Hiking / Peaks and Balds

Summit Hikes in the Smokies

The top of the Smokies is a world apart, with spruce fir forest, open grassy balds, and views that run for a hundred miles on a clear day. These are the trails that take you to the roof of the park.

Plan Your Visit

What to Know

Best Seasons

Late spring through fall for the high peaks. The summits are cold, windy, and often socked in cloud even when town is sunny. Gregory Bald peaks for its famous flame azaleas in mid to late June. Snow closes the high routes in winter.

What to Bring

Layers for real cold at the top no matter the season, a wind shell, gloves in spring and fall, three liters of water, food, and a headlamp. Conditions at the summit can be thirty degrees cooler than the trailhead.

How to Choose

Find the Right Fit

1

Respect the Elevation

These trails gain serious height, and the summit weather is its own thing. Pack as if it will be cold and windy on top, because it usually is, even in summer.

2

Plan the Distance

Some summits are a short steep push and others are all day efforts of ten miles or more. Check the round trip before you commit and match it to your group.

3

Chase a Clear Day

The whole reward is the view, so watch the forecast and pick a clear, low humidity day. A cloudy summit is a long climb for a wall of fog.

Summits and Balds

7 Options Across the Smokies

Sorted by visitor rating and review count. Click any card for full details, photos, and directions.

Kuwohi / Kuwohi
Top Rated

Kuwohi / Kuwohi

4.9 stars, 8765 reviews

National Park
Mount LeConte via Alum Cave Trail

Mount LeConte via Alum Cave Trail

4.9 stars, 5678 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Mount Cammerer Trail

Mount Cammerer Trail

4.9 stars, 2345 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Andrews Bald Trail

Andrews Bald Trail

4.7 stars, 2134 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Gregory Bald Trail

Gregory Bald Trail

4.8 stars, 1567 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Hemphill Bald Trail

Hemphill Bald Trail

4.730755762178495 stars, 248 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Newton Bald Trail

Newton Bald Trail

4.668725256926835 stars, 129 reviews

Great Smoky Mountains NP
Find It

Where to Go

Insider Knowledge

Tips and Getting There

Insider Tips

  • Clingmans Dome is the highest point in the park and the shortest summit, a steep paved half mile from the parking area to the observation tower.
  • Time Gregory Bald for mid to late June to catch the flame azaleas, one of the great wildflower shows in the eastern mountains.
  • Mount LeConte has no road to the top. You earn it on foot, and the lodge there books up a year ahead, so plan early if you want to stay over.

Getting There and Parking

The summit trailheads are reached from Newfound Gap Road, the Clingmans Dome spur, and the Cades Cove area. A parking tag is required for stops over fifteen minutes. The high lots fill early and the Clingmans Dome road closes in winter.

Who Is This For

Choosing Your Summit

For the Easiest Big View

Clingmans Dome gives you the highest point in the park for the least effort, a short steep paved walk to the observation tower. On a clear day it is the widest view you can get without a hard climb.

For the Classic Summit Experience

Mount LeConte by way of Alum Cave is the iconic Smokies summit hike. It is strenuous and earns its reputation, with the historic LeConte Lodge waiting at the top for those who plan ahead.

For Open Balds and Wildflowers

Andrews Bald and Gregory Bald trade forest for open grassy summits with sweeping views. Gregory in particular is famous for its June flame azaleas, worth timing a trip around.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest point in the park?

Clingmans Dome, also known by its Cherokee name Kuwohi, is the highest point in the Smokies. A short steep paved trail leads to an observation tower with a panoramic view.

Can you drive to the top of Mount LeConte?

No. There is no road to LeConte. You reach the summit and the lodge only on foot, by way of Alum Cave or one of the other long trails.

When do the balds bloom?

Gregory Bald is famous for flame azaleas in mid to late June. Andrews Bald greens up through summer. Both offer open summit views the rest of the warm season.

How cold is it at the summits?

Much colder than town, often twenty to thirty degrees cooler with strong wind and frequent cloud. Pack layers and a wind shell even on a warm summer day.

Do I need a parking pass?

Yes. A paid parking tag is required for stops over fifteen minutes. There is no entrance fee. The Clingmans Dome road is closed in winter.

Are these good for beginners?

Clingmans Dome is short enough for most fit walkers. The foot trails to LeConte and the balds are long and strenuous and suit experienced hikers.

Where to Stay

Wake Up Under the Peaks

Stay in a luxury Smoky Mountain cabin with long ridge views and an easy drive to the high trailheads. Soak in the hot tub after a day on the summits.

Browse Cabins
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Related Categories

Challenging Hikes Hiking Trails Scenic Drives Waterfalls Moderate Hikes
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