The mountain pass on the Tennessee–North Carolina border that is a popular Appalachian Trail stop is Newfound Gap.
At 5,048 feet (1,539 meters), Newfound Gap is the lowest drivable pass through the Great Smoky Mountains. The state line runs directly across it, as does Newfound Gap Road, which connects Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with Cherokee, North Carolina. The pass lies within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Appalachian Trail crosses the gap, making it one of the trail’s most accessible landmarks. Hikers can reach it by road, and the nearby Rockefeller Memorial marks the trail crossing. The gap is also a popular viewpoint and a common starting point for short hikes toward Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Smokies.
A common mix-up is confusing the pass with Clingmans Dome, which is a mountain summit, or with Charlies Bunion, a rocky overlook along the Appalachian Trail. Alum Cave is a trail destination and geological feature, not the border pass itself.