Beautiful at night in the mountains if there is a full moon to light up the mountains. Original story 11/24/19 5:23 p.m. Clingmans Dome Revealed is available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and audio book. Due … Park visitors can enjoy views from the parking The Clingmans Dome Observation Tower is open year-round. Clingmans Dome Geology. Hours of Operation (subject to change) April - August: 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sept & October: 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. November: 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Craig in North Carolina rising just slightly higher. Clingmans Dome is one of the most popular destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, fog and air pollution typically limit the views to under 20 miles. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, and even become a member. Mitchell and Mt. Check the NPS website for directions and weather and trail conditions. This ramp is a steep half-mile walk, so wear comfortable shoes. Birmingham, Alabama. Clingmans Dome Road, which carries passenger vehicles to the Top of Ol' Smoky, is expected to open to the public about 48 hours ahead of schedule this spring. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced plans to open Clingmans Dome Road this weekend beginning Saturday, March 31. At 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the park and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. Clingmans Dome, Smoky Mountains However, Clingmans Dome is effectively closed to vehicle traffic in the winter. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced that Clingmans Dome Road, a popular high elevation visitor destination, will open to traffic as weather conditions allow as early as Feb. 15. Weather permitting, look for the gate to swing on the morning of Saturday, March 30. Open April 1 – November 23 . Clingmans Dome, open year-round, can be reached by traveling Clingmans Dome Road, which closes December 1 through March 31 and when conditions become unfavorable due to ice and snow. It is a 7 mile hike along the road before you reach the tower. GATLINBURG, TN - Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials plan to open Clingmans Dome Road this weekend beginning Saturday, March 31. Forney Creek Trail. It was also a time for the 2nd Lady to promote National Mental Health Awareness month, using the Great Smoky Mountains as a … Clingmans Dome observation tower is open year-round, but the road leading to it is closed from December 1 through March 31 and whenever weather conditions make the hike unsafe. From the road and parking lot, visitors will need to hike up a wide paved ramp to reach the overlook. Observation tower and Clingmans Dome parking lot opened to the public on Oct. 23, 1959. As for the immediate future of the park, opening Clingmans Dome and the tower came a few days ahead of the second phase of reopening the Smokies. Our trip to the Smokey Mountains to see Clingmans Dome. When to Go: The observation tower is open year-round, but the Clingmans Dome Road is closed December-March. It is typically closed from the beginning of December through the end of March. The following roads will be CLOSED to drivers but OPEN to pedestrians and cyclists: Abrams Creek Road. On clear days, the views stretch for more than 100 miles. At the end of Clingmans Dome Road is the parking area, a visitor’s center and the trailhead to the summit. It’s on the summit of Clingmans Dome and offers 360-degree views of the Smoky Mountains and beyond. A lot of people go up there to view the stars and sunset. The daffodils are in bloom and the recent warm weather just may allow some roads to open earlier than normal. Physical Address 7078 Clingmans Dome Road Cherokee NC 28719 From there, it’s a half-mile hike to the top of the observation tower. 13.6 miles from Lakeview Drive Level Contributor . Needles to say we explored it. Clingmans Dome and the opening of our National Parks. Clingmans Dome (or Clingman's Dome) is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, in the southeastern United States.At an elevation of 6,643 feet (2,025 m), it is the highest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the highest point in the state of Tennessee, and the highest point along the 2,192-mile (3,528 km) Appalachian Trail. Although Clingmans Dome is open year-round, the road leading to it is closed from December 1 through March 31, and whenever weather conditions require. Park visitors will be glad to know that Clingmans Dome overlook and parking area will remain open offering amazing views of the North Carolina side of the park and the surrounding mountains. This high elevation oasis in the clouds is the highest peak in Tennessee at 6,643 feet above sea level. Rainstorms, snow, and generally cloudy weather can also be expected on the mountain even if it’s clear down below. Technically, Clingmans Dome is open year-round. The Clingmans Dome road closure lasts from December 1 through March 31. The park service closes this road because of the fiscal and environmental costs of … Spring has arrived in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The observation tower is open year-round but Clingmans Dome Road that leads to it is open from April to November, closing from December 1 to March 31. Clingmans Dome … Clingmans Dome is the most accessible mountain top in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Big Creek Road. Also, be sure to check your route before starting to make sure there aren’t any trail closures. The Appalachian Trail intersects with Clingmans Dome and is one of the more popular trails to explore in the park. Margie Hunter 1. Clingmans Dome, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: "Hours open" | Check out answers, plus see 2,886 reviews, articles, and 3,004 photos of Clingmans Dome, ranked No.15 on Tripadvisor among 104 attractions in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If the weather stays nice the park service may open Clingmans Dome Road as early as Friday March 27, 2015. Balsam Mountain Road. At 6,643 feet, it is not only the highest point in Tennessee, but also the highest peak along the Appalachian Trail. Clingmans Dome is open year-round, but the road leading to it is closed temporarily December 1 st through March 31 st. For your safety, the road also closes whenever weather conditions require. Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced plans to open Clingmans Dome Road this weekend beginning Friday, March 27 as weather permits. Clingmans Dome Opens to the public for 2020 season. GoldRushJunkie. Cataloochee Road. The Clingmans Dome Observation Tower is open year-round. Clingmans Dome rises 6,643 feet above the forested floor below and is the highest point in Tennessee. The tower cost a mere $57,000 to construct, which is about $510,000 in today’s money. During our hike we stumbled on a hidden door and cavern that was open. The trail to the tower, visitor contact station/store, and all trailheads will remain open during the rehab work. Clingmans Dome Road to Open Early This Year. The Forney Creek Trail has several waterfalls along the way to Clingmans Dome. The 7-mile (11 km) Clingmans Dome Road, which is open annually from April 1 through November 30, begins just past Newfound Gap and leads up the mountain to the Forney Ridge Parking Area, 300 feet (91 m) below the summit. Clingmans Dome should be open. How Clingmans Dome Got Its Name. The road to Clingmans Dome is now open as of March 30, 2019! When is Clingmans Dome Open? Most of the mountains in the national park … Clingmans Dome Road is Open Sunday, April 1, 2018 Clingmans Dome Road opened to the driving public yesterday, allowing visitors to once again access the park’s highest point … Even though the road is closed, many still choose to hike to the observation tower. Getting There