Hiking in the Smoky Mountains is a very popular thing to do while you are here in the Gatlinburg area. More than 9 million visitors come to the Smoky Mountains each year, and all for a variety of reasons. Still, the majority of visitors come specifically to take in the natural beauty of these great mountains.
The Smoky Mountain National Park is the most visited national park in the United States, and for good reason. The Smoky mountains get their name from the natural haze that adorns the mountaintops, which are situated between the Tennessee and North Carolina borders. Hiking here will expose you to over 10,000 different species of plants and animals, including 100 species of indigenous trees.
There are many destinations that are suitable for hiking in the Smoky Mountains National Park. One of the most popular is the array of waterfalls that can be found throughout the range. There are more than 2,000 miles of streams in the Smokies, giving you the chance to find beautiful waterfalls of all shapes and sizes throughout the winding mountainside. It is this pristine, untouched beauty that brings so many hikers to the Smoky Mountains each year. Abrams falls, at only 20 feet high, is the most photogenic waterfall in the mountains, due to its volume of water and deep pool at the base of the falls.
Come back tomorrow to find out more about hiking in the Smoky Mountains.
Posted by alan as Gatlinburg, Smoky Mountains at 8:08 AM UTC
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Clingman’s Dome is a famous mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains and a popular attraction at The Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It measures in at 6,643 feet high, and is the highest point in Tennessee. It is also the second highest point east of the Mississippi river, beaten only by Mt. Mitchell, which is only 41 feet taller and located in North Carolina. It’s located along state-line ridge, which makes it partly owned by North Carolina, and partly owned by Tennessee. It is accessible by car and walking, but the trail is paved so that all visitors are welcome to this wonderful attraction.
Clingman’s Dome is one of the most popular destinations in the park, and has its own 54 foot observation tower. On a clear day, you can see for well over 100 miles, and into seven different states from the observation tower on this peak. Air pollution and the Smoky Mountains fog is often a problem, cutting the average viewing distance to about 22 miles, which still provides some gorgeous views and breathtaking landscapes for the eyes. It is very popular among couples young and old during sunrise and sunset.
When it’s really cold, raining, snowing, or cloudy, it can prove to be a very hostile environment on top of Clingman’s Dome. That is why it is essential that you check the weather so that you are properly prepared for your trek up the steep mountainside. At this high of an altitude, snow can fall anytime between September and May, so you should always come prepared and check the forecast before you head out. You might end up choosing to visit on another day if the weather is not suitable enough for your taste.
The conditions atop the dome are very cool and wet, creating a rainforest type effect, which allows pests and disease to run rampant among the spruce-fir forest. There are many dead trees and dying trees littering the area, but a young forest is in the process of replacing the dead trees.
The road leading to Clingman’s dome is closed from December until April, even though the attraction itself is open year-round. That means that if you want to see it during the off season, you will have to be brave enough and skilled enough to make the trek on foot or via cross country skis. The Appalachian Trail crosses this point in the park, which marks its highest point along the more than 2,000 miles of trail. If you’re in Gatlinburg or visiting Smoky Mountain National Park, this is definitely a sight worth seeing, if you dare to make the trip.
You will definitely remember Clingman’s Dome on your Smoky Mountain vacation.
Posted by alan as Smoky Mountains at 8:43 AM UTC
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