Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — Are you hoping to check out Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park before the year ends? You'll have to hurry, or else you will have a long, strenuous winter hike ahead of you.
Clingmans Dome Road typically closes for winter at the end of November because icy and snowy conditions settle in at the highest elevations of the Smokies, which makes driving treacherous.
This year is no different. GSMNP rangers said the last day to drive to Clingmans Dome will be Nov. 30. Starting Dec. 1, Clingmans Dome Road will be closed to visitors.
People can still access Clingmans Dome during the winter, but doing so requires a long and strenuous hike down the Appalachian Trail under winter conditions. The hike is close to 15 miles roundtrip and is not something to attempt on a whim.
If you are hoping to challenge a winter hike in the Smokies, here are some tips from National Park Emergency Manager Liz Hall:
Plan Your Trip
- Pick a trail that matches your experience level, keeping elevation changes in mind as a 4-mile hike could easily go up 2,000 feet in certain areas of the park.
- Check the weather forecast and remember the conditions can change as you go up in elevation.
- Check on road closures at twitter.com/smokiesroadsnps.
- Let someone know where you plan to hike, when you plan to be back, what clothes you are wearing and what your car looks like.
- Have an emergency plan for your group in case someone gets separated or injured.
- Have a backup plan in case your first trail option does not work out or the weather takes a turn.
What To Bring
The equipment you carry can vary depending on the hike you choose, but there are some essentials to always keep in your backpack.
- Water. The general recommendation is to drink a liter per hour.
- Snacks. Pick foods with high fat and protein contents for energy. Hall said Snickers bars are a favorite when she goes hiking with her kids.
- Layers. Wear plenty of warm clothes that you can switch out during your hike. Keep a few waterproof pieces with you in case you fall in a stream or the weather changes.
- Extra heat source. Hall recommends heat packs or a fire starter in emergencies.
- Headlamp. Even if you do not plan to hike at night, Hall said the number one reason people have to get rescued in the park is not bringing a headlamp.
- Trekking poles and microspikes are good for slippery and icy conditions.
Hit The Trails
- Ask a ranger or drop by a visitor's center if you're not familiar with the area.
- Keep track of time and have a turnaround point. Hall said these will keep you from getting stuck on a trail in the dark.
- Walk intentionally. This is really just another way to say pace yourself. Don't go too fast on the first couple of miles and wear yourself out.
- Try to leave the park better than you found it and pick up any litter you come across on the trail.
People planning to travel between Gatlinburg and Cherokee, North Carolina during the winter need to keep a close eye on weather and road conditions ahead of their trip. Newfound Gap Road/U.S. Highway 441 closes frequently to traffic during the winter due to icy and snowy conditions.
Smaller roads in the park, such as Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail near Gatlinburg and Little Greenbrier Road, are closed for the winter season. These roads typically do not reopen until early April. you can find a list of seasonal road closures at this link.
Most of the major roads in the lower elevations of the park, such as Little River Gorge Road, remain open during the winter unless there is significant winter weather in the Smokies. The National Park typically sends out closure notifications on its Smokies Road Info social media account at this link.
