vantage point where you can still see the beautiful mountains.

These are just a few of the areas where you can get beautiful views of the Smoky Mountains. Are you ready to visit the Smokies? Look through our cabins in the Smoky Mountains and book one today for your next trip!