The incredible 360 degree views of the Rocky Fork watershed and Sam’s Gap are the reason the Whitehouse Cliffs landed at number three on our list of the most incredible overlooks near Johnson City. The Whitehouse Cliffs Overlook is located in Rocky Fork State Park near Flag Pond, Tennessee. The overlooks on Unaka Mountain can be accessed from Johnson City in about 35-45 minutes depending on where you go, making them very accessible for a day trip. While Beauty Spot faces west, Stamping Ground Ridge and Horseback Ridge face east toward Johnson City and Buffalo Mountain.
They are lesser known overlooks in comparison with Beauty Spot, but still worth a look. In the same area as Unaka Mountain Overlook you can also access Stamping Ground Ridge and Horseback Ridge. The Emerald Forest in between Beauty Spot and Unaka Mountain Overlook is also worth a visit, as it’s famous for it’s ferns and wildflowers. From the Beauty Spot parking area it’s about a 6.6 mile out and back hike up to the Unaka Mountain Overlook and back. Of course you can always hike there as well. Follow it for about 3 miles until you reach Red Fork Rd. To access, simply drive past Beauty Spot going east on Beauty Spot Gap Rd until it turns into Unaka Mountain Rd. If you’re not a huge fan of crowds, then Unaka Mountain Overlook (also known as Pleasant Garden) may be the spot for you. The ease of access is both a blessing and a curse, as you get to see incredible views without much work, but so does everyone else, and for this reason Beauty Spot can get very busy with both those there simply to take in the stunning views, as well as many photographers trying to get that perfect shot of the landscape or that newly engaged couple. Also similar is the fact that to access beauty spot you will be hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Similar to Round Bald on Roan Mountain, the hike from the parking area to Beauty Spot is very short and easy. The easiest views to access on Unaka Mountain are at the appropriately named Beauty Spot. But the incredible overlooks and ease of access is what lands Unaka Mountain at the number two spot on our list. It has multiple amazing scenic overlooks, but also has three waterfalls that are definitely worth checking out as well. But we think the incredible views and ease of access on the trail more than makes up for the travel time. Here you will see the largest rhododendron garden in the world, dense forest akin to those in the Pacific Northwest, and more outstanding mountain views.Īt 52 minutes away from Johnson City, Carver’s Gap is one of the furthest drives on our list.
Roan High Knob also boasts the highest elevation shelter on the Appalachian Trail.Īfter getting your fill at Carver’s Gap, jump back in the car for 15 more minutes and head up to the world famous Rhododendron Gardens where you can hike to Roan High Bluff. At 6,286 feet above sea level, Roan High Knob is the highest point on Roan Mountain, the tallest mountain in Tennessee outside the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. You can also hike west from Carver’s Gap for just over 2 miles on the Appalachian Trail to find Roan High Knob. And if that’s not enough for you, take the storied Appalachian Trail out to Grassy Ridge Bald, which is a 4.7 mile out and back hike with beautiful vistas throughout.
4 mile hike to Round Bald, you can see near 360 degree views that have been compared to those of the Swiss Alps. Although there are incredible views throughout all of Roan Mountain, if you want the absolute best views the mountain has to offer, you’ll want to head to Carver’s Gap on the Tennessee / North Carolina border. Roan Mountain has so many amazing views it was the obvious choice for the top spot on our best scenic overlooks near Johnson City list.
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