Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

I had the opportunity to drive through the park last Friday evening and decided to take one last trip up to the dome for 2006.
I am still excited from my time there. We pulled into the visitor parking area just as the sun disappeared behind a hill. The crowd along the sidewalk grew louder as people snapped as many pictures as possible of the glowing red ball sinking quickly. Because we had just arrived, we, unlike many others, lingered to watch the colors change after the sun sank. I am 22, have lived here all my life, and have never seen such a beautiful sunset inside the park. The sky was ablaze with colors and as the stars came out, the crescent moon rose high above the tree line. As we walked up the path, the sky turned from brilliant reds and oranges to deeper hues with blues and purples joining the picture. Long after the sun was out of site, we were still blessed with a picturesque view.

When we reached the base of the dome, I saw that snow and ice were still on the ground. We walked carefully up the ramp and paused a bit before the top to take some photos. The sky still glowed and its light reflected on the metal handles along the ramp. At the top of the dome we were able to see for miles. At least 15 miles away, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville twinkled in the valleys below the Smokies.

Any location in the park can provide you with an unforgettable experience such as this. At any time of year, there are plenty of areas open for visitors, but please be sure to save yourself some time and check the winter hours and closings section on our Smoky Mountains page when planning your winter Smokies vacation. If you are in town, or will make it here before Friday, try to get up to Clingmans Dome by driving up US-441/Newfound Gap Road and taking Clingmans Dome Road at the North Carolina/Tennessee border in the park. This 7-mile road will close this Friday and remain off limits to motorized vehicles until late spring.

Included in this blog are photos, courtesy of Ryan Hurrell, a Knoxville native who joined me on this visit to the dome. Though these pictures are incredible, they still do not do justice to the view or convey the feelings one gets when surrounded by such natural beauty.