The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is made up of a chain of mountains with summits that all rise over 5,000 feet in the air. Each of these peaks offers breathtaking views for miles. Have you ever wondered which peaks are the highest? Here are the top five highest peaks in the Smoky Mountains that you should explore for the best views in the Smokies!
1. Clingmans Dome
The highest peak in the Smoky Mountains is Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet. This is also one of the easiest peaks to get to. To get to Clingmans Dome, take Newfound Gap Road to Clingmans Dome Road, then park in the lot at the end of the road. From there, you can walk the 0.5 mile trail to the top of the Clingmans Dome Observation Tower. This trail is paved, but it’s also steep. At the top of the observation tower, you’ll get to take in beautiful panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains. On a clear day, visibility can be over 100 miles!
2. Mount Guyot
Mount Guyot is the second highest peak in the Smoky Mountains and the fourth highest peak in the Eastern United States. Its elevation is 6,621 feet. This peak is pretty isolated and has rough terrain, so it’s not very popular. There is no direct route to hike to the top of Mount Guyot. If you want to reach this summit, you’ll need to take the Maddron Bald Trail to the Appalachian Trail, which will travel up the slopes of Mount Guyot. Instead of taking you to the peak of Mount Guyot, it will take you to the summit of Old Black. You can then continue to the summit of Mount Guyot, but it will take some bushwacking skills as there is no trail.
3. Mount LeConte
The third highest peak in the Smoky Mountains is Mount LeConte at 6,593 feet. This is also the highest peak that’s completely within the state of Tennessee. Mount LeConte is one of the most well-known peaks in the Smokies, and it’s one that is sought out by many avid hikers. When you reach the summit of Mount LeConte, you’ll experience some of the best views in the national park. You will also find the LeConte Lodge where hikers may spend the night before heading back down. There are five major hiking trails that reach the summit of Mount LeConte, the most popular of which are Alum Cave Trail and Rainbow Falls Trail.
4. Mount Buckley
Mount Buckley is the fourth highest peak in the Smoky Mountains with an elevation of 6,580 feet. This is one of the subpeaks of the Clingmans Dome ridge-crest. Because Mount Buckley is so close to Clingmans Dome, it has become a popular destination as well. You can get to Mount Buckley from the summit of Clingmans Dome via the Appalachian Trail. It’s also accessible from the Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail that leaves from the Clingmans Dome parking lot and connects to the Appalachian Trail. This trail is a 1.7 mile loop that’s considered moderate in difficulty. You’ll be able to take in some breathtaking views when you reach the peak of Mount Buckley!
5. Mount Love
The fifth highest peak in the Smoky Mountains is Mount Love. Its elevation is 6,420 feet. This is another summit that hikers can reach from the Appalachian Trail and is also near Clingmans Dome. Mount Love is heavily covered by forest, so it doesn’t offer many clear views. However, you can still see some pretty great sights of the surrounding mountains and terrain through the trees. There are a few different ways to reach the peak of Mount Love. The shortest and most common route is hiking the Appalachian Trail northeast from the summit of Clingmans Dome. The most direct route is taking the Appalachian Trail west from Mount Collins or Newfound Gap, but that is a much longer hike.
Explore More of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
These are the highest peaks in the Smoky Mountains that you can explore to feel on top of the world. There are a number of other great hikes that offer breathtaking mountain views, too. Check out this list of hiking trails with the best mountain views that you should explore next!
