A Popular and Extremely Scenic Site in the Smokies is Closing for the Season

It’s that time of the year! Well, it’s not so exciting, but important to note the trails and roads that will be closing due to persistent weather conditions causing them to be unsafe. The Roaring Fork Motor Nature trail is one, with its steep and sharp inclines and downhill driving making for an impossible venture in the cold, wet, and icy conditions winter brings.

The most popular one, though, has the most majestic views, and that’s the road leading up to Clingmans Dome (or Kuwohi). It’s a beautiful destination we visited on our very first trip into the the Smoky Mountains, but the road leading to it closes every year after November 30th. Here’s some information taken directly from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park social media pages.

The last day to drive to Clingmans Dome, also known as Kuwohi, is November 30th, weather permitting. The road is projected to reopen on April 1, 2024, in the spring. After November 30th, Clingmans Dome can still be accessed via the Appalachian Trail from Newfound Gap or by walking up Clingmans Dome Road, but doing so will be a strenuous 14-16-mile round trip journey. The road closes due to winter weather conditions, which make the road unsafe for vehicular travel. Please park in designated parking areas so emergency vehicles can still access the road if necessary. Visit our website for more information on seasonal road closures at https://www.nps.gov/grsm.

Clingmans Dome/Kuwohi is the tallest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Tennessee at an elevation of 6,643 feet. The observation tower on the summit offers incredible 360° views of the park for any visitor willing to climb the steep half-mile hike, during which you gain just over 600 feet in elevation from the parking lot. On a clear day, you can see 100 miles out; on other days, you will find yourself in the clouds, where you can only see a few feet in front of you. Clingmans Dome/Kuwohi is a very popular place in the park, so please pack your patience when visiting.

For those confused about the Kuwohi name, there’s been a push to rename it. I’m not going to get into the politics of it, because I want no part of it; you can discuss it with friends. Anyway, it’s a Cherokee word for “mulberry place,” and accounts from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians say it was a place of refuge and healing. It was their name for the mountain that holds true to their identity.

That’s the latest FYI from the Smokies! If you’re traveling into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the winter months, keep this and the weather in mind. Thanks for reading and subscribing to my publication! Stay tuned for more news, events, and tidbits from my life as a Gatlinburg resident!