Getting Away from it All on Mt Le Conte

This has been such a tough year for everyone and perhaps you really just want to get away from everything – even for a short time. In this blog post, we are going to visit one of our favorite get-away spots –Le Conte Lodge located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The rustic lodge is located at the top of Mt. Le Conte. At 6593 feet, Mt. Le Conte is the 6th highest peak in the entire Appalachian range, and when you are there, you really feel like you are at the top of the world! You can elect to spend one or more nights at the lodge, or you can even hike up and back as a day trip. The key point is that the only way to get there is on foot. There are a number of hiking trails leading to the summit, but frankly, the hike up can be a little tough no matter what trail you choose. However, the gorgeous views all along the way, combined with the extraordinary serenity, make the hike totally worthwhile.

How to Get There

• Where Exactly is Le Conte Lodge?

Le Conte Lodge is located on the top of Mt. Le Conte within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, Tennessee. Some sixty percent of the U.S. population is within a one-day drive of the Smoky Mountains, but if you are unable to drive there, flying is a viable option. The closest airport to the national park is McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee. However, you could also choose to fly into Asheville, North Carolina, and depending on the trails you plan to hike, it could actually be a better choice. You will definitely want to rent a vehicle in order to get around the park and both airports are served by all the major rental companies.

• Logistics

As already mentioned, there are no roads to the lodge, so you will be hiking to the top. There are five trails that lead to the lodge, and each has its own pros and cons. We recommend hiking one trail up and selecting another for the trip back down. That way you can will get a chance to take in some different views and sites on each hike. The map below shows each of the trails that we will discuss below.

o Alum Cave Trail – The Alum Cave trail is the shortest way to the top, but it is also quite steep. The trail is about 5.5 miles in length, gains nearly 2800 feet of elevation and is uphill all the way to the top. Although this is a steep trail, it is our preferred way up since, at least for us, takes the shortest amount of time. Also, it is the quickest way to descend, since it is downhill all the way. About half way up the trail you will reach Alum Cave and just hiking up to this point and back makes for a nice day hike. Once you pass Alum Cave though, the trail gets noticeably steeper and remains so for the rest of the way to top.

o The Boulevard Trail – The Boulevard Trail is a longer trail at 8 miles in length and climbing nearly 1100 feet. The Boulevard is sometimes assumed to be the easiest trail, but keep in mind that it is longer than the other trails and the final climb to the top is very steep. This trail will ascend and descend several times before the final climb. That said, the views along the way are gorgeous. And, if you are up for lengthening your hike, there are some side trails leading to lookout points with long range views.

o Trillium Gap Trail – Named for the lovely trillium flower (pictured right) that is so abundant in spring, the Trillium Gap Trail is 6.5 miles in length and rises 3300 feet. One of the highlights of hike up is the 25-foot Grotto Falls. You can actually walk behind the falls, and because Grotto Falls is only about 1.5 miles from the trailhead, it can be a popular spot during peak seasons.

One of the interesting things about this trail is the fact that 3 days per week, the Le Conte Lodge llamas make their way up the trail with supplies for the lodge. It’s always fun to see them, but you will need to ‘watch your step’ on the trail.

TIP: A 2-year trail improvement project is about to be completed on the Trillium Trail in November, 2020. So, although we have not had an opportunity to see the improvements, you can rest assured this trail will be in prime condition should you elect to take it.

o Rainbow Falls Trail – The Rainbow Falls Trail is just about as long as the Trillium Gap trail, but it is, on average, even steeper. The trail gains 3800 feet and at 6.5 miles in length, its quite a workout. The trail is a little more shaded than others, making it cooler in summer and potentially icier in the colder months of the year.

At just under 2.5 miles into the hike, you will reach beautiful Rainbow Falls. This 80-foot waterfall is the highest single-drop fall in the national park, and on sunny days, the spray from the fall produces a visible rainbow affect.

o Bullhead Trail – The Bullhead Trail begins at the Rainbow Falls trailhead, and is 7.2 miles in length with a rise of 3800 feet. Unfortunately, portions of the trail were significantly impacted by devastating wildfires that swept the area in 2016. However, because of these fires, the trail is now much more open and offers amazing long-distance views. Since both the Rainbow Falls and Bullhead trails start from the same point, taking one trail up to the lodge and the other back down, would make a great option for your hike.

TIP: You may wish to hike one of the five trails up and another trail back down. However, to do so, you will need to leave a vehicle at your starting point and another one at your ending point. Obviously, the logistics could be a problem. We recommend contacting A Walk in the Woods, a wonderful tour company that can provide drop-off and/or pickup services at reasonable prices. (Unfortunately at the the time of this article, their drop-off/pick-up service has been temporarily suspended due to the pandemic.) They also offer all sorts of other services, including personal guides, if you do not want to hike alone.

The Lodge Experience

What is it like to stay at Le Conte Lodge? Well, in a word, rustic. Le Conte Lodge is not a fancy or luxurious place. First, the bad news. There is no electricity, no private bathrooms in the cabins and no showers. I know, some of you may have just stopped reading at this point. But I promise you that for whatever it lacks in these creature comforts, the good news is that it more than makes up for them in terms of its simplicity, hospitality, and total serenity.

When you arrive at the lodge you will check in at the lodge office. There are 3 very large cabins available for big parties, but most folks will be staying in small cabins that house from 1 to 5 people. You will only be sharing space with people from your own party.

All meals are served family style in the dining hall. Since the lodge can accommodate up to 60 people, you and your party will likely be seated with other folks for meals.

TIP: Our experiences and the information we are sharing are from prior to the advent of COVID-19. The lodge opened later than normal in 2020 due to the virus, but has been welcoming visitors since May. The lodge has put in place appropriate measures to keep parties separated and to prevent the spread of the virus. If you have specific concerns, they prefer that you contact them with your questions.

• The Cabins

Most of the available cabins are small and sleep from 1 to 5 people. Each cabin has 2 very comfortable, double-sized, bunk beds (3 cabins also have an additional single bed), a small table with a mirror, kerosene lantern, built-in propane heaters, wash basin, fresh linens and wonderfully warm wool blankets. All of the cabins have porches with rocking chairs where you can chat, read a book or just relax in total silence and serenity.

The cabins are small, but very comfortable. But keep in mind, you are really not going to spend too much time in your cabin. You will likely want to spend most of your time outside, hiking and enjoying the spectacular views.

• The Food

As mentioned, all meals are served in a common dining room, and both dinner and breakfast are included as part of your stay. Most folks only spend one night at the lodge and get to enjoy dinner on the day of arrival. In our experience, the lodge offers one of two different meals each evening. One night, beef tips are served and the next night chicken and dumplings are provided. A hearty breakfast is also included with your stay and eggs, breakfast meat, biscuits and pancakes are usually offered.

If you stay at the lodge for more than one night, lunch is also included. You can choose to have lunch in the dining room or enjoy a packed lunch if you are planning to spend the day away from the lodge.

• What to Know Before You Go

There are a few things you should keep in mind before you head to the lodge.

Remember, you may be spending the better part of a day hiking just to get to the lodge. Make sure you are prepared for a long hike by wearing proper hiking shoes or boots, bringing appropriate clothing such as rain gear, hats, gloves and jackets, and carrying plenty of water and snacks. Potable water is available at the lodge, so be sure to bring a refillable water bottle.

Speaking of snacks, the lodge provides plenty of food, so we recommend bringing only what you need for the hike up and back. Once you arrive at the lodge, you will not be able to keep those snacks inside your cabin. Believe it or not, bears can detect those snacks even inside your cabin. So, to prevent attracting bears to your cabin, you are asked to place your snacks inside a resealable bag with your name on it. The snacks are stored inside the main lodge building, within another large closed container. Don’t worry though, that building is accessible 24 hours per day, so you will always be able to access your goodies.

You should also be aware that it is very dark at the lodge. That fact makes it a wonderful place to star gaze, but the darkness also makes it a little tricky to maneuver around outside your cabin. So, be sure that you bring along a flashlight for every person in your party. Headlamps work well too.

While there are no showers at the lodge, hot water is available. If you bring along a little soap, wash cloth, small towel, etc. you can use a wash basin to at least clean up each day.

• What You Will Need to Pack

We recommend traveling as light as you can. After our first trip, we cut back on the things we brought on future trips. Now, we only bring along a small backpack with the following items:

o Washcloth, small towel and small amount of body soap
o Toothbrush and toothpaste
o Sunscreen and lip balm
o Deodorant
o Hand sanitizer and/or alcohol wipes
o Flashlight and/or headlamp for each person
o Change of clothes
o Jacket, hats and gloves as appropriate for the weather, including rain gear
o Snacks.

TIPS: In addition to a flashlight, we like to bring along a small clip on book light. The provided kerosene lantern works just fine to provide light within the cabin, but to us, it’s a lot easier to use one of these little battery- operated lights.

• Reservations

Reservations opened for the 2021 season on October 1, 2020. Reservations typically fill up very quickly. However, cancellations occur frequently throughout the year. If you can be a little flexible in your plans, you can always add your name to a Wait List. You can also follow the Le Conte Lodge on Twitter, where they announce cancelations. We have been able to snag a spot using this method.

• Best Time to Visit

Le Conte Lodge is typically open from sometime in late March to sometime around Thanksgiving in November. We have visited the lodge during times of snow and ice and also during warmer weather. Frankly, our preference is to hike up during the cooler months of the year. We like the lower temperatures and the open views available while the foliage is off the trees. However, that is just a personal preference and if you do not want to deal with the possibility of snow and ice, then by all means opt for the summer months. Because of its high elevation, it is never really ‘hot’ at the top!

TIP: Keep in mind that weather on the mountain changes very quickly and can be quite different than the weather at the trailheads. Be prepared to encounter rain, fog and cool temperatures anytime of year. Snow and ice can occur somewhat unexpectedly in spring and fall. Also be aware of road conditions since the road that runs through the park can close during bad winter weather.

• Things to Do and See

The things to see on the hikes to and from the lodge are dependent on the trails that you decide to take. In the section above that describes each of the trails, click on the links for each trail and you will get all those details.

Once you are at the top though, there are a few things not to miss.

o The Llamas – Three days per week (typically Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) the llamas make the trip up to the lodge to bring in provisions. They spend some time at the lodge resting and eating before making the trek back down the mountain. While they are at the lodge, you can interact with them and even feed them some special ‘cookies’ made just for them. We never miss a chance to visit with them!

o Cliff Tops – After dinner make the short hike to the Cliff Tops to take in the beautiful sunset. If the weather is clear you will also be able to see Newfound Gap, Chimney Tops and the lights of Gatlinburg.

o Myrtle Point – Get an early start to your day and make the 1-mile hike to Myrtle Point to watch an amazing sun rise. Even if you do not make it there for sunrise, hike there at some point during your stay.  The views are gorgeous any time of day and its a great place to relax for a short snooze!

o Hike – You can hike all over the top of Le Conte or hike down any of the five named trails we discussed earlier. But remember, once you go down any of those trails, you will have to make the climb back up to the lodge. After the initial climb to get to the lodge, we prefer just to stay there and not make another strenuous hike – but that’s just us. Many folks love to explore as many trails as possible during their stay.

TIP: Even if you cannot overnight at the lodge, anyone can hike up to the lodge as a day trip. You can even make arrangements to purchase a packed lunch from the lodge. Due to COVID restrictions though, you will not be able to eat in the dining room.

There you have it, friends. We hope this post has piqued your interest in a stay at the Le Conte Lodge. If you don’t mind ‘roughing it’ just a little, we think you will love the lodge experience. Even if you do not stay at the lodge, the hiking in this area of the Smoky Mountain park is amazing and well worth a visit, just about any time of the year.

Until next time, safe travels!