LOWA Renegade EVO GTX MidGORE-TEX, 3 widths, resolableCheck price on Amazon →
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Black Diamond Spot 400-Rrechargeable, comfortableCheck price on Amazon →Andrews Bald is the highest grassy bald in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 5,920 feet, and what makes it unusual among Smokies hikes is that the trail descends to get there. You start at the Clingmans Dome parking area at 6,311 feet and drop down through spruce-fir forest to a wide open meadow — the return trip is the climb. That quirk catches some people off guard, but it means you’re strolling into an open sky meadow at the end of the downhill section and grinding the 400-foot gain back out on legs that are already warmed up.
The bald itself is a wide grassy clearing with unobstructed views in three directions — south over North Carolina toward the Nantahala National Forest, and east and west along the ridgeline. The meadow is maintained by the park service through grazing and mowing to prevent forest encroachment. In early June, rhododendron and flame azalea ring the edges of the clearing and the color is intense. The contrast between the deep green of the surrounding spruce-fir and the orange-red azalea blooms is something you don’t forget.
The trail follows the Forney Ridge Trail from the parking area. It’s well-maintained through old-growth spruce and fir, with some sections that were damaged in the 2016 wildfires now recovering. The forest floor in the high-elevation zones is carpeted with wood sorrel and fern in summer.
Moderate. Four miles round trip with the descent first means the climb is on tired legs, which pushes it past easy. The trail surface is rooted and rocky in sections. At nearly 6,000 feet the air is noticeably thinner, and the wind exposure on the bald can make it feel colder than the temperature suggests. Overall, it’s accessible — not a grunt, but not a walk in the park either.
First two weeks of June for the flame azalea bloom — this is the single best reason to do this trail and the timing is relatively predictable. October for clear-day views across the Tennessee Valley. The Clingmans Dome access road closes December 1 through March 31, so winter access requires a much longer approach. In late summer the bald is green and pleasant but the views are often hazy.
The trailhead is at the Clingmans Dome parking area, reached via the Clingmans Dome Road off Newfound Gap Road. The access road is closed in winter. About 62 miles from Asheville via I-40 and US-441. Large parking lot, vault toilets. The parking area also serves the Clingmans Dome observation tower hike — expect crowds on weekends. No fee for the parking area or trail. Cell service works in the lot, not on the trail. Cherokee, NC is 20 miles east for food and gas.
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