At 6643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the High Point of Tennessee, and one of the highest peaks in the eastern United States. I started by arriving at the trailhead within the park that features a gift shop, and happily plenty of parking. From the gift shop and parking area I took the Clingmans Dome Trail, because that’s the only option, to hike up to the top. The Clingmans Dome Trail was highly amusing because everyone going up this steep trail is winded and taking it slow, sitting down along the way, maybe regretting their level of fitness and ambition. By contrast everyone coming back down the trail is full of energy and moving much more rapidly. There were quite a large amount of people with baby strollers, or worse, those backpacks that hold small children on. I have much pity for them, because on a trail like this, even paved, that must be difficult.
Once I reached the top of the Clingmans Dome Trail I found the observation tower. It provides a great 360 degree panoramic view of everything. Informative signs in all directions tell about whatever there is to see in the distance. Very notable while up there are some trailheads connecting two important trails, the Appalachian Trail & the Mountains-To-Sea-Trail which has its western terminus here! But the real joy here is getting higher than the tree tops and being able to gaze out into vast distances.
