Its something Im still working on, but right now I am aiming for a Black Friday/Small Business Saturday debut. I will be in the area next spring. The shop regularly plays host to performances on Friday nights from some of the most talented artists in the area on the beautiful outdoor porch. There are also no lights on the road, so night-time driving is not recommended unless you already know the road. The foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains consist of two non-contiguous mountains named Chilhowee Mountain. There also is a fitness center and swimming pool at the clubhouse accenting the entire area. Visitors often seen a bear or two or some white-tailed deer while out and about on these courses. To the north is the Tennessee Valley and to the south, the Smokies. Check out the Apple Valley Country Store for a wide range of charming knick-knacks that are made locally, along with mountain clothing, famous fudge a coffee house and a caf offering pancakes, burgers and sandwiches. Dont forget the fried apple pie; its a must! My greatest passion will always be photography, but my first was writing. The drive to the Ramsey Cascades trailhead provides good wildflower viewing from your car, while the Porters Creek Trail makes a good wildflower walk. U.S. Highway 321 is located just below this overlook, and although you cant see it, you can undoubtedly hear the traffic. If you want to learn a little more about the history of Townsend, there are some local museums including The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center where visitors learn all about the history of the area with plenty of exhibits and demonstrations. Thinking of taking a 34 motor home and toad up it. Together, the route is called Foothills Parkway West. Ride your motorcycle through the winding roads of Cades Cove, hike Abrams Falls Trailhead, bike in Townsend, or explore Walland by horseback. There is indeed relatively little useful information about the Foothills Parkway on the internet. Map by: https://MySmokyMountainGuide.com Sign in Open full screen to view more This map. This stretch runs from Walland to Wears Valley, and offers views during spring of the wildflowers and during fall of the leaves turning color that are outstanding. Foothills Parkway is an alternate route to Hwy 321 from Pigeon Forge to Townsend. The western side of the Foothills Parkway (Townsend TN side) and the eastern side of . As with other NPS roads, construction (including repaving) is handled by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) partnership.. The parkway will not cross any part of English Mountain or Hall Top, however. From Wears Valley to Chilhowee on the Foothills Parkway will take about an hour to drive straight through. Laurel Valley Golf, 702 Country Club Drive, (865) 738-3134. Unlike other national parkways, they are not a separate unit of the national park system. Well be coming up from GA and headed to Pigeon Forge. Let us know. The only restrooms on the Foothill Parkway are located in the picnic area and were recently renovated. Hugging the side of the steep mountain range, the view toward the Great Smoky Mountains is uninterrupted and expansive. From Wikipedia: "The Foothills Parkway is a national parkway which traverses the foothills of the northern Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. Section 8H connecting Look Rock to Chilhowee Lake. Directly behind the main building is our Historic Village; a collection of historic buildings and barns brought there from around the region. More people should spread the word about Foothills Parkway. 10.0 miles (16.1km). Townsend is one of the three main gateways to Cades Cove, one of the most popular destinations in the Smokies. Stay in the know of all Smokies news and events with our newsletter. Foothills Parkway Smoky Mountains Tour | Pink Adventure Tours Tourist Attractions. The Parkway has many scenic views of mountain vistas and expansive valleys. The Emerine Gap Overlook has a stunning view and a large parking area that would make it easy. The Appalachian Trail crosses the south slope of the mountain, and a spur trail leads to a rebuilt fire tower offering a stunning panorama view. Sitting at the originating start of Foothills Parkway, Chilhowee is an ancient Cherokee village, and a point on Chilhowee Lake and Recreation Area, in Cherokee National Forest. Construction began during the 60s and though progress seemed to be clipping along, construction stalled during the 70s and this project has been underfunded since that point. Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport presents as a long greenish strip to the north-northwest, and to the north the lights of Knoxville begin to appear around sunset. Instead of taking 411 all the way into Maryville before turning on the Lamar Alexander Pkwy towards Townsend, I found a bit of a shortcut bypassing Maryville. The 10.6-mile Snake Den Ridge Trail begins in the Cosby Campground nearby and ascends nearly 3,500 to Inadu Knob. There is no admission fee to drive the Foothills Parkway or enter the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you have a Google account, click the star beside the maps name to save this map to your account, then access the map from your smartphone during your trip. Thus, the rocks of the foothills are much younger than the billion-year old Precambrian Ocoee Supergroup rocks that form the crest and higher ridges of the Great Smokies range.[8]. The overlook offers a view of Happy Valley and the southern Great Smoky Mountains. With minimal traffic compared to other Smoky Mountain highways, the parkway offers an easy, scenic connection for tourists between theTail of the Dragonand Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. When completed, theParkwaywill be a 72-mile-long road traversing the western and northern perimeters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and will extend from Interstate 40 east of Cosby, TN to its western terminus in Chilhowee, TN. Check out all of ourlocal vacation guides. A large parking area on one side of the road has plenty of room for personal vehicles, and a pull-off on the opposite side has room for a few RVs. Exit the parkway and follow the signs to the picnic area. FOOTHILLS PARKWAY - 2023 All You Need to Know BEFORE You - Tripadvisor During a press conference in 2018, Alexander called the Foothills Parkway, the prettiest drive in America. Even after driving the Foothills Parkway, the Blue Ridge Parkway remains my favorite road trip route in the country. Its highest point is 2,785 feet (849m) above sea level. This section of the Foothills Parkway is divided by U.S. Highway 321. I know they do allow weddings on NPS properties, but Ive never actually seen one in the GSMNP! History See options All photos (654) I cant find any information on how long it takes. The Foothills Parkway (as of December 2018) consists of a 33 miles connecting US 129 and US 321 in Tennessee. You can access the roadway from Wears Valley, Townsend, and on west to Walland. Elevation changes are not steep, and its a peaceful, meandering road with astonishing views, and many overlooks to pull over and stop at to enjoy them. LeConte. You will discover a climbing tower which provides a marvelous aerial view of the Smoky Mountains and of nearby Maryville, TN. For all the details on the Foothills Parkway and roadways thru the Great Smoky Mountains check out the NPS website and twitter. Learn More > July 24, 2023 The Parkway is a paved, two-lane road suitable for any type of personal vehicle including vans. Portions pass through parts of Blount, Sevier, and Cocke counties. The roadway looks very much like the Newfound road to Cherokee and has plenty of stopping spots high above Wears Valley road where you can stop and take all the photos you want! I am a big fan of staying in Townsend when I want to visit the Foothills Parkway or explore Cades Cove. The pull-off has enough room for maybe three or four personal vehicles, but no RVs. Outdoor Sports . Congress authorized the Foothills Parkway as a scenic parkway on February 22, 1944. The 5.5-mile Gregory Ridge Trail is a popular day hike beginning in Cades Cove. At times the section that is complete in Wears Valley is open to horseback riding and hiking but no car traffic. And as a scenic drive, its hard to beat! Is Drones allowed in this area of the park? This extension runs 17-miles from US 321 in Walland to Wears Valley. A bike is a great way to get all the way around. Right-of-way has been purchased by the National Park Service, but funding is not in place. The opening takes place Saturday November 10, 2018. Visitors often use Townsend as a home base for hiking expeditions, making the town a popular spot for adventure seekers and lovers of the outdoors. Scenic overlooks, hiking trails, and points of interest, here is everything you need to know about traveling the Foothills Parkway. [10], The original plan for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park included much of the foothills within the proposed park boundaries, although by the time the park opened in 1934, the boundary had been moved south of Townsend and Wears Valley. The Foothills Parkway travels along the western ridge of the Chilhowee Mountain with amazing views on both sides. Foothills Parkway (Great Smoky Mountains National Park) - Tripadvisor Kicking off the new year, the Winter Heritage Festival is held in late January. It took nearly twenty years for Section A, a 5.6-mile route between I-40 and Cosby, to open to the public. Restrooms include flush toilets and running water in the sinks. Disappointed, Frank Maloney, who was vice-president of the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association, began lobbying for a parkway to connect the recreational areas on the Tennessee side of the Great Smokies. The slow speed limit is fit for purpose, with many winding curves in the road, and much to look at. In 1983 the original Walland Depot building was moved to the site, and now contains the primary collection of photographs, papers, tools and other smaller artifacts Alongside the depot platform, museum volunteers have constructed a replica of the Elkmont Post Office which houses the Gift Shop. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Explore the Area | Attractions & Entertainment in the Smokies