Kuwohi (Formerly Clingmans Dome): The Smokies’ Highest Peak

Kuwohi, at 6,643 feet above sea level, stands as the highest mountain in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest peak east of the Mississippi River. The observation tower atop it offers a full 360-degree panorama of the surrounding landscape. On clear days, visibility can extend up to 100 miles, potentially encompassing views into as many as five states: Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Kentucky.

The tower itself measures 45 feet in height and was constructed in 1959 as part of the National Park Service’s Mission 66 initiative to modernize park facilities. This structure provides visitors with an elevated, unobstructed vantage point over the rugged mountains and valleys that define the region.

For generations, this peak has attracted hikers, tourists, and those seeking solitude in nature within the park’s boundaries along the Tennessee-North Carolina state line. Its accessible paved trail draws more than 650,000 people annually, making it one of the most visited sites in the Smokies. Whether pursuing dramatic sunrises, expansive vistas, or a quick summit experience, Kuwohi consistently delivers memorable encounters. The 2024 renaming from Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi acknowledges its longstanding Cherokee heritage.

Marc’s Take: When you visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park you MUST go to the observation tower at Kuwohi. There is plenty of parking, the hike is a paved trail, there are benches along the way, and the view is spectacular at the Smokies highest peak!

Kuwohi Visitor Center

Kuwohi Visitor Center is just a short walk from the parking area. Restrooms are available near the parking area. Smokies Life, runs a gift shop where you can buy maps, water, etc..

The center stocks books on Cherokee history alongside trail guides. Look for exhibits on Kuwohi’s naming story, with artifacts like mulberry dyes. Staff often share personal tales from Eastern Band members. As of 2025, a new audio tour app covers the trail, narrated in English and Cherokee.

How Do I Get to Kuwohi?

The trailhead for Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) lies seven miles off Newfound Gap Road (US-441), between Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Cherokee, North Carolina, within the park. The access road traces the ridgeline, featuring multiple overlooks for scenic stops in route to the parking area.

Cyclists must secure their bikes at the trailhead using the provided rack and a personal lock. The hike from parking to the tower typically takes 30 minutes. Though paved, the trail ascends 330 feet over half a mile, presenting a steep challenge for those unaccustomed to elevation gain.

Benches along the path offer rest points. Success lies in pacing oneself and pausing as needed. While demanding for less fit individuals, it’s achievable with preparation. Always remain on the paved surface and avoid climbing on rock outcroppings.

IMPORTANT: If you have health issues, please consult your doctor before attempting to make the hike to Kuwohi Observation Tower or any other strenuous activity.

• From Gatlinburg: Head south on Newfound Gap Road (US-441) for about 13 miles. Turn right onto Kuwohi Road and drive the winding 7 miles to the lot. The drive itself is part of the adventure, with vistas opening up at every curve.
• From Cherokee: Follow US-441 north to Newfound Gap, then left onto Kuwohi Road. Allow extra time for traffic, especially in peak season. The road is open April through November, closing for winter maintenance from December 1 to March 31, or due to snow.

Parking can fill up fast on weekends, so aim for early mornings. Overnight parking isn’t allowed without a back country permit. Electric vehicle charging stations are planned for 2026!

Parking Area

The Kuwohi Parking Area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park features 167 total parking spaces, including standard, accessible, and oversized vehicle spots. This large, paved lot serves the trailhead for the observation tower and visitor contact station, accommodating high visitor traffic, over 650,000 annually, but it often fills quickly, especially on weekends, during fall foliage (September–October), or clear summer days. Roadside parking on gravel pullouts along Kuwohi Road is common, though not recommended due to safety concerns like steep drop-offs.

• Availability Tips: Arrive early (8:00 to 9:00 AM) to secure a spot. Midday can see cars circling or parking up to a mile away.
• Restrictions: No overnight parking without a back country permit. No RVs over 20 feet due to the winding road. Bikes must be locked at racks near the lot as bikes are not allowed on the trail.
• Facilities: Vault toilets (no running water, so bring sanitizer), a small gift shop/visitor station, and benches nearby.
• Accessibility: Designated accessible spaces near the trailhead, but the steep paved path to the tower isn’t wheelchair-friendly.
• Winter Access: Road closes December 1–March 31 (or for weather), but the lot and tower are open year-round via hiking (e.g., Appalachian Trail).

Parking Tags Required!

Before you park, remember that Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires parking tags for any vehicle parked longer than 15 minutes anywhere in the park. These tags help fund park maintenance and preservation.

Options include:

• Daily tag: $5.00
• Weekly tag: $15.00
• Annual tag: $40.00 (not available online)

You may purchase a parking tag at the kiosk located near the parking area of Kuwohi or inside the Kuwohi Visitor Center. Simply display the tag on your dashboard or hang it from the rearview mirror.

Read: Everything You Need to Know About Parking Tags in GSMNP

The History of Kuwohi: From Cherokee Roots to Modern Recognition

Kuwohi’s narrative predates European settlement by centuries. To the Cherokee people, the mountain has always been Kuwohi, translating to “mulberry place” in the Cherokee language. The area had an abundance of mulberry trees serving as sources for food, natural dyes, and medicinal purposes.

The Cherokee inhabited these mountains for over a millennium, engaging in hunting, agriculture, and land stewardship that demonstrated an intimate understanding of local ecosystems.

Kuwohi was integral to their cultural fabric, not merely a geographical feature. The 1830s Trail of Tears forcibly displaced many Cherokee westward, yet the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians persisted in the area, maintaining their connection to the mountain through preserved narratives and practices.

In the mid-19th century, European-American surveyors entered the scene. Swiss geologist Arnold Guyot charted the Appalachians in 1859 and named the peak Clingmans Dome in honor of Thomas Lanier Clingman, a North Carolina acquaintance.

Clingman, born on July 27, 1812, in Huntsville, North Carolina, pursued a career in law and politics, serving as a U.S. Representative from 1843 to 1858 and later as a Senator until 1861. He advocated for the development of Western North Carolina, boosting tourism and scientific exploration through his elevation measurements, which contributed to the eventual establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934.

Clingman’s legacy, however, includes controversial elements tied to the Civil War era. As a Southern Democrat, he fervently supported secession and the Confederate cause, leading to his expulsion from the Senate in 1861. He served as a brigadier general in the Confederate Army, commanding the 25th North Carolina Brigade, and defended slavery as vital to the South’s economic structure.

Post-war, he resumed surveying, but his wartime affiliations remain a point of historical scrutiny. The 1859 naming recognized his geological efforts but disregarded the existing Cherokee designation.

In 2022, Eastern Band members Lavita Hill and Mary Crowe initiated a petition to reinstate the original name, drawing inspiration from similar restorations elsewhere. The Eastern Band’s Tribal Council endorsed a resolution in July 2022, and Principal Chief Michell Hicks formally applied to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in January 2024.

The board unanimously approved the change on September 18, 2024, with support from the National Park Service, which highlighted the Cherokee’s enduring ties to the area predating the park’s creation. Signage updates commenced promptly, with complete rollout by early 2025. The park now allocates three half-days yearly for Cherokee school groups to access the site for educational purposes. This decision does not negate Clingman’s surveying achievements or the park’s foundational history; it enriches the narrative by incorporating the comprehensive historical context.

Postcard: We were visiting Harper Bros General Merchandise Store in Wears Valley not too long ago and found this interesting piece of history. It is a postcard a young woman named Estelle sent to her sister in Detroit, MI. She was visiting Gatlinburg on July 11, 1941 and wrote, “Dear Sis, I might see you before you receive this card. Having a great time. The Mts. are three times as high as they are in Pensy. Estelle.” Note the postage was only .01 cent.

Clingmans Dome Restoration Project

In 2016, the Partners in Preservation program, a collaboration between the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express, allocated $2 million to the National Park Service for various deferred maintenance projects across national parks. With numerous sites competing for funds, public voting determined the recipients. Clingmans Dome observation tower project topped the list, securing $250,000.

These resources enabled critical repairs, completed between 2017 and 2018, including concrete reinforcement for the trail to withstand high visitor traffic and weatherproofing for the tower’s spiral ramp. Enhancements also improved accessibility, such as additional benches and interpretive panels detailing the site’s dual heritage.

The View from Kuwohi

As mentioned earlier, on a clear day you can see as many as five states from the Kuwohi Observation Tower, a distance up to 100 miles. The view is what you think a mountain view should be. Expect to see beautiful tree-covered mountain ranges with blue and green hues.

Breathtaking vistas await. Consider yourself blessed if you arrive on a day with clear weather. Most of the trees you see are spruce and firs. The surrounding mountains are actually a spruce-fir forest. Millions of these trees cover the mountains.

Not every day is a clear day at Kuwohi; these are the Smoky Mountains after all. Sometimes the fog covers the valleys. It may reach the summit, making it impossible to see beyond a few feet. More often than not, the view is good. Check ahead of time for weather conditions if you want to avoid fog days.

The tower’s design maximizes these sights. Its concrete ramp spirals upward, offering layered perspectives as you climb. From the top, the Appalachian Trail snakes below, a reminder of the thru-hikers who’ve crossed this ridge. Sunrises here paint the sky in pinks and golds, while sunsets dip the valleys in purple. Photographers love the infinite layers of ridges fading into the horizon. Even on hazy days, the sense of vastness humbles you.

Keep scrolling to read more…

Why Are the Trees Dying?

In our featured photo at the top of this page, you see quite a few dead trees in the foreground. The majority of the dead trees at Kuwohi are Fraser firs. Their deaths are attributed to the balsam woolly adelgid, an insect accidentally introduced to the forest through the importation of nursery stock from Europe in the 1950s.

Most of the mature firs in the park have been killed by these insects. The result has been devastating to the mountain’s ecology. When the Fraser fir trees die, other plants and wildlife dependent on the trees die off as well. For example, the spruce-fir moss spider, indigenous to the southern Appalachians, is nearly extinct because of the loss of the Fraser firs. Controlling the adelgids is expensive and difficult. Nevertheless, the National Park Service continues their effort to preserve the species in the mountains.

Efforts include chemical treatments and biological controls, like introducing predatory beetles. Climate change adds pressure, with warmer temperatures allowing adelgids to thrive higher up. Cherokee knowledge of native plants informs some restoration, blending traditional ecology with modern science. As you hike, notice the red spruce standing tall amid the losses; they’re more resilient here.

Preparing for Your Visit

I believe there are three types of travelers:

1. The person who plans every last detail months in advance.
2. The person who doesn’t plan anything and just wings it.
3. The person who is a bit of a combination of the two.

I fall into category three. Spontaneity is a beautiful thing in my book. But I have learned over the years that without a little planning, things may not work out as hoped. No matter which category you find yourself in, I hope you will take a little advice from someone who has been there.

• If you are not used to walking long distances or hiking, try to spend some time walking and exercising for at least a month prior to coming.
• Bring comfortable shoes. You have heard this a million times. But you don’t want to get on a mountain trail with bad shoes. Hiking boots or shoes with plenty of cushion are best.
• Bring appropriate attire. The weather is fickle in the mountains. Remember, higher elevations are cooler than at sea level. You may need a light coat even in the spring.
• It just finished raining, it is going to rain, or it is raining. Well, it’s not quite that bad. But it does rain 85 inches a year at Kuwohi. Expect snow in the winter. Bring an umbrella or poncho if you want to stay dry on wet days.

IMPORTANT: Pets and bicycles are NOT ALLOWED on the trail or at the tower at Kuwohi. In addition, the trail is too steep to allow wheelchair access.

Read: Paws in the Park Pet Policy

IMPORTANT: Kuwohi Observation Tower is open year-round. But the road to Kuwohi is closed from December 1 to March 31 each year. It closes when inclement weather is present. Back country access is possible in winter via the Appalachian Trail, but it’s for experienced hikers only.

Layer up for the chill at 6,643 feet; temps can drop 20 degrees from the valleys. Pack binoculars for spotting distant peaks or peregrine falcons. Download the park app for real-time weather and trail cams. Mid-week visits dodge crowds best. Respect the site: pack out trash and stay on paths to protect fragile soils.

For families, the short trail suits all ages, but watch kids near edges. Photographers, golden hour beats midday glare. History buffs, pair your visit with the Oconaluftee Indian Village nearby for Cherokee immersion. Kuwohi isn’t just a hike; it’s a portal to layered stories, from mulberry groves to measured peaks.

Kuwohi stands as a testament to enduring landscapes and evolving narratives. Whether ascending for the view or the history, it rewards every step. Plan your trip, breathe the thin air, and carry a piece of the Smokies home.

Nearby Points of Interest

• Appalachian Trail: The Newfound Gap parking area sits right on the Tennessee–North Carolina state line and puts you directly on the AT, where a moderate 8-mile round trip north leads to the bare rock outcrop at Charlies Bunion.
• Deep Creek Trail: Just north of Bryson City, an easy 2.4-mile waterfall loop passes all three of Deep Creek’s falls, Tom Branch, Indian Creek, and Juney Whank — in an area equally popular for tubing, fishing, and biking.
• Kephart Prong Trail: A 4-mile round trip that follows a mountain stream across several log footbridges to the remains of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp and the Kephart Shelter, passing the ruins of a 1930s WPA fish hatchery along the way.
• Alum Cave Trail: The shortest route to the 6,593-foot summit of Mount LeConte, a strenuous 11-mile round trip climbing 2,763 feet past Arch Rock and the Alum Cave Bluff.