Newfound Gap Road GSMNP

Fall is a special time of year in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and we try to visit often.  In early fall of 2012, many of our opportunities to visit the park were on rainy days, so we chose to drive instead of hike.  One of the longer roads in the park is the Newfound Gap Road (US 441) between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC.  There are several scenic overlooks and pullouts along the road.  Some of my favorites are the Morton Overlook (13.0), an unnamed overlook that I call "Sidewalk Overlook" (17.0) because the best views are from the sidewalk, the Webb Overlook (17.8) and another unnamed overlook that I call "Lone Tree" (18.7) due to the solitary tree at the lower end of the parking area.  Further down the Oconaluftee Valley are several pullouts along the river.

Newfound Gap Road from Morton Overlook (MP 13)

The overlook at MP 17 doesn't have an official name,
but it does have this sidewalk, so I call it "Sidewalk Overlook"

Fall colors from "Sidewalk Overlook"

Ridgelines and fog from "Sidewalk Overlook"

Mountains and storm clouds from "Sidewalk Overlook"

Clouds linger at Webb Overlook (MP 17.8)

Autumn colors on ridge behind Webb Overlook

The "Lone Tree Overlook" (MP 18.6) provides a view
across the Oconaluftee Valley to the northeast.

Clouds receding up the Oconaluftee Valley from "Lone Tree Overlook"

Oconaluftee River from the Kephart Prong Trailhead (MP 23.6)

Oconaluftee River from roadside pullout (MP 26.7)

Oconaluftee River from roadside pullout (MP 26.7)

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm.