Forney Ridge Trail to Clingmans Dome Loop is a 4.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Bryson City, North Carolina that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until November.
Took the regular track up and then walked Appalachian trail to Forney trail down. It was a day after the rain so some parts pf Forney trail were wet and slippery. The trail os also pretty narrow and steep at places. Overall took about 45 mins from top to parking lot with 9year old kids. Overall, great views from both, Appalachia and Forney trail.
Beautiful. Pines smelled great. Lots of traffic getting to the trailhead, but thinned our after that.
Fun hike back in July. Made it to the top of Clingman’s Dome before the mist rolled in. Hiked in the area and the mists moved on as I drove down. Some stunning pull-outs to stop and take pictures on the way down the mountain. A baby bear popped it’s head up over the edge and one of the pull-outs.
Foggy, so the views were nonexistent, but still a fun little hike with the family.
The trail to the bald was pretty crowded, and unfortunately the bald was all clouds when we got there. Nice views above the clouds at the top of Clingmans Dome. Go early to try to beat the crowds and do the top of the Done first!
It was a relief to escape the tourist hordes struggling up the paved trail to Clingmans Dome, and take the left turn onto the AT. The trail West along the ridge was delightful, and the sharp left onto the Fourney Ridge trail was well-marked, as was the whole thing. We passed several other parties on the trail but everyone was good about stepping off to keep social distance, and the groups were well spread out when enjoying lunch and the view at Andrews Bald. A great morning out on a really nice trail.
7/26/20. Great, easy hike up to Mouse Falls with several swimming holes along the way. The midnight hole at 1.5 miles is beautiful but had about 75 people hanging out in a very small space aka COVID central. Recommend going past midnight hole to one of the many other swimming holes on the way up to the falls.
We hiked down this trail on our way down from Clingmans Dome and it was gorgeous! The views were amazing and the smell of the fir and spruce trees were wonderful. It smelled like Christmas!! It was rocky at some points but with care, it’s not a big deal. I highly recommend taking this trail at least either up to or from Clingmans Dome. The paved walk to Clingmans Dome is so bland.
This is a good option if you want more than the half mile walk up to Clingmans Dome. Once you walk up to the dome, you can take the Appalachian Trail to the Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail and continue on to Andrew's Bald. We did this on a foggy day, but the trek to the bald was still worth it.
From parking lot at Clingmans Dome, take Forney Ridge Trail .1 mile to "T" in trail, take a right at sign, go .5 miles to AT. Then another right for .3 mile to Dome trail just a 100 foot or so from Dome base. I added a bit more at the AT by taking a left to go to Mt Buckley about a .1 mile west.