Clingmans Dome is the most accessible mountain top in all of the Great Smoky Mountains Natl Park! You will find Clingmans Dome Road just off route 441 near Newfound Gap. The Dome road is 7 miles in length and will take you up to within 300 feet of the Top!
This is the third highest Peak east of the Mississippi river at 6,643 feet. The mountain rises over 4,500 feet above the surrounding area! In 1959, a concrete observation tower was erected allowing panoramic views in every direction, greatly enhancing visitors ability to see the mountains and valley sights as well as photograph the region!

History of Clingmans Dome:

 The Cherokee indians call Clingmans Dome “The Mulberry Place”.
Early settlers had named it “Smoky Dome”.
In 1859, Arnold Guyot, a Swiss-American geologist and geographer, renamed the mountain for an American Civil War general, Thomas Lanier Clingman (1812-1897).
Thomas Clingman was an interesting man who was known in his day as the “Prince of Politicians”. He served as a Democratic member of Congress from 1843 to 1845 and again from 1847 to 1858. In 1858, he served as a US. Senator from his native state of North Carolina.
During the Civil War he refused to resign from his seat in the U.S. Senate and was expelled in absentia! He then went on to become a general in the Confederate States Army.

  Things To Do in the Park:

Hiking-
850 miles of trails!
70 miles of the Appalachian Trail!
Mount Le Conte is likely the most popular destination!
Another popular trail leads to Chimney Top!
It is a short hike to Laural Falls!

Park Wildlife

Over 1500 Black Bears!
White tail Deer!
Raccoons!
Otters!
Mountain Lions!
Squirrels!
Red Fox and More!
Many Trout Species!

  • Rainbow!
  • Brown!
  • Kentucky!
  • Brook!

Over 200 species of Birds!

  • Saw Whet Owl!
  • Canada Warbler!
  • Common Raven!

Travel Times from Wears Valley:

Smoky Mountains National Park…………..5 minutes
Clingmans Dome……………………………..45 minutes
Pigeon Forge …………………………….. 10 minutes
Gatlinburg…………………………………. 18 minutes
Cades Cove ………………………………. 20 minutes
Dollywood ………………………………… 12 minutes
Townsend ………………………………… 10 minutes
Knoxville Airport ………………………….. 40 minutes

Featured image: “Clingman’s Dome Tower on a Sunny, Snowy Day” by Scott Basford – Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clingman%27s_Dome_Tower_on_a_Sunny,_Snowy_Day.JPG#/media/File:Clingman%27s_Dome_Tower_on_a_Sunny,_Snowy_Day.JPG