Clingmans Dome is said to be the most visited State Highpoint. Located in Great Smokey Mountains National Park, the 360 degree view from the iconic observation area is visited by millions each year. I have visited twice. During my first visit, I would not see anyone as the road was closed due to ice and I had to run the 7.5 miles each way. I also arrived at the gate one hour before sunset, hence my pictures are in the last possible light of day.
My second visit was during my 2024 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Clingmans Dome is the highest point of the Appalachian Trail and third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. The trail passes just feet under the summit so nearly all hikers make the detour.
WillhiteWeb.com
Elevation: 6,643 feet
Elevation gain: 330 feet
Access: Half-mile on paved trail
Clingmans Dome - Tennessee Highpoint
Originally known as Smoky Dome, Clingmans Dome was renamed for Thomas Lanier Clingman (1812-1897), who was a United States senator representing North Carolina from 1858 until the beginning of the Civil War. During the Civil War he attained the rank of brigadier general. In 1863, the confederates constructed an observation post on Clingmans Dome. Historic images of towers at the bottom of this page.
History:
Clingmans Dome Trail
Remaining light from the summit
Night view
Observation tower and moon
Arriving at the summit in the dark (first visit)
Highway 441 crosses Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Clingmans Dome Road branches off at Newfound Gap going 7 miles to the Forney Ridge Parking Area. It is then a 0.5 mile hike up a wide paved path. Clingmans Dome Road is usually open from April to November 30 unless ice or snow close it.
Access
Observation tower built by surveyors in the 1920s. Used unitl the 1930s when Great Smokey Mountain National Park was built and brought the need for a safer, sturdier observation tower for visitors.
1940s
Labeled as Clingmans Dome tower.
Historic Tower Images
1964 topo map
1939 guide map seems to show the same symbol in the legend for fire lookout and observation tower.
Appalachian Trail in yellow. Trail from parking lot in blue.