Kuwohi Visitor Center — Attraction in Bryson City

Listen…..the best places around Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are free. This is one such place. The views on the way are breathtaking. Do not just drive there and back. Stop and take a pic of your loved ones in the mountains, eat some wild blackberries, look for bears, birds, and trout, take off your shoes and walk in the clear, clean water in the mountainside rushing creeks. Experience this place for all its beauty. If you can, choose an overcast day so that when you make it atop the structure at Clingman’s Dome, you’ll appreciate the temperature drop that happens when you enter a low hanging cloud. The walkway is short at only a half mile, but there are benches to sit and rest if needed because the incline is something. On the left of the pathway, there are wildflower fields and hummingbirds late in July. On the right, there are water runoff trails into the fir forest. This is a beautiful place. A poncho and sleeves might be desired at the top of the structure if you are lucky enough to be in the mist clouds forming. Spectacular experience. Restrooms are smelly, parking is not plentiful enough for busy days. Many people loop the parking lot waiting for others to leave. Don’t come up the hill short on gas. Don’t...

A Challenging Yet Rewarding Adventure at Clingmans Dome!

Last month, I had the opportunity to hike to the peak of Clingmans Dome with my wife, and it was an adventure I won't soon forget! While we were greeted by chilly temperatures and a misty layer of clouds when we reached the top, the experience was still incredibly enjoyable.

The hike to the summit was both invigorating and challenging, with beautiful scenery along the way that made every step worthwhile. Though we couldn’t capture clear footage at the top due to the clouds and smoke, we really enjoyed the atmosphere and the sense of accomplishment that came from reaching the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Standing at 6,643 feet, Clingmans Dome offers breathtaking views on a clear day, which adds to the allure of this destination. Even though we didn’t get to see the sweeping vistas, the experience of being enveloped in the clouds was magical in its own way.

The facilities were well-kept, and it was nice to have amenities available for visitors. I would highly recommend this hike to anyone looking for a challenge and the chance to experience the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. I can’t wait to return on a clearer day for that...

The parking was severely limited and there were people parking nearly 1 mile down from the parking lot and walking up. When we did finally get up to the parking lot there were about 60 people or more waiting in lines for the restrooms which I didn’t use but was told was basically just a stall with a large hole, no flushing toilets (which being on top of a mountain perhaps that’s required?) I know they had working toilets on the mountains in Colorado though. Anyway, when we finally got parked about an hour after getting there I go up to where the visitor center is and there is one small sign that says the dome is closed. Would have been really nice if this stupid sign was back at the very beginning of the road about 5 miles down the mountain to have saved us what ended up being about 4.5 hours before we were able to get back to down due to all of the traffic. (4.5 is total time) I did get some nice pictures from the parking lot and a couple from the trail up but overall I just felt with as many people that were visiting it was poorly managed and that if it was closed there should have been signs saying it was closed FAR sooner than once you actually...