Clingman’s Dome

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park stretches across 800 square miles, with nearly 95 percent of its land covered in forest. These ancient mountains, which are among the oldest on Earth, are built from rocks more than 200 million years old with their jagged peaks worn down into the soft, rounded ridges that are present today. These ridgelines are traversed by the Appalachian Trail which climbs to its highest point at Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet) and straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee in the park. From the ridges you will often see a distinctive blue haze that lingers over the valleys.  It is a natural mist that is created when plants release water vapor and organic compounds into the air which gives the area its trademark “Smoky” Mountains name.  Unfortunately, the majority of the people that visit the park never visit the backcountry and see some of the best wilderness in the Southeastern U.S.

This short hike is a 1.4 mile loop that takes you up the paved path to the viewing platform from the Clingman’s Dome parking area. From the base of the platform, hike the Appalachian Trail southbound for 0.3 miles, then take the Clingman’s Dome bypass trail back to the parking area. The trees surrounding Clingman’s Dome are predominately fir trees that are normally found much further north in New England. The high elevation of the ridge and cool mountain air of the Smokies allows them to thrive in this area. Although an insect blight has killed a number of the trees over the last two decades – and you’ll quickly notice that on this hike.