How High Is Clingmans Dome?

At

6,643 feet

, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi.

How long is the walk up Clingmans Dome?

The observation tower on the summit of Clingmans Dome offers spectacular 360° views of the Smokies and beyond for visitors willing to climb the steep

half-mile

walk to the tower at the top. On clear days views expand over a 100 miles. Unfortunately, air pollution often limits viewing distances to under 20 miles.

What is the highest point of the Smoky Mountains?

Clingmans Dome

What 4 states can you see from Clingmans Dome?

Exploring Clingmans Dome

Weather permitting, you may be be treated to up to 100 miles of vistas of the nearby mountains and cities. In fact, on a clear day you can catch sight of seven states:

Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi

.

Is Clingmans Dome crowded?

Clingmans Dome Road is typically closed from December through March. It’s a very popular destination in the Smokies so

there will be crowds

. Not only is it the highest point in the park, but it’s also the third-highest mountain east of the Mississippi River, according to the National Park Service.

Is Clingmans Dome Road scary?

The drive to Clingmans Dome takes about 90 minutes. You will wind on many two lane roads, traversing blind curves along the way. There are no guardrails, so

it can be a bit scary driving so close to the edge

. It took another 30-40 min to hike the paved walkway to the lookout tower.

Why is Clingmans Dome closed?

Because Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the park and receives harsher weather conditions

, the road to it will remain closed until spring, weather permitting. Where can you see beautiful mountain views now that Clingman’s Dome Road is closed for the season?

Can dogs go to Clingmans Dome?

Can I bring My Dog?

Dogs are allowed at Clingmans Dome in the Parking lot

. However, dogs are not permitted on the paved path to the Clingmans Dome Tower. It is also park policy that pets are not allowed on most hiking trails in the national park, including hiking trails around Clingmans Dome.

How long is Clingmans Dome open?

Unfortunately, air pollution often limits viewing distances to under 20 miles. Clingmans Dome observation tower is open

year-round

, but the road leading to it is closed from December 1 through March 31 and whenever weather conditions make the hike unsafe.

Can you go to Clingmans Dome at night?

Yes, Clingmans Dome is open year-round, including at night

. Though the dome is open year-round, Clingmans Dome Road typically closes from December to late March and under certain weather conditions.

How much does it cost to go to Clingmans Dome?

One of the best things about trekking to Clingmans Dome is that

it’s free

! There is no entrance fee to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Why is it called Clingmans Dome?

How Did Clingman’s Dome Get Its Name? Clingman’s Dome was

named after U.S. Senator and attorney, Thomas Lanier Clingman, from Asheville, North Carolina

. Senator Clingman was expelled from the U.S. Senate after expressing support for the Confederacy during the Civil War.

Is Clingmans Dome Road closed?

How tall is the observation tower at Clingmans Dome?

Clingmans Dome Tower was constructed in 1959. It is a

45 foot

high observation tower with a sweeping 375 feet long ramp for visitors to reach the tower. The Tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and played a significant role in the architectural history of the National Park Service.

Can you see 7 states from Clingmans Dome?

View Seven States at Clingmans Dome

On a clear day, you can see up to 100 miles including seven states from the top of the tower

. (Clockwise: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.) Even on a cloudy, “smoky” day, the view is breathtaking.

What should I wear to Clingmans Dome?

It is helpful to wear layers of clothing when you plan to spend time at Clingmans Dome. Items like

jackets, rain ponchos, sweatshirts and sunglasses

are great for your visit to the highest point in Tennessee. It also doesn’t hurt to pack a few extra items like gloves and a scarf during the fall.

How far is the walk to Clingmans Dome from the parking lot?

Official info for the Clingmans Dome Trail: Clingmans Dome is listed as 6,643 feet (this is the spot before you take the final path up to the top of the tower) It’s a

half mile

trail from the parking lot to the Clingmans Dome observation tower. You’ll be hiking up 330 ft on the trail.

What is the best time of day to visit Clingmans Dome?

The best time to visit Clingmans Dome is

in the morning for sunrise and before the crowds or at sunset

.

How is the road to Clingmans Dome?

The rode to Clingman’s Dome is paved

. It is curvy, but well worth the drive. Once you get to the Clingman’s Dome parking lot you have to walk up to the observatory area. That walk ispaved also, but very steep.

Is Clingmans Dome tower open?

The observation tower is

open year-round

but Clingmans Dome Road that leads to it is open from April to November, closing from December 1 to March 31.

Is Abrams Falls Trail open?

The Abrams Falls Trail and associated parking areas will be closed May 10 through November 10, 2021, excluding federal holidays, on Monday mornings at 7:00 a.m. through Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. weekly.

The trail will be fully open each week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

.

Is Cades Cove still closed?

Cades Cove is

open year round from sunrise to sunset

, weather permitting.

Why is Cades Cove closed?

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced Cades Cove Loop Road will be fully closed for three weeks in the fall

to resurface the roadway

.

Why are dogs not allowed in the Smokies?

The park prohibits dogs on hiking trails for several reasons:

Dogs can carry disease into the park’s wildlife populations

. Dogs can chase and threaten wildlife, scaring birds and other animals away from nesting, feeding, and resting sites.

Can you hike Clingmans Dome in winter?

over a year ago.

Clingmans Dome Road is closed in the winter season

but you can walk the road OR the Appalachian Trail can get you to Clingmans Dome from the Newfound Gap Overlook.

Does Clingmans Dome have snow?

The higher elevations, like around Clingmans Dome, see a significantly higher snowfall in the winter with an average total of over 100” a year

.