Andrews Bald

Andrews Bald is a beautiful high-elevation grassy meadow — a ‘bald’ — perched near 5,800 feet on Forney Ridge, just below Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on the Tennessee–North Carolina line. One of the highest balds in the Smokies, its open, sunny expanse offers sweeping views over the surrounding mountains, a rare opening in the otherwise dense forest of the high country.

Reached by the roughly 3.5-mile round-trip Forney Ridge Trail from the Clingmans Dome parking area, Andrews Bald is a rewarding, moderately strenuous hike that descends through spruce-fir forest to the open meadow. In early summer the bald blazes with the orange of flame azaleas and the pink of Catawba rhododendron. The grassy clearing, framed by mountains and dotted with wildflowers, is a favorite spot to picnic, take in the views, and enjoy the unique beauty of a southern Appalachian bald.

Andrews Bald is reached by the roughly 3.5-mile round-trip Forney Ridge Trail from the Clingmans Dome parking area, descending through spruce-fir forest to the open grassy meadow. Hiking, picnicking, photography, and taking in the sweeping mountain views and the early-summer flame azaleas and rhododendron are the draws. The high, open bald, a rare clearing in the forested high country, is a rewarding, moderately strenuous hike and a beloved destination near the summit of Clingmans Dome.

Early summer (June) is the highlight, when the bald blazes with orange flame azaleas and pink Catawba rhododendron and the views are clear. Summer brings lush green and wildflowers, fall crisp air and color. The Clingmans Dome access road closes in winter, making the bald a long, snowy trek for the prepared only. Clear days reward the open meadow with sweeping views; the azalea bloom is a particularly magical time to visit.

Andrews Bald, like the other grassy balds of the southern Appalachians, has a debated origin — possibly cleared by grazing, fire or natural causes — and was used for summer cattle grazing before the park. Named for an early herder, the bald and the surrounding forest are part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dedicated in 1940. The park now manages the bald to keep it open, preserving the rare grassy meadow and its sweeping views in the high country.

Andrews Bald sits near 5,800 feet on Forney Ridge, on the high crest of the ancient Smokies, built of Precambrian metamorphic rock uplifted hundreds of millions of years ago and worn into the rounded high country. The bald is a grassy opening in the spruce-fir forest, its origin partly a mystery, set on the broad, high ridge near the highest peaks of the park. The open meadow offers a rare clear view over the surrounding ancient mountains.

The high spruce-fir forest and the open bald shelter black bear, white-tailed deer, and an exceptional diversity of birds and salamanders, with the meadow attracting butterflies and pollinators to its wildflowers and azaleas. The high country hosts northern species rare this far south, part of the Smokies’ extraordinary biodiversity as an International Biosphere Reserve. The mix of forest and open bald makes the area excellent for wildlife and bird watching.

Andrews Bald is a southern Appalachian grassy bald — a rare, open meadow ecosystem in the high country, surrounded by the imperiled spruce-fir cloud forest of the Ice Age. The park actively manages the bald to keep it open, preserving its unique grassland plants, flame azaleas and rhododendron, and the habitat they provide. Set within the most biodiverse national park in America, the bald is an ecologically distinctive and globally significant high-elevation feature.

Andrews Bald, with its sweeping views, its early-summer blaze of flame azaleas and rhododendron, and its rare open grassy expanse high in the Smokies, is a beloved destination for hikers seeking the unique beauty of a southern Appalachian bald. Near the summit of Clingmans Dome, the bald embodies the special character of the high country of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, drawing visitors to its open meadow and mountain panoramas.

Andrews Bald is reached by the roughly 3.5-mile round-trip Forney Ridge Trail from the Clingmans Dome parking area, at the end of the seven-mile Clingmans Dome Road off Newfound Gap Road. The road is typically open April through November and closed in winter. There is no entrance fee, though a parking tag is required. The trail is rocky and moderately strenuous, descending then climbing back. Check the National Park Service for the seasonal road status and parking-tag requirements.

The National Park Service actively manages Andrews Bald to keep the rare grassy meadow open, preserving its unique plants and views amid the high-country forest, and protects the surrounding imperiled spruce-fir ecosystem. Visitors help by staying on the trail and not trampling the fragile bald vegetation, packing out everything, keeping a safe distance from bears, and respecting the high country. Protecting the bald and the high forest is central to the park’s mission as a biodiversity stronghold.

At nearly 5,800 feet, Andrews Bald is far cooler and more exposed than the lowlands — bring layers, as weather and storms change fast. The Forney Ridge Trail is rocky and moderately strenuous; wear sturdy shoes and carry water. The Clingmans Dome access road closes in winter, making the bald a long, snowy trek for the prepared only. This is bear country, so store food and keep your distance from wildlife.

No entrance fee, but a parking tag is required. Stay on the trail to protect the fragile bald and high-country vegetation; the Clingmans Dome Road is seasonal. Never feed or approach wildlife — keep 50 yards from bears. Pets are not allowed on the trail. Collecting and drones are prohibited. Pack out all trash. Check the National Park Service for current road status and parking-tag requirements before hiking.

Clingmans Dome — the highest point in the park — lies at the trailhead, with the Appalachian Trail and the high crest of the Smokies all close. Newfound Gap, the gateway town of Gatlinburg, the Sugarlands Visitor Center, and the waterfalls and high country of the park are within reach, while Cherokee and the North Carolina side lie across the crest, making Andrews Bald a rewarding addition to a high-country Smokies visit.

Hike to Andrews Bald from the Clingmans Dome parking area — time it for the early-summer flame azalea and rhododendron bloom, and bring layers for the cool, exposed high country. Pack a picnic to enjoy in the open meadow with its sweeping views, wear sturdy shoes for the rocky trail, and carry water. Check that the seasonal Clingmans Dome Road is open, secure a parking tag, and pair it with the summit of Clingmans Dome.