The South Mountains, from which this byway takes its name, were called the "Oakanoahs" by the Cherokee Indians who lived in the region. Views of the Mountains can be found around the town of Polkville in the First Broad River Valley. Travelers passing into Rutherford County near Polkville can see Cherry Mountain, named for the liquor and 'cherry bounce' produced in the area after the civil war. A side trip to South Mountain State Park and South Mountain Wildlife Management Area is surely worth the scenery and the mountain air. The last ten miles of the byway towards Marion, provides views of the Appalachian Mountains.