Clingmans Dome

Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The iconic spiral observation deck provides panoramic views of the Southern Appalachian Mountains from above the treeline. Clingmans Dome is one of the most accessible peaks in the Smokies. The elevation is 6,643 feet (2,025 meters), and it is located directly on the Tennessee and North Carolina state border within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Clingmans Dome Observation Deck in the Smoky Mountains
The concrete spiral walkway leading to the Observation Deck at the summit of Clingmans Dome rewards visitors with a panoramic view of the Smoky Mountains.

As the most accessible peak in the Smoky Mountains, it is a popular destination for the panoramic view that can extend over on hundred miles on a very clear day. Unobstructed views from the summit of Clingmans Dome may reach into seven states, but only on the very rare days when the weather and air quality conditions cooperate.

Clingmans Dome

View of Smoky Mountains from Clingmans Dome
On a clear day the view from Clingmans Dome can extend over 100 miles through the Smoky Mountains and beyond.

Located in the heart of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Clingmans Dome can easily be reached from Newfound Gap, located equidistant between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC. There is a seven mile road from Newfound Gap to the Forney Ridge parking area, located by the Information Center for the peak. A half mile paved path proceeds steeply past the Information Center to the summit.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Clingmans Dome is protected by Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Clingmans Dome has a diverse and varied history. Sacred to the Cherokee, logged by entrepreneurs and preserved by visionaries, the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains stands sentinel over the Southern Appalachians. Clingmans Dome Revealed: A Natural Historical and Cultural Gem in the Smoky Mountains [available March 2014] details the significance of the high point.