Just mere steps from Kuwohi in the Smokies is an epic trail that so many people skip: Forney Ridge to Andrews Bald.
Nearly 800,000 people drive to Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) every year, but since most have their eyes set on the tallest peak in the Smokies, its picturesque neighbor often gets overlooked.
In this guide, I’m going to tell you all about Andrews Bald in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Aside from exactly how to get there and what to expect along the route, I’ll share important road closure info, things to do nearby, and more!
You won’t want to miss this underrated hike near Kuwohi.
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GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE
Before diving in, here are a few highlights for planning a trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Getting There: The closest airport to Great Smoky Mountains is McGhee Tyson, which is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the Sugarlands Visitor Center. Find affordable flights here.
- Entrance Fee: No entrance fee but you do have to purchase and display a parking pass.
- Where to Stay: Camp in the park or stay right outside the park in the town of Gatlinburg, Townsend, or Cherokee. Read my Where to Stay guide here!
- How to Get Around: You’ll need to rent a personal vehicle to get around the Smokies.
- Best Time to Visit: March – October
- How Long to Visit: 3-5 days
Andrews Bald: An Underrated Hike Near Kuwohi
What Is Andrews Bald?
5,906 feet in elevation, Andrews is the highest bald in the Smokies.
A bald is a mountain summit with an open meadow that, ecologically, should have trees and heavy forest growth, but instead, just has short grasses or shrubs.
Without the tall, thick forest growth at the bald, hikers are blessed with a rare, open view of the surrounding peaks and valleys.
Where Is Andrews Bald?
Andrews Bald is located off the Forney Ridge Trail. Trailhead access is at the end of Clingmans Dome Road.
Parking Information & Fees
Parking is located at the end of Clingmans Dome Road.
From Newfound Gap Road (US Highway 441), turn onto Clingmans Dome Road, drive 7 miles to the end of the road, and park in the large lot.
There’s parking for around 150 vehicles. The lot fills up quickly, especially on weekends during the summer.
Parking Tag
To park at Kuwohi (or anywhere in Great Smoky Mountains National Park), you need to display a parking tag on your vehicle’s dashboard.
You can conveniently purchase a pass directly at the Kuwohi Visitor Center during business hours or at the 24-hour self-kiosks near the parking lot.
You can read my full guide on the Smokies parking tag program here.
Dogs
Dogs are not allowed on the Forney Ridge Trail OR Kuwohi Observation Tower Trail!
Dogs are only allowed on two hiking trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: the Gatlinburg Trail (located behind the Sugarlands Visitor Center) and the Oconaluftee River Trail (located behind the Oconaluftee Visitor Center).
If you’re looking for dog-friendly things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, check out my guide!
Psssssst: Kuwohi is the *new* name for Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Smokies.
When to Hike to Andrews Bald (+ Important Road Closure!)
The road to Kuwohi closes every year from December through March. Exact dates will vary slightly year by year, depending on snowfall and conditions. You can check current road conditions and closures here.
Since the road to Kuwohi is closed in the winter, the Forney Ridge Trail and Andrews Bald are only easily accessible from around April through November. If you’d prefer to park at Newfound Gap and hike/snowshoe the 7-mile Clingmans Dome Road to get to the trailhead, you could technically access the trail year-round this way. However, I wouldn’t recommend this. This would be a very strenuous ~18-mile day hike.
Since Andrews Bald sits just under 6,000 feet of elevation (after all, it is near Kuwohi, the tallest peak in the Smokies), the temperatures will be much colder up there than near Gatlinburg. It’s not uncommon for Andrews Bald to be 30 degrees cooler than the base of the mountain.
I’d recommend hiking to Andrews Bald from May through September. Daytime temperatures are usually in the 60s during this time of year. June is my favorite month to hike to Andrews Bald because the flame azaleas are at their peak.
For the best views, try to hike to Andrews Bald on a clear day! Though this can be hard to predict (mountain weather can change on a dime), I’d recommend checking the mountain forecast with this website.
Getting to the Trailhead
Once you’re parked at the Kuwohi lot, head toward the Kuwohi Visitor Center. Just before the building, beside the paved trail to the Kuwohi Observation Tower, look for a narrow unpaved path off to the left.
Look for the brown Forney Ridge Trail sign and descending wooden steps. (Refer to the pic above).
Forney Ridge to Andrews Bald Trail Description
- Length: 3.6 miles
- Elevation Gain: 875 feet
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Difficulty: Moderate
Find the Forney Ridge trailhead directly to the left of the Kuwohi Observation Tower Trail, near the parking area and Visitor Center.
The trail begins with an immediate descent into an old-growth forest. The terrain is rocky, and there are quite a bit of natural steps to help with the descent. Surrounded by moss and shaved tree mulch, the trail proves to be extremely interesting right away.
In about 0.1 miles, you’ll reach your first intersection (pictured below). Turn left to go to Andrews Bald. Going right will take you to the Kuwohi Bypass and Appalachian Trail.
For the next mile, you’ll be mostly descending. Trekking poles are super handy to have on this trail.
Once you reach the next intersection at the 1.1-mile marker, keep going straight toward Andrews Bald. Going right would take you on the Forney Creek Trail.
From this junction, you’ll begin a slight ascent.
The terrain is a mix of rock and mulch. There are many wooden planks and bridges built in this section of the trail. This is due to the amount of precipitation that this mountain receives. It can get extremely slippery and muddy (and snowy and slushy in the colder months). If you go in June like I did, you probably won’t have to worry about that.
With less than half of the trail remaining, you’ll notice a couple of small openings in the trees. These views are teasers for what’s about to come.
Once you reach the narrow boardwalk surrounded by grass (pictured below – left), you’re almost there! You’ll even see a sign just ahead proclaiming that the Andrews Bald viewpoint is about 500 feet ahead.
Gradually, the forest thins, and the path cut into the grassy meadow narrows.
It’s at this ridge, Andrews Bald, that you are treated to open views of the surrounding peaks. While some trees prevent a full panoramic view, you’re still blessed with amazing views. On a clear day, you can spot seemingly endless rolling peaks in the distance.
Take your time exploring the bald, snapping photos, and even having a snack or lunch on the summit before returning the way you came.
NOTE: The Forney Ridge Trail does continue past Andrews Bald, but this concludes the hike to Andrews Bald.
When you head back, you have a couple of options:
- You can retrace your steps back to the parking area.
- You can retrace your steps but instead of returning to the parking area, you can turn left at the Forney Ridge trailhead and take the steep ascent up to Kuwohi.
Since you’re in the area, you might as well see the panoramic view from the observation tower at Kuwohi, the tallest peak in the Smokies!
FAQs About Andrews Bald
How Difficult Is Andrews Bald?
The hike to Andrews Bald is moderate because even though it’s a pretty short trail (just 3.6 miles roundtrip), it’s got around 875 feet of elevation gain.
Don’t worry; it’s nothing too difficult though!
Does Andrews Bald Have a Better View Than Kuwohi?
Yes and no.
At Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome), you get that full 360-degree, panoramic view. Whereas on Andrews Bald, some trees partially obstruct the view, making it not a true panoramic view.
However, Andrews Bald is significantly less crowded than Kuwohi, so the experience is overall more enjoyable. You are sharing the view with much fewer people, and there’s more room to spread out on the Bald than on the Dome.
The view on Andrews Bald may not be 360, but it’s still spectacular! And if you go in June when the flame azaleas are popping, the views rival Kuwohi’s. In my opinion, of course!
Is Andrews Bald Open Year-Round?
Theoretically, you can hike the trail year-round, but you cannot access Clingmans Dome Road by vehicle from around December through March.
So if you wanted to hike to Andrews Bald in the winter, you’d have to add 14 miles roundtrip to your hike (7 miles each way on Clingmans Dome Road). This would be a very strenuous day hike, and I do not recommend it.
Is Andrews Bald Dog-Friendly?
No! Andrews Bald, Forney Ridge, and Kuwohi are not dog-friendly. Do not bring your dogs on these trails.
Dogs are not allowed on any hiking trail in the Smokies except the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
READ NEXT: 5 Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Great Smoky Mountains
When Do the Flame Azaleas Come Out on Andrews Bald?
The flame azaleas, shrubs with stunning fire-red blooms, peak in June on Andrews Bald! Usually around Father’s Day – mid to late June.
Leave No Trace
As always, respect the landscape by packing your trash out. NEVER litter.
Always follow these 7 Leave No Trace Principles:
- Plan Ahead & Prepare
- Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Others
Read more about Leave No Trace and how you can do your part to protect these natural spaces here.
Things to Do Near Andrews Bald
- Kuwohi. Since you’ll be right there, you might as well hike the 1-mile roundtrip trail to the highest peak in the Smokies.
- Newfound Gap. Just steps from the entrance to Clingmans Dome Road is a spectacular viewpoint at the North Carolina/Tennessee state line. At Newfound Gap, you can also hike part of the Appalachian Trail or trek to Charlies Bunion.
- Alum Cave/Mount LeConte. Just 4 miles from the entrance to Clingmans Dome Road is the trailhead for Alum Cave. This is a popular and easy hike to a recessed cave. You can also use this route to summit Mount LeConte, the third-highest peak in the Smokies.
Check out these other amazing trails in the Smokies
- Mount Cammerer
- Meigs Creek Trail (+ The Sinks!)
- Laurel Falls Trail
- Mount LeConte
- Mouse Creek Falls + Midnight Hole
- Spruce Flats Falls
READ NEXT: 8 Best EASY Trails in the Smokies
Plan Your Trip to the Smokies
No matter which season you’ll be visiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I’ve got guides to help you plan your trip!
- Smoky Mountains in the Winter
- Smoky Mountains in the Spring
- Smoky Mountains in the Summer
- Smoky Mountains in the Fall
READ NEXT: ULTIMATE Great Smoky Mountains Itinerary (From a Local!)
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Kayak to Burgess Falls
- Cummins Falls State Park
- Stinging Fork Falls
- Frozen Head State Park
- Rock Island State Park
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Dylan and I did Andrews Bald years ago for sunset and I loved it, but it was late Fall so there was few vegetation. I’d love to do it again when it’s lush and beautiful!
Ooh, I need to go hike it at sunset now!