Clingmans Dome is the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (6,643 feet). It is the highest point in Tennessee and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi. The road to Clingmans Dome is open from mid-April until early November. Clingmans Dome has the most beautiful views in the Park. It also accesses The Appalachian Trail.

Tree leaves in the Smokies change colors in Autumn and peak between mid-October and early November. One of the reasons fall colors in the Smoky Mountains is so beautiful is the park’s amazing diversity of trees. Approximately 100 species of native trees live in the Smokies, and the vast majority of these are deciduous.

Over 800 miles of maintained hiking trails are in the national park. Some of the most popular trails include Mt. LeConte, the 8 mile round-trip to Charlies Bunion which is located on the Appalachian Trail, the Chimney Tops Trail, Laurel Falls Trail, Abrams Falls Trail, and Ramsey Cascades Trail. Viewing of wildflowers, cascading streams, the scent of evergreens, and the sounds of birds are best seen and experienced on the trails.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has hundreds of miles of horse trails and five drive-in horse camps. Horse riding stables are located at Sugarlands (at the Gatlinburg entrance to the Park; 865-436-3535), Cades Cove Riding Stables (865-448-6286), Smokemont (4.5 miles from Cherokee, 828-497-2373), and Smoky Mountain Riding Stables (Hwy 321, Gatlinburg, 4 miles east of Gatlinburg, traffic light #3)

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