Foothills Parkway
Thirty-three miles along the spine of Chilhowee. Long sweeping curves above the western Smokies.
The Road
The Foothills Parkway rides the crest of Chilhowee Mountain along the western edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Thirty-three miles of long, open sweepers with the Smokies on one side and the Tennessee Valley on the other. It is a national park road: no trucks, no billboards, no driveways.
The grades are gentle and the sightlines are long, which makes it the region's best road for simply looking. Look Rock sits near the middle — an observation tower and a short walk with a full panorama of the range.
When to Drive
Any clear day. Sunset from the western overlooks is the signature run. The section toward Wears Valley — the “missing link” completed in 2018 — carries less traffic than the Look Rock half.
Drive It with Raines Routes
The Parkway opens or closes most of our half-day and full-day routes. Pair it with the Tail of the Dragon for contrast: one road for the view, one for the work.