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The Atlas/Tennessee/Parson Bald Overlook

Parson Bald Overlook

Parson Bald Overlook is the first scenic pull-off at the Chilhowee entrance to the Foothills Parkway, located just off US-129 in Blount County, Tennessee. The overlook frames a direct view of Parson Bald at 4,732 feet and Gregory Bald to its left across the southern ridge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ample parking for motorcycles and RVs is available. The spot marks the junction of the Dragon's Tennessee terminus and the beginning of the Foothills Parkway's 16.6-mile western section, making it a natural pivot point for riders combining both roads in a single loop.

Tennessee
Region
Viewpoint
Stop type
Foothills Parkway
On the route
// Why riders stop

Perfectly placed where the Tail of the Dragon ends and the Foothills Parkway begins — a quick stop with an open-sky bald view that rewards riders who add the Parkway leg to their Dragon run.

On the way: Foothills Parkway

// Rider photos

Shot by the riders who've run it.

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// Nearby & related
StopTennessee
Calderwood Dam Overlook
Tennessee
The Calderwood Dam Overlook is a pull-off on US-129 in Tallassee, Tennessee, positioned at the northern (Tennessee) end of the Tail of the Dragon. From the overlook, riders look south into the gorge of the Little Tennessee River at the circa-1930 Calderwood hydroelectric dam and reservoir, backed by ridges of the Great Smoky Mountains. It is a common regrouping point where riders finishing the Dragon's 318-curve, 11-mile stretch pull over to share accounts of the run or turn around for another pass.
RouteTennessee
8.7/10
Cherohala Skyway
Tennessee
43-mile high-elevation ride across the Cherokee and Nantahala forests.
41
miles
StopTennessee
Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center
Tennessee
The official Cherohala Skyway Visitor Center sits at 225 Cherohala Skyway in Tellico Plains, TN, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff provide free route maps, current road and weather conditions, campsite reservations, and local attraction recommendations. Clean restrooms and picnic tables are on site. The center marks the formal beginning of the 43-mile National Scenic Byway that climbs from roughly 930 feet near Tellico Plains to over 5,400 feet at the Tennessee–North Carolina state line, and it regularly draws motorcyclists seeking current conditions before committing to the high-elevation route.