USA Frying Pan Mountain Lookout Tower

Frying Pan Mountain Lookout Tower sits at 5,340 feet in Pisgah National Forest and offers one of the most spectacular elevated views along the entire Blue Ridge Parkway corridor. The tower platform puts you above the treeline with a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. At sunrise during peak fall color, god rays frequently break through the ridge gaps and rake across the rolling forested mountainsides in a way that is almost impossible to replicate anywhere else in the Southern Appalachians.

Climb to the top of the fire lookout tower for an unobstructed elevated view above the surrounding trees. Sunrise is the primary event here. Arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes before first light as the hike to the tower in the dark requires a headlamp. God rays are common when there is light haze or atmospheric moisture in the valleys, which is frequent in fall. A standard wide to short telephoto range covers this location well since the drama is in the middle and background layers, not the foreground.

Access via Forest Road 97 off the Blue Ridge Parkway near milepost 426, south of Asheville, North Carolina. The road to the trailhead is unpaved and can be rough, high clearance is helpful but not always required. The hike to the tower is short, under a mile round trip. No entrance fee. The tower itself is open to climb. Check road conditions seasonally as FR-97 can be gated in winter.