Five East Tennessee Fall Foliage Photo-Ops

The Cherohala Skyway National Scenic Byway connects you to beautiful autumn foliage and an excellent place for a fall photoshoot. Journey the twists and turns that snake through Tellico Plains, Tennessee and its mountainous countryside. You'll want to dedicate ample time to pull off to overlook areas for Instagram-worthy snapshots and taking in that autumn color.

• Parking: Multiple scenic overlooks and pull-offs with free parking along the route. Additional parking at the Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center.
• Accessibility: Visitor center has accessible restrooms, picnic areas and paved walkways. Overlooks have level areas for wheelchair users.
• Peak Hours: Sunrise and sunset offer the best lighting and fewer crowds.
• Special Highlights: Recognized as one of the most scenic drives in the Southeast, the Skyway reaches elevations more than 5,000 feet, showcasing panoramic fall foliage.
   

Newfound Gap Road is an idyllic autumn foliage scenic drive and great for fall vacation ideas. It takes you through a variety of forests like cove hardwood, pine-oak, spruce fir and more, full of leaves changing color. It's the only paved road in The Smokies that travels directly through the center of the park with an elevation of 5,046 feet. It's one of the most scenic drives in America, so get ready to snap a lot of photos. 

• Parking: Ample parking available at overlooks, trailheads and Newfound Gap itself. The Sugarlands Visitor Center at the park entrance provides restrooms, maps and ranger assistance. Parking tags are required and can be purchased at visitors centers and kiosks throughout the park as well as online.
• Accessibility: Paved overlooks, accessible restrooms at visitor centers and several ADA-compliant viewing areas along the route.
• Peak Hours: Visit early morning or evening to avoid congestion.
• Special Highlights: The route connects Gatlinburg, Tenn., to Cherokee, N.C., offering breathtaking Smoky Mountain views and access to Kuwohi, weather depending. Check the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website for road closures.

Undoubtedly the most popular destination in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and an excellent candidate for your fall vacation ideas list, the Cades Cove Loop road offers visitors the opportunity to drive through - instead of above - the canopy, with as little modern intrusion as possible. During autumn, the Cove is open at sunrise. Arrive early and beat the crowds.

• Parking: Several pull-offs and large parking areas at trailheads and historical sites along the 11-mile one-way loop. Parking tags are required and can be purchased at visitors centers and kiosks throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as online.
• Accessibility: The loop road is paved; visitor areas and restrooms at the Cades Cove Visitor Center are wheelchair accessible.
• Peak Hours: 9 a.m.–1 p.m.; arrive at sunrise for the quietest experience. Wednesdays are vehicle-free mornings for cyclists (May–Sept).
• Special Highlights: Home to historic cabins, wildlife viewing (including deer and black bears), and some of the best low-elevation fall foliage in the Smokies.

Higher than any other location in the entire Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Kuwohi observation tower offers views that can hardly be challenged anywhere east of the Mississippi River. At a whopping 6,643 ft. above sea level, you are higher than most trees can physically grow, so the foliage change will literally be beneath your feet. The view of the Smoky Mountains fall colors will be second-to-none at this spot and is absolutely one of the best places to visit in the fall.

• Parking: Paved parking lot at the Kuwohi Trailhead, accessible via Kuwohi Road (subject to closures due to snow, ice and other hazardous weather events).
• Accessibility: The paved trail to the observation tower is steep to be considered accessible by strollers and wheelchairs; restrooms and overlook are ADA-compliant.
• Peak Hours: Mid-morning to mid-afternoon; sunrise and sunset are particularly stunning.
• Special Highlights: At the highest point in Tennessee, visitors can see up to 100 miles on clear days; part of the famed Appalachian Trail crosses here.

Climb to the overlook of Buffalo Mountain Park, a 725-acre park that offers stunning views of fall leaf colors, Johnson City and Northeast Tennessee laid out below. You'll love the steep topography and surrounding forests. Enjoy a picnic, hiking and nature programs hosted throughout the year.

• Parking: Free parking at the park entrance (570 Highridge Road, Johnson City).
• Peak Hours: Midday on weekends; mornings and weekdays are quieter.
• Special Highlights: Home to eight incredible hiking trails of varying difficulties and panoramic overlooks.