Kuwohi Trailhead

Kuwohi is what they renamed Clingmans Dome — the Cherokee name for Tennessee's highest point — and honestly, the new name fits better. We've hiked this trail probably a dozen times over the years, and that half-mile paved walk still kicks our butts every single time. Don't let the word "paved" fool you into thinking it's easy.

The parking situation is absolutely brutal after 10 AM, especially during fall when everyone's chasing those Instagram-worthy leaf shots. We've sat in our car for 20 minutes just waiting for someone to leave, and that's on a random Tuesday in October. The elevation gain is only 337 feet, but it's relentless — like walking up a steep parking garage ramp that never ends.

Once you make it to the observation tower though, the views stretch nearly 100 miles on clear days. Our kids usually complain the entire way up, then spend 30 minutes taking selfies at the top because the scenery actually is that good. You'll cross the Appalachian Trail right before the tower, which always makes us feel like we're part of something bigger.

Bring layers. It's consistently 15-20 degrees cooler up there than down in Bryson City, and the wind never stops. We learned this the hard way on our first visit when we showed up in shorts and t-shirts in July and nearly froze.

The road closes completely from December through March, so don't even think about winter hiking here. They've got benches scattered along the trail every few hundred feet, and trust me, you'll use them — even the marathon runners we've seen up there stop to catch their breath on this climb.