View: ♦ ♦ / 5
Trails: None
Picnic Tables: None
The Oconaluftee River View is the first overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway when starting at its southern entrance near Cherokee, North Carolina. Unfortunately, you won’t see the Oconaluftee River from here because the view into the valley is blocked by trees and brush. Instead, view the river from the bridge just yards from the entrance to the Parkway. A parking area along the shoulder of the road is north of the bridge, so park here and then walk back for a clear view of the river. It appears to be a popular fly fishing spot. When I visited a couple of guides were giving lessons.
From the actual overlook you can see the Smoky Mountains, but because they run flush to the viewing area, the scene lacks a sense of depth. The best views along the Blue Ridge Parkway are the ones where you can see into the valley and where at least some of the mountains run perpendicular, not parallel, to the overlook.
If you just entered the Blue Ridge Parkway, you will soon discover that many of the overlooks are now overgrown and that views that were once wide open when the Parkway was built are no longer there. In fact, there are more than forty overlooks within the first forty miles of the southern entrance, and only a half dozen or so are worth stopping at. The bests views are at Waterrock Knob Overlook (MP 451) and Cowee Mountain Overlook (MP 430). I suggest passing all of the overlooks until you arrive at one of these two.
Next Stop North | Scenic Overlooks
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on December 18, 2023