Foothills parkway an unfinished masterpiece

The Foothills Parkway in East Tennessee offers an opportunity to experience unparalleled views and picturesque vistas into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. 

The two-lane parkway was intended to serve as the Tennessee version of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs from Virginia to North Carolina. When complete, the Foothills Parkway will run from Interstate 40 in Cosby, to highway 129 near Chilhowee Lake. 

The parkway extends 18 miles up Chilhowee Mountain. Pull-offs along the way to the mountain’s crest give a glimpse of the panoramic view from the top. The high point of the mountain is Look Rock, a natural observation ledge. To the east of the rock are the Smoky Mountains, and to the west are smooth flatlands.

The observation trail is a one-half mile trail that is located 9.6 miles from the beginning of the parkway. It takes hikers on a tour of the mountains’ picturesque magnificence. The trail is rated as easy hiking so most travelers can experience the scenery while taking in the fresh mountain air.

The Foothills Parkway is the state’s oldest unfinished highway project. Congress authorized the project in 1944, and construction began in the 1960s. But, the project has been slow going due to lack of physical and monetary support. Several events, including rockslides and the Vietnam War, have kept this piece of the parkway from ever being completed. Only sections of the 72-mile route are finished.