Kuwohi Trail
Kuwohi Trail: Replicate the end hike of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail with a lesser-known loop
The Kuwohi Observation Tower straddles the North Carolina-Tennessee line.
Distance: 1.6-mile loop
Difficulty: Moderate to moderately strenuous
With the April 2026 dedication of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail’s western terminus monument atop the Great Smokies’ highest peak (elevation: 6,643 feet), this premier state trail will attract even more renown—and end-to-end hikers—than ever before.
The MST western terminus marker
Luckily, you don’t have to tackle all 1,175 miles of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) to imagine setting out from Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) bound for Jockey’s Ridge State Park in the Outer Banks, where the trail’s eastern terminus sign sits below the East’s tallest sand dune. The experience can be replicated along a lesser-known loop that begins with a 0.6-mile trek from the parking lot to the peak. Pass the new stone marker, then continue to the accessible tower on Tennessee’s highest summit for a stunning view of the Smokies. Back at the marker, veer to the right, eastward along the MST and imagine you’re heading to the coast. In a few hundred feet, branch left onto the Appalachian Trail (AT) then left again in about 0.3 miles at the Kuwohi Bypass to descend back to your car, along the way soaking up the natural high-altitude trail experience.
For a more challenging route and truer sense of an MST hike, reverse course: Take the Kuwohi Bypass from the parking lot up through the evergreens, then go right on the AT. Turn onto the MST to arrive at the terminus marker and summit tower, soaking in the journey just like those who’ve journeyed west from the sea. You’ll then glide down the paved path, enjoying great views with every step. Alternatively, you could huff it up and back on the unpaved route to avoid crowds.
The Kuwohi Trail leading to the tower is paved but steep.
Navigate: From US 441/Newfound Gap Road, the parking area is 7 miles west along Kuwohi Road. You must display a parking tag ($5/day), which can be bought in the park or online (nps.gov/grsm). A tag doesn’t guarantee a parking space in this busy area, though, so arrive early and consider visiting midweek or off season.