Great Smoky Mountains National Park · North Carolina, Tennessee

Look Rock Developed Trail

0.5 mi of trail, end to end · Hike to Look Rock Tower: 0.8 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 200 ft of climbing · 2,459 ft–2,647 ft · native surface · trail class Developed

ViewsPeaksTowers

2,459 ft 2,639 ft · 0.5 mi high 2,647 ft

Along the way Look Rock Look Rock Tower Look Rock Overlook Murray Gap Overlook

Trailhead Look Rock Developed Trail Trailhead 2,473 ft Drive there

Hike to Look Rock Tower 0.8 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

no dogs · entrance fee applies

View of rolling mountains with fall colors, a partly cloudy sky and gold trees in the foreground
Hike 0.8 miles (1.3 km) roundtrip from the Look Rock Tower Trailhead on Foothills Parkway West. Photo: Smokies Life Photo

Overview

Walk 0.8 miles (1.3 km) on a short, paved trail through the forest to an observation tower in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and Blount County, Tennessee. This trail includes some mild to moderate inclines.

Length

0.8 miles (1.3 km) roundtrip

Parking & Trailhead

Look Rock Tower Trailhead is on the south side of the road across from a pull-out on Foothills Parkway West between mile markers 14 and 15 (other access points from Look Rock Campground and the nearby Look Rock Picnic Area ). Don't forget your parking tag .

Nearest Restroom

Look Rock Picnic Area (no restrooms at parking lot or trailhead)

Alternate Hikes

Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail : 0.5 miles (0.8 km) roundtrip

John Oliver Cabin : 0.3 miles (0.5 km) roundtrip

Kuwohi : 1 mile (1.6 km) roundtrip

Pets The Gatlinburg Trail and Oconaluftee River Trail are the only two park trails where pets are permitted. Pets are also allowed in picnic areas, in campgrounds, and on roads.

Accessibility Trail is paved but steep.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 244 trails in Great Smoky Mountains National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.