Hike Andrews Bald Trail for the Spectacular Views!

View of the Great Smoky Mountains from Andrews Bald under a blue sky filled with puffy clouds

Andrews Bald has some of the best views in the entire Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which makes sense since the hike there begins at the highest point in the park. Though the trail is rocky, and the return walk from Andrews Bald is a relentless climb, this hike is worth it!

Keep reading to decide if this trail is for you…

Published November 19, 2024

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Where is Andrews Bald?

The Andrews Bald trailhead is at Kuwohi (formerly known as Clingman’s Dome). Just drive down (or up) Newfound Gap Road/US Highway 441 and turn onto Kuwohi Road/Clingmans Dome Road. You will dead end into the parking area.

The trailhead is easy to miss – we’ve walked past it several times without ever seeing it. After parking, walk past the vault toilets towards the Visitor Center and the trailhead for Kuwohi Tower (just follow the crowd). You will see a large rock formation on your right, probably with children climbing on it. Walk just past the rock formation and look to your left. You will see a set of steps leading down.

This is the way.

Clickable box that connects to Google Maps

Pro Tips…

  • Kuwohi Road is closed from December 1 to March 31 every year due to hazardous driving conditions. However, you can hike or snowshoe on the road to Kuwohi!
  • Though entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is free, a parking pass is required of anyone who intends to park anywhere in the park for longer than 15 minutes. Since it takes longer than that to hike to Andrews Bald, you’ll need a parking pass. You may purchase a parking pass at the automated machines found in the parking area or in the visitor center. Or you may purchase them online at www.recreation.gov.
  • It is not unusual for traffic to back up for up to a mile before you enter the parking lot. Be patient. Also, though the parking area is large, it is usually quite crowded. Be prepared to circle it once or twice until a parking space opens up.
  • The views from Kuwohi Observation Tower are the best in the park. We encourage you to take the time to walk to the tower. Note: It’s short, but STEEP!
  • The views from the parking lot aren’t too shabby, either!
The view of the mountains from the Kuwohi parking area. The sun is shining through the haze and whispy clouds

Andrews Bald Trail

Technically, there is no Andrews Bald Trail. Andrews Bald is on the Forney Ridge Trail. The hike to Andrews Bald is 3.6 miles out and back and is rated “Moderate” by AllTrails. (More accurately, the “out” section of the trail is mostly downhill and easy, while the “back” section of the trail is all uphill and fairly difficult. So I guess this averages out to “Moderate”.)

Trail sign for Forney Ridge Trail

Forney Ridge Trail is downhill almost all the way to Andrews Bald. It begins with a series of stairs, and then more stairs, and then some more stairs. Much of the trail is very rocky.

Steps leading down between large boulders. Mary Ellen is peaking out from behind a boulder
Stone steps on the leaf-covered Forney Ridge Trail to Andrews Bald

As you get closer to Andrews Bald, the trail levels out a bit. You will find yourself surrounded by spruce and fir – you can even smell the evergreen scent of the trees. You’ll also begin to notice patches of green mountain fern moss (appropriately named because it’s a moss that looks like a fern).

Forney Ridge Trail surrounded by trees
Very green patch of mountain fern moss

You’re almost there! You’ll soon see a trail sign declaring Andrews Bald is only 500′ ahead. Follow the boardwalk you will arrive at your destination!

Trail sign reading, "Scenic View 500 ft - Andrews Bald"
A narrow boardwalk leading to Andrews Bald

Pro Tip

  • Take plenty of water on this hike!
  • We highly recommend hiking boots. This is a very rocky trail, and wearing sandals or casual shoes can injure your toes and/or feet.
  • Hiking poles would probably be helpful, as well.

Andrews Bald

To be honest, I was surprised by Andrews Bald – it was not what I expected. I had envisioned a small rock ledge with a precipitous drop on all sides. I should have known better – by definition, a “bald” is a treeless mountaintop or area near the top – and that’s what Andrews Bald is.

When you step off the boardwalk, you will enter a large, open, grassy, slightly sloping area with 180-degree views of the Smoky Mountains. When we arrived, several people were already there—singles, families, couples—spread out around the bald. Some were talking, others were sitting quietly, at least one was journaling, and some were even napping.

Hikers at Andrews Bald, a large, open, grassy area with spectacular views of the Smoky Mountains

The views from the bald are just breathtaking. Since you are in the highest section of the park, you will actually be looking down on the mountains around you.

The Smoky Mountains under a blue sky filled with puffy clouds, as seen from Andrews Bald

Pro Tip

  • Many people hike to Andrews Bald to sit and think, journal, or just be still. It’s a quiet place. Please respect people’s privacy and try not to make too much noise.
  • Don’t forget to bring your camera! And a pair of binoculars, if you have them.
  • Eat a snack, drink some water, and rest for a bit. The hike back up the mountain to the trailhead is no joke!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What other trails are near Andrews Bald?
    • Of course, the Kuwohi (Clingmans Dome) Observation Tower trail is just steps past the Andrews Bald trailhead.
    • The Spruce-Fir Nature Trail is just down Kuwohi Road from the Kuwohi parking lot. The short, easy trail winds through a forest of evergreens and large ferns.
    • The Bypass Trail (also known as the Kuwohi Bypass Trail or Clingmans Dome Bypass Trail) begins a short distance down the Forney Ridge Trail. It parallels the trail up to Kuwohi Observation Tower before connecting to the Appalachian Trail.
  • Is the trail to Andrews Bald kid-friendly? At the risk of sounding snarky, it depends on the kid. When we arrived at Andrews Bald, there were kids there, and they seemed fine. On the other hand, we also saw parents carrying their exhausted children back up the trail.
  • Is Andrews Bald worth the time and effort? This trail wore me out, but the views from the bald are absolutely worth the effort.

The Wrap –

A picture is worth a thousand words, right?

The Smoky Mountains under a blue sky filled with puffy clouds, as seen from Andrews Bald

Happy Hiking!

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Jeff Powell

Jeff Powell is the Creator/CEO of two blogs - National Park Ventures and Smoky Mountains Ventures. He and his wife Mary Ellen are on a venture to visit every national park in the United States and share what they experience with their readers. Their goal is to help their readers "supersize" their own national park ventures.

Jeff and Mary Ellen have been married for 35 years. They have two sons, two grandkids, and two dogs. They live in a cabin in the mountains outside of Blue Ridge, GA.