C L I N G M A N S   D O M E

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina/Tennessee Border

Sunday, November, 7, 2004

I've arrived at the trailhead of Clingmans Dome. A really short but steep hike, the paved trail will dish out a round trip distance of 1 mile with 332 feet of ascent on the upward leg. At the end of the trail I'll find a 54-foot observation tower that'll provide a heightened, 360 degree panoramic view of the surrounding mountain scenery. Once I reach the top of the trail, I'll be at the highest point in the park (6,643 feet) and one of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States.

Let's see how long it takes me to get to the top of the trail.

The Clingmans Dome Trail is a really wide, paved trail that's completely handicapped accessible. Setting out to the top, I first pass by what looks like a restroom. It's a pretty fancy one at that.

As I'll soon see for myself, trail's end meets up with the mountain's ridgeline, and it is there where I'll find the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trial is one of the longest, continuous footpaths in the world. Believe it or not, it winds more than 2,150 miles through 14 states.