Critics are quick to point out the park's accessibility from so many major cities.
The views of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and beyond are outstanding. On a clear day, the dome's observation tower offers a 360-degree panoramic view over 100 miles and into seven states. I estimate my view at less than half that distance. Still, the clouds and cold wind did not deter a large crowd armed with cameras from hiking up the half-mile promenade to witness the sunset. Watching the clouds over the colorful autumn treetops become etched in purples, pinks and yellows with a display like the churning of a large kaleidoscope, I marked Clingman's Dome as one reason for the park's immense popularity.