Kuwohi
Kuwohi is one of the most popular spots in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with more than 650,000 visitors per year. Kuwohi towers at 6,643 feet tall, making it the tallest point in Tennessee and the third-highest summit east of the Mississippi River. Situated on a summit, the observation tower offers stunningly expansive views of the Smoky Mountains as far as the eye can see. Those who make their way to the top are awarded with panoramic 360-degree views of one of the largest protected areas of land in the eastern United States.
Views from the top of the observation tower are spectacular when days are clear. The view can expand over 100 miles in every direction and into seven states.
Alerts
When settlers first arrived, they nicknamed the summit the “Smoky Dome” since it was often covered in clouds and shaped like a dome. The mountain became known as Clingmans Dome following an 1859 survey by geographer Arnold Guyot, named for Thomas Lanier Clingman who was a lawyer, U.S. Representative and Senator from North Carolina, and Confederate Brigadier General.
In September 2024, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names voted in favor of the request by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to restore the traditional name of the summit to Kuwohi. The name Kuwohi in Cherokee translates to ‘mulberry place.’ Kuwohi is a sacred place for the Cherokee people and is the highest point within the traditional Cherokee homeland. The summit has always been known as Kuwohi to the Cherokee People.
Getting to Kuwohi
To get to Kuwohi, turn on Newfound Gap Road just south of the Newfound Gap and venture seven miles along Clingmans Dome Road where you will find a half-mile trail and large parking area. This paved trail leads you to the 54-foot observation tower.
Along your journey to the dome, there are lots of scenic areas to pull to the side to get endless views of the ridges and valleys scattered throughout the park. If you wish to soak in nature’s gift, there are several hiking trails that lead to Kuwohi. The Appalachian Trail intersects with Kuwohi and is one of the more popular trails to explore in the park.
Visiting Kuwohi
Kuwohi is open year-round, but the road leading to it is closed temporarily December 1st through March 31st. For your safety, the road also closes whenever weather conditions require.
