Clingmans Dome
About the Business
Clingmans Dome, located in Bryson City, Tennessee, United States, is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,643 feet. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking 360° views of the Smokies and beyond from the observation tower at the summit. The paved trail to the tower is steep and not wheelchair accessible, but well worth the climb for the stunning views.
Due to high demand for parking, it is recommended to have an alternative destination in mind and avoid marked no parking areas. Pets and bicycles are not allowed on the paved trail to the observation tower, and the road leading to the tower is closed seasonally during dangerous weather conditions.
The cool, wet conditions at Clingmans Dome create a unique coniferous rainforest environment, with temperatures often 10-20 degrees cooler than in the surrounding lowlands. Proper preparation is essential, with layers and a jacket recommended even in summer.
Several trails, including the famous Appalachian Trail, start from the Clingmans Dome Road and parking area. The balsam woolly adelgid is a threat to the Fraser fir trees in the area, while the hemlock woolly adelgid is impacting hemlock trees throughout the park.
Visitors can support educational, scientific, and historical projects in the park by purchasing books, maps, and guides from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park's official online store, operated by the nonprofit Smokies Life.
Photos
Hours open
Monday:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday:
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Reviews
"Absolutely beautiful. I hiked up early one morning in hopes of catching a beautiful sunrise and it did not disappoint. I was graced with an inverted sunrise and it was just pure magic. Sharing pictures of my experience. Also note that the hike up is a paved trail but very steep!!"
"Clingmans Dome is the heighest point in smokey mountains, getlinburg, an amazing spot to watch sunrise and sunsets. It took half a mile of steep curve to reach the visitor center from parking, takes around 30 to 40 minutes so plan to reach an hour before sunset to observe sunrise or sunset. But it's worth watching and you get stunning pics. Be sure to cover you suitably as it's much colder and windy up there"
"What a stunning view and place to see. It's a bit of a slight elevated walk (but we did do a ton of walking that same day so maybe it just seemed more elevated than we anticipated lol) But it's smooth, no muddy hiking involved. And it's totally worth it. We got up to the highest elevation point for sunset and it was stunning, it's cold up there though so stay warm, take gloves and a jacket. It gets busy too so find a spot to watch the sun set and stick to it. Would highly recommend, absolutely beautiful"
"The parking area is a disaster...the people not the actual lot. Be prepared to wait to park. The short walk to the dome is paved but is very uphill . They have benches along the way to rest and we used them!! The view is exceptional all the way up!! Totally worth it!!!"
"This is a nicely paved hike, but it is super steep! I thought it was a hard walk, but there are plenty of benches to stop and take a break. The others in my group didn't think the hike was quite as tough as I did. Once you get to the top, the views are unbelievably breathtaking! It truly looked like the treetops were touching the clouds. It is definitely worth it!"
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