Milepost: 433.3
Elevation: 5580′
Named after the late Roy A. Taylor, a North Carolina congressman and chairman of the National Parks and Recreation Subcommittee, the Roy A. Taylor Forest is a former logging site for Mead Paper Cooperation. With the stewardship of the National Park Service, it is now home to some of the Great Smoky Mountains’ richest soil and fastest growing hardwoods.
Popular for birding, quick strolls, and sightseeing, the Roy Taylor Forest Overlook offers a paved parking lot and wooden observation deck. Leashed dogs are welcome at the overlook, but remember to pick up any waste they leave behind!
Photo from Tony Martinez.