Places / Great Smoky Mountains
UV index at Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee and North Carolina
Check another placeLoading today’s UV…
- Low 0 to 2
- Moderate 3 to 5
- High 6 to 7
- Very high 8 to 10
- Extreme 11+
Hour-by-hour numbers
| Time | UV index | Level |
|---|
The next few days
Each day’s UV curve and peak, drawn on the same scale so you can compare. The forecast reaches roughly four days ahead.
What to do today
About Great Smoky Mountains
The Great Smoky Mountains rise from valleys at around 1,300 feet (400 m) at Gatlinburg to more than 6,600 feet at Clingmans Dome. It’s the most visited national park in the United States.
Elevation and your real UV
The forecast on this page covers the general area around Great Smoky Mountains. Weather models don’t resolve individual peaks and valleys, so treat it as the level of Gatlinburg (about 1,300 ft). The WHO says UV rises by 10% to 12% for every 1,000 metres you climb. Using that rule of thumb:
| Place | Elevation | Compared with baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg | 400 m (about 1,300 ft) | Baseline |
| Newfound Gap | 1,540 m (about 5,050 ft) | about 11% to 14% more UV |
| Mount LeConte | 2,010 m (about 6,600 ft) | about 16% to 19% more UV |
| Clingmans Dome | 2,025 m (6,643 ft) | about 16% to 20% more UV |
Read the peak UV from the chart above, then adjust it up for where you’ll actually be. There’s a worked example in UV at altitude, on snow and under clouds.
When UV is strongest here
Summers are humid and hazy, and cloud often sits on the ridges, but UV still comes through. Spring wildflowers and autumn colour are the busiest seasons, and snow can reach the high ridges in winter.
On the trail
Many of the trails run under a dense forest canopy, which gives welcome, but not complete, shade. Exposed spots include ridgelines such as Charlies Bunion, open overlooks and the observation tower at Clingmans Dome, where you climb well above the valley.
Sun protection tips for Great Smoky Mountains
- Don’t skip protection because you’re in the trees. Open overlooks and bare ridges are often where you stop and stay a while.
- Humid, sweaty hikes wear sunscreen off faster. Reapply at each rest stop.
- Haze and cloud scatter UV rather than block it. Check the chart, not the sky.
- At Clingmans Dome you’re more than 5,000 feet above the valley. Expect noticeably more UV than in Gatlinburg.
Similar places
Related guides
- What to Wear Hiking for Sun Protection: A Practical Guide
- UV at Altitude, Snow and Clouds: Why You Burn Faster
- When Is UV Strongest During the Day? Best Times to Hike
Elevations are rounded published figures. UV forecasts are model estimates for the area and can differ from what you experience on the ground. This is general information about sun safety and isn’t medical advice. Last updated September 20, 2026.