Sunset Overlook

Sunset Overlook sits at 5,229 feet on the Cherohala Skyway, facing 240 degrees with the terrain dropping 682 feet within 600 meters of the pull-off. The view opens across a line of peaks to the south and west: Grassy Top rises to 4,966 feet 1.2 miles to the south-southwest, with Tipton Knob (3,677 ft), Jenks Knob (3,853 ft), Sugar Mountain (3,616 ft), and Radford Top (3,562 ft) spread between 5.3 and 6.7 miles out across the south-southwest to west-southwest arc. The overlook's orientation places it roughly 30 degrees off a direct sunset line, so the sun sets somewhat to the right of the main view rather than straight ahead. Sunset times shift through the year, from 20:55 near the June solstice to 17:28 in December, with equinox sunsets around 19:40. Maryville and Alcoa lie about 31-33 miles to the north, and Athens is about 33.5 miles west-northwest. On the Skyway, this overlook falls between Santeetlah Overlook and the Haw Knob lookout.