Two-hour boat tours are also available and require a fairly strenuous 30- to 40-minute hike down the crater to the dock (then back up again). Mile Summary and Highlights: 0.0 - Follow the Appalachian Trail and Mountains-to-Sea Trail southwest 0.35 - T-junction with Sugarland Mountain Trail leading to Mount Collins Shelter 0.7 - Mount Collins summit (6,196 feet) 1.6 - Collins Gap - lowest elevation of the hike 3.6 - Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet) observation tower with 360° views 4.4 - Clingmans Dome Visitors Center … This destination has gorgeous views, but for a panoramic vista, you can park and take the paved trail to the observation tower atop Clingmans Dome. If you choose a short walking trail to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower, it shouldn’t take you longer than half an hour. The most popular and shortest hiking trail to Clingmans Dome is just over a mile round trip. From downtown Gatlinburg, the scenic 23-mile drive to Clingmans Dome will take approximately one hour. Take the main Parkway out of Gatlinburg towards the Sugarlands Visitor Center. At the Visitor Center, continue straight for another 13 miles. Approximately one-tenth of a mile after Newfound Gap, make a right onto Clingmans Dome Road. But if you prefer one of the other trails on this list, it will take you anywhere from 2 hours to a whole day. Thank you. Although the trail is open throughout the year, it’s even more beautiful in … Grizzly bears and American Buffalo are among the most legendary. How long will it take to drive to Clingmans Dome? 13 Does the AT go through TN? See more about this hike. Shenandoah National Park is a long, narrow strip of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Clingmans Dome Trail to Appalachian Trail, 0.5 miles away. Hike historic trails, spend the night at the Parkway’s highest campground or lodge, and be sure to catch the sunrise. Elevation: 6,643 feet. It can take upwards of two hours to walk the entire way up the peak. The Forney Ridge Trail leads to Andrews Bald, a high-elevation grassy bald. 14 Is Clingmans Dome Road closed? (Finally Explained!) How hard is the hike from the parking lot to the Dome Scenic overlook? The pinnacle of the Great Smokies, 6,643-foot Clingmans Dome also ranks as the third-highest mountain in the eastern U.S. Its parking area offers far-reaching views, but there’s an even more stunning panorama awaiting those who slog up the steep paved path a half-mile to the observation tower at the summit. But in addition to the Clingmans Dome Trail, there is some decent hiking in the area as well. Or try your hand at fly fishing in the area’s many rivers. How Long Does it Take to Hike Clingmans Dome? Is Clingmans Dome an easy hike? Try to be there by 9 AM. How late in the afternoon should I take my family to get a parking space to take pictures of sunlit Cathedral Rock with Oak Creek in the foreground? Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 12 h 46 min to complete. Cherokee to Clingmans Dome via 441. Hiked to the summit of Mount LeConte via the Alum Cave Trail. For those looking for a more relaxed outing, tubing down the river is a great activity for all ages. It takes an average of 38 min utes to complete. This high elevation bald provides beautiful views of the North Carolina side of the national park. Additionally, the Appalachian Trail passes by Clingmans Dome, so visitors can easily hike a few miles going north or southbound on the AT. On average, Clingmans Dome is cooler and wetter than lower elevations in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. The Appalachian Trail crosses Clingmans Dome. 1. Elevation Gain: 331 feet. Park: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When to Go: The observation tower is open year-round, but the Clingmans Dome Road is closed December-March. The Clingmans Dome hike is fully paved and only half a mile. Clingman’s Dome is definitely worth the 1/2 mile steep hike. Can you hike to Clingmans Dome in winter? The path is paved and there are benches along the way, in case you need to rest. So after you pass Newfound Gap, you’ll look for the Clingmans Dome sign. Yellowstone National park is home to a variety of large mammal species. How Long Does It Take To Walk Up Clingmans Dome? Short on hokey seaside amusement and long on natural beauty, ... but they'll be farther from Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Tennessee. For the Bull-of-the-Woods trailhead: Continue left after the fork and head into the upper parking lot for about 50 yards until reaching a gravel parking lot marked "RVs Only" (which does not apply in summer). You’ll likely want to allow around 2 hours to complete this hike. Trailblazers can hike portions of the Appalachian Trail which can be accessed at multiple points, including Clingmans Dome, where you can enjoy views of neighboring Tennessee. High up in the forests of Tennessee looms a series of 6,000 foot mountains that make up Smoky Mountain National Park. Hiking to Clingmans Dome How long is the Clingmans Dome drive? More Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail is a 1.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Bryson City, North Carolina that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for walking, running, and nature trips and is best used from April until November. The peak is accessible after driving Clingmans Dome Road from Newfound Gap, and then walking a steep half-mile trail. The answer depends entirely on which route you decide to try. Take a light picnic lunch and the open field can be the perfect spot to eat with views! (Finally Explained!) Clingmans Dome Directions. What is the longest trail in the Great Smoky Mountains? How Long Is Clingmans Dome Trail? If you choose a short walking trail to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower, it shouldn’t take you longer than half an hour. The hike up to the observation tower will take about an hour. We leave for vacation to Sedona in 1 week. ... about Clingmans Dome and knew it was the highest point in the Great Smokies and worth the hike for it’s 100 mile long views, on a clear day. A few more hundred miles of hiking and horse trails can be followed to even better appreciate the Shenandoah Valley. This is a very popular area for scenic driving, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. How long does it take to get to the Smoky Mountains on the Appalachian Trail? Dog Friendly: No (and this includes the rest of the trails in Smoky Mountains National Park as well). The closest city to Clingmans Dome is Bryson City, NC. We stayed at Mount LeConte Lodge so we hiked 61/2 h up and the very next day we descended in 2h. It starts at the Clingmans Dome parking lot and goes for 3.5 miles with an elevation of 860 feet. I would like to avoid the midday crowds for getting a parking space I see reading reviews. According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Clingmans Dome: Fall Color Tour in the Smoky Mountains (From $115.00) Great Smoky Mountains National Park Self Driving Tour (From $10.00) Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Cades Cove Self-Driving Bundle Tours (From $15.00) Clingmans Dome Hike (From $240.00) To Clingman’s Dome Parking Area for the Observation Trail: Turn off Newfound Gap Road 0.1 mile south of Newfound Gap and follow the 7-mile-long Clingmans Dome Road to the large parking area at the end. Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Take in the bubbly sulphuric hot pools (don’t try to swim whatever you do). Before long, you'll reach the Clingmans Dome Parking area. © 2006-2022 by Image Builders.All rights reserved. How long does it take to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway? Clingmans Dome is about a 45 minute drive from Gatlinburg. The half-mile trail to the summit of Clingmans Dome is paved, but very steep. But aside from this, if you are a more casual day hiker and you’d like to add another hike to the day you hike to Clingmans Dome, then you have options! Elevation Gain: 330 ft. Time Required: 15-30 minutes. Clingmans Dome is not only the highest point in Tennessee, but also in the park itself. The 7-mile Clingmans Dome Road features multiple scenic pullouts with magnificent views along the way. Details: Clingmans Dome has three claims to fame, being the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains, in Tennessee and on the Appalachian Trail. If you choose a short walking trail to the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower, it shouldn’t take you longer than half an hour. Directly on the AT: Yes. During the short hike, you will gain 332 feet, which makes the climb gradient almost 13%! The climb to Clingmans Dome, a 5,360-foot mountain peak in North Carolina, is a strenuous and often dangerous climb. It is a long and rough hike but doable. Clingmans Dome Trail Rating: Moderate, due to steep grade uphill. This trail requires a one or two day loop hike that takes you to the summit of several of the highest peaks in North Carolina. Location: On the North Carolina / Tennessee border. Turn off Newfound Gap Road 0.1 mile south of Newfound Gap and follow the 7-mile-long Clingmans Dome Road to the large parking area at the end. From the Elkmont Ranger Station, follow the Little River Trail to the Goshen Prong Trail for a 13-mile trek to Clingmans Dome. Length: 1.2 miles roundtrip. The trailhead is located at the end of a gravel road. How hard is the hike to Clingmans Dome? Can I hike to Clingmans Dome? 2. You’ll take the Forney Ridge Trail to get to Andrew’s Bald. I would go there during the week to avoid crowds. The Clingmans Dome Trail has a maximum elevation of 6,654 ft., a minimum elevation of 6,207 ft. and an elevation range of 447 ft. Metrics [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] ... How long does it take to hike the Clingmans Dome Trail? First 2.3 miles of the hike is interesting and only of moderate difficulty. Clingmans Dome is 25 miles from Cherokee, NC or 23 miles from Gatlinburg, TN. Hike along the gorgeous Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This 2.4-mile long, narrow, and rocky path requires hikers to clamber in places up a stone staircase to reach the top. Toggle Navigation. Quick Facts on the Clingmans Dome Trail . Get to know this 23.0-mile point-to-point trail near Cherokee, North Carolina. The hike is steep as you go down into the canyon but once you hit the riverbed at the bottom, it’s mostly level for the remainder of the hike. Asif Islam/shutterstock ... visit the Zion Human History Museum, hike Kolob Arch, or take in the mountains, stay a while. How do you climb Clingmans Dome? ... 12 Is Clingmans Dome on the Appalachian Trail? And the end of Clingmans … The 16-year-old disappeared during a hike with a high school group from Knoxville, Tennessee, as the group hiked back from Andrew's Bald Trail to the Clingmans Dome parking area. 3,051. ... rivers, and waterfalls regularly appear along hiking routes. Height: 6643 feet. ... See our state high points map to learn about Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet – the highest point in Tennessee. Be prepared to hike UP! Have an adventurous 5 year old and 7 year old that have hiked before. Mountains. Watch the video, Clingmans Dome - Highpoint of the Great Smoky Mountains, to learn more about the Dome. How Long Is Clingmans Dome Trail? Hiking trails near Clingmans Dome . However, the trail can be moderate to difficult because of its steep incline. Tennessee. 14 / 31. The hike should only take about 30 minutes to get to the observation tower. Table of Contents Is Clingmans Dome worth? Then you’ll take the road to drive up (and it will be UP) around 7 miles to the very end of the road! Lightly trafficked with lots of river crossings, the trail eventually meets up with the Appalachian Trail in what becomes a westward rocky ascent to the Clingman Dome Bypass Trail. The hike up to the observation tower will take about an hour. ... and pace yourself. The whole walk took 6.5 hours and 15.5 miles roundtrip from the Newfound Gap parking lot (but it is better to park at the gate of the road). Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail moderate (3401) Great Smoky Mountains National Park Photos (3,949) Directions Print/PDF Map Share Explore this 1.2-mile out-and-back trail near Bryson City, North Carolina.