Started the hike in plenty of rain, finished with sunshine and decent views. It was a fairly easy hike with minimal elevation gain, though it was somewhat long (16ish miles).
Hiked the half mile up the paved road from the parking lot, the lazy way. I'll hike it the real way later when I try the AT in sections. For now, I was just driving through and thought I'd snag a high point.
Started in the rain from Newfound Gap and climbed via the Appalachian Trail going south. It rained on and off on the way up and the top was inside a cloud, windy, and chilly. I climbed with my brother and a friend and we ate lunch on top and quickly jumped on the trail to go back down. During the descent we got some decent views as it was beginning to clear.
Bluebell08 - Apr 16, 2008 1:03 am Date Climbed: Mar 13, 2006
Hike from Newfound Gap
A muddy hike from Newfound Gap, that night was a cold one in the Smokies.
unclehud - Feb 10, 2008 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2007
Chilly and windy
Walked up the paved path -- and the cool observation tower -- the day before we went up Mount LeConte.
jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 11:56 am Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2007
CLINGMAN'S DOME
ROAD TO TRAILHEAD CLOSED BY SNOW SO HIKED UP SWITCHING TO AT AFTER A MILE. NUMEROUS DOWNFALLS TO GET OVER/UNDER/AROUND AND LARGE CLUMPS OF SNOW FALLING FROM THE TREE LIMBS MADE FOR AN INTERESTING HIKE
I loved the view, but feel like I haven't quite earned it yet. I'll have to hike up from Chimney Tops next time.
wildfam - Jan 22, 2008 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2006
Spring Break Stop
Highpoint #4 - great visit. Stayed in Gatlinburg - played Hillbilly golf & such. Drove up & parked; hiked up via Forney Ridge trail - thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of rime ice.
rfolkenberg - Jan 11, 2008 1:23 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2007
Easy hike up
Climbed up easily from parking lot-Cheaters haha
johnmnichols - Dec 26, 2007 10:13 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2006
Clingmans Trail Run
Trail ran to the summit from the Deep Creek TH in Bryson City. Ran via the Noland Divide, Noland Creek, and Forney Ridge Trails. Total distance was approximately 21 miles with 7000 feet of vertical gain. Run was fully self-supported as there is no vehicle access along this route.
I climbed the summit tower in April of this year as a part of a section hike. It was a couple of days after a huge windstorm and there were many, many blowdowns on the way north into Newfound Gap.
eric-griz - Nov 9, 2007 9:39 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2000
Dead Trees
First ascent was part of my 2000 AT thru-hike. It was cloudy with low visibility. Went back last fall (visiting on a fall weekend is a mistake) and got great views and autumn color too!
TJ311 - Oct 16, 2007 8:48 am Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2007
Attack of the Aphid
We hiked from Newfound Gap to Clingman's Dome via the Appalachian Trail. Along the trail, we noticed so many large trees had uprooted and fallen over. The ranger told us it was Aphid outbreak. It was great weather going up, but once @ the strange summit, it started to pour. Visibility was about 1 foot and it was a cold rain. We hitched a ride back down to our car in the back of a pick up truck.
buzzdainer - Oct 14, 2007 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 1995
Appalachian Trail
Rainy day. Climbed up the weird lookout tower, where I could see nothing, then quickly retreated and kept hiking.
Dangers Pop - Oct 7, 2007 11:13 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2007
Wasn't expecting this
People, dead trees and a space ship looking structure at the top. I guess if you're going to the Smokey Mountains you've got to experience this.
Tracy - Jun 7, 2008 11:24 pm Date Climbed: Jun 7, 2008
21st state highpointHiked up the half-mile paved walkway after hiking Mt. Rogers earlier in the day.
atavist - May 19, 2008 9:16 pm
AT section hikeSpring Break (Mar 2001) - spent some cold icy days on the AT from Fontana to Davenport Gap. It was early thru-hiker season and a pretty fun hike.
LilBird - May 10, 2008 10:13 pm
Nice ViewWalked to the top the easy way.
TiogaBradford - Apr 29, 2008 11:47 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2008
via AT from Newfound GapStarted the hike in plenty of rain, finished with sunshine and decent views. It was a fairly easy hike with minimal elevation gain, though it was somewhat long (16ish miles).
maddie77777 - Apr 21, 2008 10:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2008
Summit via the lazy man routeHiked the half mile up the paved road from the parking lot, the lazy way. I'll hike it the real way later when I try the AT in sections. For now, I was just driving through and thought I'd snag a high point.
tioga - Apr 21, 2008 1:33 pm Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2008
Rain and CloudsStarted in the rain from Newfound Gap and climbed via the Appalachian Trail going south. It rained on and off on the way up and the top was inside a cloud, windy, and chilly. I climbed with my brother and a friend and we ate lunch on top and quickly jumped on the trail to go back down. During the descent we got some decent views as it was beginning to clear.
Bluebell08 - Apr 16, 2008 1:03 am Date Climbed: Mar 13, 2006
Hike from Newfound GapA muddy hike from Newfound Gap, that night was a cold one in the Smokies.
unclehud - Feb 10, 2008 7:08 pm Date Climbed: Sep 21, 2007
Chilly and windyWalked up the paved path -- and the cool observation tower -- the day before we went up Mount LeConte.
jimegan - Feb 7, 2008 11:56 am Date Climbed: Apr 20, 2007
CLINGMAN'S DOMEROAD TO TRAILHEAD CLOSED BY SNOW SO HIKED UP SWITCHING TO AT AFTER A MILE. NUMEROUS DOWNFALLS TO GET OVER/UNDER/AROUND AND LARGE CLUMPS OF SNOW FALLING FROM THE TREE LIMBS MADE FOR AN INTERESTING HIKE
captainbuuda - Jan 25, 2008 7:53 am
Free Mtn parkingI loved the view, but feel like I haven't quite earned it yet. I'll have to hike up from Chimney Tops next time.
wildfam - Jan 22, 2008 9:31 pm Date Climbed: Apr 4, 2006
Spring Break StopHighpoint #4 - great visit. Stayed in Gatlinburg - played Hillbilly golf & such. Drove up & parked; hiked up via Forney Ridge trail - thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of rime ice.
rfolkenberg - Jan 11, 2008 1:23 pm Date Climbed: May 10, 2007
Easy hike upClimbed up easily from parking lot-Cheaters haha
johnmnichols - Dec 26, 2007 10:13 am Date Climbed: Jun 21, 2006
Clingmans Trail RunTrail ran to the summit from the Deep Creek TH in Bryson City. Ran via the Noland Divide, Noland Creek, and Forney Ridge Trails. Total distance was approximately 21 miles with 7000 feet of vertical gain. Run was fully self-supported as there is no vehicle access along this route.
Six2 - Nov 28, 2007 1:29 am
AT HikeI climbed the summit tower in April of this year as a part of a section hike. It was a couple of days after a huge windstorm and there were many, many blowdowns on the way north into Newfound Gap.
eric-griz - Nov 9, 2007 9:39 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2000
Dead TreesFirst ascent was part of my 2000 AT thru-hike. It was cloudy with low visibility. Went back last fall (visiting on a fall weekend is a mistake) and got great views and autumn color too!
TJ311 - Oct 16, 2007 8:48 am Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2007
Attack of the AphidWe hiked from Newfound Gap to Clingman's Dome via the Appalachian Trail. Along the trail, we noticed so many large trees had uprooted and fallen over. The ranger told us it was Aphid outbreak. It was great weather going up, but once @ the strange summit, it started to pour. Visibility was about 1 foot and it was a cold rain. We hitched a ride back down to our car in the back of a pick up truck.
buzzdainer - Oct 14, 2007 10:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 1995
Appalachian TrailRainy day. Climbed up the weird lookout tower, where I could see nothing, then quickly retreated and kept hiking.
Dangers Pop - Oct 7, 2007 11:13 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2007
Wasn't expecting thisPeople, dead trees and a space ship looking structure at the top. I guess if you're going to the Smokey Mountains you've got to experience this.
argothor - Sep 28, 2007 5:00 pm
Walked the last bit from the parking lotDrove up to the vast parking lot, and then walked the rest of the way. One tough peak. First state high point though.
weeds19 - Sep 27, 2007 12:18 am Date Climbed: May 27, 2003
Interesting SummitThis was part of an 11 state highpoint trip that started in St Louis and ended in Missoula Montana. Great spot to stretch the legs!