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Fall Photo Guide

Look Rock Tower, Foothills Parkway

Foothills Parkway, Tennessee · 2,651 ft

Past peak 40–70%, dropping Typical peak was 10 days ago

Typical peak

Oct 18 – Oct 26

moderate confidence in typical timing.

Best light

Works at both ends of the day

A concrete observation tower on a low outlier ridge with the full Smokies crest lined up to the east and the Tennessee Valley opening west. At 2,650 feet it holds color after the high country is bare, and the elevation gap makes the crest read as a separate band.

Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .

Crowds

low

Usually quieter, especially around dawn.

Coordinates

35.6334, -83.9415

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Getting there

Park at the Look Rock lot on Foothills Parkway West between US 129 and US 321 and walk the paved half-mile path to the tower.

What turns here

  • sourwood
  • red maple
  • hickory

Color progression

Typical peak Oct 22

Typical color progression for Look Rock Tower, Foothills Parkway. No change from Sep 14 to Oct 1. First color from Oct 1 to Oct 10. Approaching peak from Oct 10 to Oct 18. Peak from Oct 18 to Oct 26. Past peak from Oct 26 to Nov 5. Bare from Nov 5 to Nov 19.

typical peak Nov 1, 2026

Look Rock Tower, Foothills Parkway is typically at past peak on Nov 1, 2026.

This season so far

Reported peak

None yet

Seen peak color here? Add a report.

First frost

None yet

No night at or below 32°F since Aug 1.

Last 14 days

67°F / 43°F

Average daily high and low.

Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.

Plan the light

Look Rock Tower, Foothills Parkway on October 22, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.

Solar event times for Look Rock Tower, Foothills Parkway on October 22, 2026
EventTime
First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon 7:22 AM
Sunrise Rises ESE · 103° 7:48 AM
Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light 8:23 AM
Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light 1:20 PM
Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset 6:17 PM
Sunset Sets WSW · 257° 6:52 PM
Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon 7:18 PM

Times in America/New York · day length 11h 4m · computed from NOAA solar equations.

Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.

Which way to point the camera

Sun rises ESE, sets WSW.

Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.

Shooting conditions

Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.

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Recent reports

What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.

Nearby locations

Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.