Cowee Mountain Overlook at milepost 430.7 is one of the most beautiful overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This stunning overlook features layers and layers of undeveloped mountains that stretch to the horizon. In an area where there are tons of breathtaking overlooks, Cowee Mountain stands out.
A visit to Cowee Mountain is always impressive, in fact we believe it is one of the most beautiful overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway – but at sunset, it is magical. The deep valleys between the mountains capture shadows at dusk and create a hazy blanket over the rugged terrain.
Before visiting this or any overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, check for closures.
When is the best time to visit Cowee Mountain Overlook?
Cowee Mountain Overlook is always beautiful, but certain times of the year and day it is more beautiful. The mountains visible from the overlook top out at close to 5000 feet. The mountains are covered in hardwood forests, making it a perfect place to see fall colors.
Because of the high elevation the leaves change earlier than much of the rest of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Aim to visit in late September through the first week of October to see peak fall colors.
There is a bit of guess work that goes into when to catch fall colors. We’ve used this map from Smokymountains.com for the past few years and found it to be pretty accurate.
The other amazing time to visit Cowee Mountain Overlook is sunset. The sun sets off to the right side of the overlook and casts long shadows over the mountains.
Sunset can be popular at Cowee Mountain so you may want to arrive around 45 minutes before sunset so you can set up in a good spot.
The overlook is close to half an hour from the Pisgah Inn and Waynesville, North Carolina and a bit less than an hour from Cherokee. If you are visiting any of those areas, sunset at Cowee Mountain Overlook should definitely be part of your plans.
What else is there to do at Cowee Mountain Overlook?
There aren’t any hikes here, but because of the wide grassy patch on the edge of the overlook, this spot is perfect for a picnic.
It can be quite a bit cooler at the overlook than the lower elevations because of the height and lack of trees to break the wind. Bring a jacket, even in summer.
Nearby Overlooks to also visit
If you are visiting Cowee Mountain Overlook you should also consider visiting these overlooks:
- Graveyard Fields (MP 418.8)
- View Devil’s Courthouse (MP 422.4)
- Caney Fork Overlook (MP 428)
- Richland Balsam Knob (MP 431.4)
- Lone Bald Overlook (MP 432.7)
- Roy Taylor Forest Overlook (MP 433.3)
You will find some of the most beautiful mountain views on the Blue Ridge Parkway in this short section, especially during early fall.
If you are visiting Cowee Mountain for sunset make sure you also stop at Caney Fork Overlook. Both of these overlooks are on our list of best overlooks for sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway and they are about 2 miles apart.
Where does Cowee Mountain Overlook get its name?
Cowee Mountain Overlook faces the Cowee Mountains to the far southwest. They are a rugged range of mountains in the Nantahala National Forest that stretches from Franklin, North Carolina to just southwest of Cherokee, North Carolina.
The mountains contain almost 200 separate peaks and the stunning area has been inhabited by the Cherokee people thousands of years.
Cowee is a Cherokee word that means “Deer Town” or “People of the Deer Clan”. The Deer Clan are one of the 7 Eastern Band of Cherokee Clans.
For more information about the Cherokee Clans, visit the the Cherokee, North Carolina website.
Cowee Mountain Overlook is an awesome overlook and one that you should definitely visit as part of any trip through the Pisgah section of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
There are some really amazing hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway through this section and you definitely want to make sure you don’t miss any of the incredible overlooks while you are visiting.
Leave a Reply