Mar 18 2008
Clingmans Dome In The Smoky Mountains
Clingmans Dome- How would you like to see for 100 miles?
On days that are clear, you can see that far from here - but sometimes you’ll find it hard to see even 20 miles because of pollution in the air. The clear days though, make up for the loss of distant seeing.
Only 23 miles from Gatlinburg, and from Cherokee, just 25 miles - making it less than 30 minutes to get there if you’re in a hurry.
Clingmans Dome being the highest, (6,643 feet), area point in Smoky Mountain National Park, and in Tennessee being the highest point, as well as being the third highest mountain east of Mississippi.
Only two others are higher - one being 6,684, (Mt. Mitchell), and the other being 6,647, which is Mt. Craig, the two being located in Mt. Mitchell State Park in Western North Carolina.
If you don’t mind climbing up the half mile walk to the top at the tower, there is a 360 degree view on the summit of Clingmans Dome on the observation tower. You can’t imagine the thrill until you see for yourself the view!
There are pullouts with awesome scenery for 7 miles, stopping at a big parking area, and a .5 of a mile paved, steep trail to summit. There’s a trail, (Appalachian), crossing Clingmans Dome, which is the highest point along its journey out of Georgia to Maine. (Read more about Smoky Mountains Hiking here…..)
Finally, Forney Ridge Trail, which leads toAndrew Bald - a grassy and high elevation bald.
One last note- Clingmans Dome is open all year, however the road that leads you to it is closed during bad road conditions, and always from December through March.