About Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail
The Kuwohi Bypass Trail, also called the Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail, is a short connector near the park's highest point. It runs about 0.5 miles from the Forney Ridge parking area to the Appalachian Trail, and AT hikers use it to skip the busy paved path to the tower.
The hike
The trail is a quiet forest path through spruce-fir. It is useful if you are starting a section of the AT from Kuwohi but not visiting the tower. For the tower itself, use the paved path.
When to go
Summer and fall. Kuwohi Road is seasonal, open April 1 to Nov. 29 in 2026.
Getting there
The lot is at the end of Kuwohi Road. Plan on a parking tag ($5 daily, $15 weekly, $40 annual) if you will be parked longer than 15 minutes. Federal passes do not substitute for it, and a screenshot will not do; the tag must be displayed in the vehicle.
Know before you go
Pets are not allowed. Weather can change fast at this elevation.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Andrews Bald: a 3.6-mile round trip to a grassy bald
- the Kuwohi tower walk: a steep paved mile round trip
- Charlies Bunion: an 8-mile round trip on the Appalachian Trail
Planning and safety
Allow about two miles per hour on rolling mountain trail, then add time for photos, snacks and rest. Start by mid-morning at the latest so you finish with daylight, and decide on a turnaround time before you leave the car.
Cell service is spotty across much of the park, so download a map ahead of time and tell someone where you are headed. Stay on the trail, keep dogs and other pets on the few trails where they are allowed, and give wildlife plenty of room. Trail conditions are posted on the park's closures page.
Good to know
- How long is Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail?
- Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail is 0.5 miles one way. It is rated moderate.
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
