At 6,643 feet, Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingman’s Dome) is Great Smoky Mountains National Park‘s highest point. Located along the state-line ridge, it is half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee. It is the highest point in Tennessee, North Carolina, and all 2,144 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Kuwohi is a popular park destination. The paved trail leads to a 54-foot observation tower.
Kuwohi Directions
From Gatlinburg at Sugarlands Visitor Center, head toward Newfound Gap. Turn off Newfound Gap Road 0.1 mile south of Newfound Gap and follow the 7-mile-long Kuwohi Road (formerly Clingman’s Dome Road) to the large parking area at the end. The peak is accessible after driving Kuwohi Road from Newfound Gap, and then walking a steep half-mile trail.
DirectionsThe drive to the end of Kuwohi (pronounced koo-WHOA-hee), which ends in a large parking area adjacent to the 0.5 mile hiking trail, is seven miles long with scenic pullouts along the way. There are wonderful views of valleys and ridges as well. The 0.5 mile hiking trail at the end of the road takes you to an observation tower, the path is paved yet steep.
Views From Kuwohi
Vistas from the top of the dome are spectacular. On clear, pollution-free days, views expand over 100 miles and into seven states. However, air pollution limits average viewing distances to 22 miles. Despite this handicap, breathtaking scenes delight those ascending the tower. It is a great place for sunrises and sunsets. Cloudy days, precipitation, and cold temperatures reveal the hostile environment atop Kuwohi. Proper preparation is essential for a good visit.
Kuwohi Weather
Weather conditions atop Kuwohi change quickly. Snow can fall from anytime between September and May. Get a current weather forecast before heading to the tower. Temperatures at Kuwohi can be 10 – 20 degrees cooler than its low lying surroundings, so be sure to bring a jacket and dress in layers, even in the summer.
Weather Forecast
Hours of Operation
Although Kuwohi is open year-round, the road leading to it is closed from December 1 through March 31, and whenever weather conditions require. People can hike and cross-country ski on the road during the winter. The visitor center is open from 10 am to 6 pm in April, May, September & October and until 4 pm in June, July & August. In November it’s open from 9:30 am to 5 pm.
Kuwohi Hikes
The paved walkway to the observation tower is actually considered one of the GSMNP official hiking trails, but the parking lot at the tower is actually the trailhead for the popular Forney Ridge Trail that leads to Andrew’s Bald. You can also use the Bypass Trail near the tower to access the Appalachian Trail.
Hiking Trails
History of Kuwohi
The Kuwohi area is steeped in rich history. Kuwohi was an important place for the Cherokee people who inhabited the mountains. The Cherokee people have called the Smokies home for hundreds of years, dating back to before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. They believed the highest point in the mountains was home to the White Bear, or the chief of all bears. It was claimed by North Carolina and given to the federal government in 1789, and it became part of Tennessee when it became a state in 1796.
History Behind the Name
Kuwohi has had many names. The Cherokee people who originally inhabited the Great Smoky Mountains called gave it its original name meaning mulberry place. As time progressed and settlers started moving to the Great Smoky Mountains, the area became known as Smoky Dome. The name of the peak was changed to Clingman’s Dome in 1859 after Civil War Confederate general Thomas Lanier Clingman. In 2024 the original Kuwohi (ᎫᏬᎯ) name was restored to the mountain.
Observation Tower History
Modern history of the dome is just as interesting. The observation tower that provides breathtaking views today was part of the National Parks Service’s Mission 66 program, which modernized the parks to meet visitor demand. The tower has local roots. It was designed by architect Hubery Benn of Gatlinburg and built by W.C. Norris of Waynesville, NC. Ground was broken in 1958, but there were several construction delays as the weather can be quite volatile.
Kuwohi Geology
The observation tower and parking lot opened to the public on Oct. 23, 1959. The tower cost a mere $57,000 to construct, which is about $510,000 in today’s money. Kuwohi is part of the Copperhill Formation, part of the Ocoee Supergroup. The mountains are made of metasedimentary rocks and were formed 560 million years ago. Today, geologists estimate that the Great Smoky Mountains erode and shrink about 2 inches every thousand years.
