Clingmans Dome Observation Tower

Offers 360-degree views when conditions allow.

Plan Around Clingmans Dome Observation Tower

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Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Details

You expect to get spectacular views from the high point of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and the futuristic-looking observation tower, built in the 1950s, offers 360-degree views when weather and air-pollution conditions allow. Unfortunately, pollution can reduce the 100-mile views on clear days to under 20 miles, and the famous blue mists that shroud the mountains can also impair the views. Weather on the Dome also can be damp and chilly -- 10 to 20 degrees colder than in the valleys -- so bundle up before you head up to the observation tower. It's a fairly strenuous half-mile walk from the parking lot, mostly uphill. The Dome is open year round, but the access road is closed to cars between Dec. 1 and March 1. You can hike or cross-country ski the summit road during the winter, and other trails start on Clingman Dome Road and the parking area. From the summit, you can hike a portion of the famous Appalachian Trail.

Difficulty

Low

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

Region

Newfound Gap Road