Hi there!
So you are hiking to Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
I did hikes near Clingsman Dome in September. What the weather will be like from year to year can vary (which means the colors can vary!), but this is what it was like for me!
The Clingmans Dome Trail intersects with the long distance hiking trails (backpacking trails) of the Appalachian Trail (nearly 2,200 miles total from Georgia to Maine) and the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (nearly 1,200 miles total in North Carolina).
So if you are hiking these trails in this area, you can also make a side trip to the Clingmans Dome Tower.
Clingmans Dome Trail to Clingmans Dome Tower, 0.5 miles away.
Clingmans Dome Trail to Appalachian Trail, 0.5 miles away.
Clingmans Dome Trail to Mountains-to-Sea Trail, 0.5 miles away.
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!
Hiking trails near Clingmans Dome
1. Clingmans Dome Trail
Well, we will start with Clingmans Dome!
You can drive to the end of Clingmans Dome Road where you will be treated with amazing views of the Smoky Mountains. (If there’s good weather!)
The end of Clingmans Dome Road (where you’ll find the Clingmans Dome parking lot) is not quite the Clingmans Dome summit (aka the highest point in the Smoky Mountains!), and to reach the summit, you’ll hike the rest of the way on the somewhat steep Clingmans Dome Trail.
The trail is listed as a half a mile, so about 1 mile round trip. (map) But again, this is not a one mile walk in the park! You will be walking up a hill.
See more about the Clingmans Dome hiking trail: Clingmans Dome Trail
2. Hike to Andrews Bald
The trail to Andrews Bald starts directly from the Clingmans Dome parking lot.
You’ll take the Forney Ridge Trail to get to Andrews Bald.
This is around a 3.6 mile round trip hike. (map)
Take a light picnic lunch and the open field can be the perfect spot to eat with views! Expect far less people compared to the Clingmans Dome Trail.
Watch the Smoky Mountains video!
See more about this hiking trail near Clingmans Dome: Andrews Bald hike
3. Hike to Newfound Gap Overlook
Along with Clingmans Dome, the Newfound Gap Overlook is among the most popular spots in the Smoky Mountains.
And, it’s possible to drive directly to the Newfound Gap Overlook.
But, if you want to make it into a hiking thing, you can make an excuse to hike to Newfound Gap too!
There are a couple of ways you can do this. There is a longer hike and a shorter hike.
For the longer hike to Newfound Gap, you can hike directly from the Clingmans Dome summit. You can find access to the Appalachian Trail nearby, and then you can hike all the way to Newfound Gap on the Appalachian Trail. From the Clingmans Dome parking lot (where the trail to the summit begins) to Newfound Gap will be around 8.4 miles one way, so 16.8 miles round trip. (map) So, if you want to hike from Clingmans Dome to Newfound Gap as a day hike, you may try to arrange for a pick-up with the non-hikers of your group. And then, you may also consider hiking in the opposite direction with the highest point in the Smoky Mountains (aka Clingmans Dome!) as your “destination”!
For the shorter hike to Newfound Gap, you can find the Road Prong trailhead directly along the side of Clingmans Dome Road.
This is the road that leads to the Clingmans Dome parking, so you will pass it as you are driving there. From the Road Prong trailhead to Newfound Gap is around 1.5 miles one way on the Appalachian Trail, so 3 miles round trip. (map)
There isn’t anything particularly noteworthy about this part of the Appalachian Trail, and you’ll be mostly hiking through a forest.
Still, it can be nice to arrive to the Newfound Gap by foot when (almost) everyone else is arriving by car! You will likely have most of the trail to yourself!
See more about this hiking trail near Clingmans Dome: Road Prong trailhead to Newfound Gap
4. Hike to Charlie’s Bunion
Now we will leave the direct vicinity of Clingmans Dome and Clingmans Dome Road.
The hike to Charlie’s Bunion trail starts from the Newfound Gap overlook parking lot, which is a 10-15 minute drive from the Clingmans Dome parking lot.
This is around 8 miles round trip, and you’ll be hiking the Appalachian Trail. (map)
It’s another hike that will give you great views of the Smoky Mountains.
5. Hike the Alum Cave Trail
The Alum Cave Trail in among the most popular hikes in the Smoky Mountains.
The Alum Cave trailhead parking is right off of Newfound Gap Road, and it’s around a 20 minute drive from the Clingmans Dome parking lot.
If you’re looking to do a little peak bagging in the Smoky Mountains, this trail can be one to add to the list.
Hiking the Alum Cave Trail to the Mt LeConte summit will take you to a peak that is listed as the 3rd highest point in the Smoky Mountains and the 6th highest point in the Appalachian Mountains.
Hiking to Mt LeConte is considered to be among THE best day hikes in the Smoky Mountains. While there are many trails that lead to the summit, among the most popular is to take the Alum Cave Trail. This makes it about a 11 mile round trip hike, although it also depends on how much you walk around in the summit area. You can also go to Myrtle Point for example.
You’ll want to start your day early if you want to hike to both the Clingmans Dome summit and Mt LeConte summit in one day.
If that’s a bit too much hiking for you, another popular option for hiking the same Alum Cave Trail is to “only” go halfway up the Alum Cave Trail where you can see unique geological formations that include the Arch Rock and Alum Cave Bluffs. This would be around a 5.5 mile round trip hike.
See more about this hiking trail near Clingmans Dome: Alum Cave Trail
And that’s a bit about hiking in the general area of Clingmans Dome!
See more:
- Things to do on the drive from Gatlinburg to Clingmans Dome
- Best hikes with VIEWS in the Smoky Mountains
HAPPY HIKING NEAR CLINGMANS DOME!
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