Tennessee: Kuwohi

6,309 ft (1,93 m)

Clingmans Dome, at 6,643 feet (2,025 meters), is the highest point in Tennessee and the tallest peak along the Appalachian Trail. Located on the border with North Carolina in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the summit is known for its curved observation tower, which rises above the treetops to offer sweeping 360-degree views. On clear days, the view can stretch to 100 miles across seven states.  Most visitors reach the top by a steep, half-mile paved path from the parking area, though longer routes connect from the Appalachian Trail and other backcountry access points. While the area can get busy during peak season, the views and setting still offer a sense of scale and beauty that lives up to its elevation. For highpointers, Clingmans Dome is a milestone—and one of the most iconic summits in the eastern United States.

The mountain is also known as Kuwohi, meaning “Mulberry Place” in the Cherokee language. In 2022, the name was officially recognized by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, though it has not yet been adopted at the federal level. Kuwohi holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Cherokee as part of their ancestral homeland—a reminder that these peaks often carry stories far older than state lines or summit signs.

More to come…