The highest point in Tennessee is Clingmans Dome, located in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It rises to an elevation of 6,643 feet and is the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi River.
It is a popular landmark for hikers and nature lovers to see in the Smokies. The high elevation makes visitors feel like they are on top of the world.
This hike is not a very rustic one, so it is best for experienced hikers who want to experience the majesty of this National Park. This hike can get quite busy, especially in the summer months.
Clingmans Dome, a part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is home to a large observation tower that offers 360deg views of the mountain and surrounding area. On clear days, views expand over 100 miles and into seven different states.
Its name comes from Thomas Lanier Clingman, a Confederate general who explored the region extensively in the 1850s. It was renamed by Arnold Guyot for Clingman, who was in a dispute with Elisha Mitchell over which mountain was the highest.
The mountain has two peaks that are about one-half mile apart, with the southwestern peak being the actual summit. The top of Mount Guyot is covered in a thick forest of fir and spruce trees.
In addition to the observation tower, there is a one-mile hike to the summit that begins at the parking lot. It takes about an hour to climb the mountain.