CLINGMANS
DOME
We planned to drive from
Smokemont Campground up about 3,000ft in elevation change to Newfound Gap, the
pass between the mountains, and another 1,000ft to the Clingmans
Dome parking lot.
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| map of Smoky Mountains from Smokemont to Clingmans Dome |
We picked up 2 hitchhiking
backpackers near the campground. These brothers-in-law from Texas
and Indiana
left their car at the bottom and needed a ride to the top to start a multi-day
backpack down the mountains. It was interesting to chat with them as we headed
up to the mountain pass. As we climbed up the mountains we saw low clouds
clinging to the valleys.
Then we continued to drive
up, up, up toward Clingmans Dome.
The view from the parking
lot was great, but the quintessential Smoky
Mountain experience is trudging up the
paved, steep ½-mile path to Clingmans Dome
with its curved walkway to the observation deck with 360⁰ view.
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| Barbara & Bill at Clingmans Dome |
The view was spectacular!
Other people know it, too – bus tours, hikers, backpackers, and even AT
through-hikers (as the AT goes right by the observation deck).
Lots of Smoky Mountain
views with the characteristic natural smoke-like bluish haze.
ANDREWS BALD
Afterward we found more
solitude, hiking 1.8-miles to Andrews Bald and then back. The ranger described
it as uphill both ways and he was right! The open grassy bald at the end of the
trail gave another nice view. The park maintains two balds preserving the
historic open look. We had a nice chat with a couple from France and
enjoyed the view.
ALUM CAVE
Barbara ran out of energy,
but Bill hiked 2.5 miles up to Alum Cave Bluffs. It’s more of an overhang than
a cave, but it’s enough of a break in the forest to allow views. The earlier
part of the trail follows a stream and winds through a natural tunnel in the
rocks.
Campground: Smokemont
Campground in Great Smoky
Mountains National Park
