Wayah Bald Observation Tower
If you want a beautiful place to visit but don’t want to hike a long trail to get to the view, the Wayah Bald Observation Tower is the place for you. It’s great that this 79 year old structure was repaired and reopened for us to enjoy. Once you make the walk up the trail to the top of the observation tower you can fully enjoy the unobstructed view from the 5342 foot vantage point.
It is gorgeous year round but can be windy, especially in the winter. You will be able to see into Georgia and Tennessee. It’s like looking at an ocean of mountaintops. If you want you can also bring a lunch and sit and enjoy the view from the lawn below.
Take Hwy. 64 W out of Franklin for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Patton Rd. and then take the first left (.3 miles) onto Wayah Road. Follow Wayah Road for 9 miles and then take the right fork onto National Forest Rd. (It will be a gravel road). Follow the main road to the top, where it dead ends in the Wayah Bald parking area. The road is well maintained but we recommend taking a vehicle with higher ground clearance. In the winter, the road may be closed due to snow, so check with the park service before going up.
For more information check out their website: Wayah Bald Observation Tower