Fetterbush Overlook gets its name from the fetterbush, a shrub in the heath family alongside rhododendron and mountain laurel. Its densely tangled branches can make it difficult for even small animals to pass through, giving the plant its distinctive name.

Fetterbush Overlook

Devil’s Courthouse is a dramatic rock formation offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. A short but strenuous, mostly paved trail climbs about half a mile from the overlook to the summit.
Its unusual shape has inspired legends for generations. According to local folklore, a cave within the mountain was said to be where the devil held court. In Cherokee tradition, the cave was the dwelling and private dancing chamber of Judaculla, a legendary giant. Despite its ominous name, Devil’s Courthouse is home to rare and delicate high-elevation plants.

View of Devils Courthouse 

View of Herrin knob

The valley below Wolf Mountain is home to Wolf Lake and was once inhabited by large numbers of timberwolves. By the early 1900s, bounty hunters, farmers, and cattlemen had hunted the wolves to extinction in the area.

Wolf Mountain Overlook

Butt is a term describing how a mountain breaks off or “butts” off sharply.

Rough Butt Bald Overlook

Bear Pen Gap

Caney Fork Overlook

Beartrap Gap Overlook

Beartrail Ridge Overlook

Cowee Mountain Overlook offers a stunning 180-degree view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from an elevation of 5,950 feet. Facing southeast, the overlook provides sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, with especially beautiful scenery during the fall when the foliage turns vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.

Cowee Mountain Overlook

Richland Balsam, near Waynesville, North Carolina, rises to 6,410 feet and is the highest peak along the Blue Ridge Parkway. A 1.5-mile self-guided loop trail leads through a spruce-fir forest to the summit.
The mountain gets its name from the Fraser fir and red spruce, commonly known as “balsam.” Windstorms have created openings in the forest where plants such as blackberry and elderberry thrive. From the overlook at Milepost 431, visitors can enjoy views of the southern Appalachians, including the Cowee, Nantahala, and Plott Balsam ranges.

Richland Balsam Overlook

Its name comes from a single red spruce, locally known as a “he-balsam,” that once stood atop the peak. After the tree fell, the mountain’s historic name changed from Lone Balsam to Lone Bald.

All Overlooks