One of the most well-known mountains in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Mount LeConte. It is the third-highest mountain in the state of Tennessee and it is very popular with hikers because of its easy proximity to Gatlinburg, TN, where you can find the entrance to the Park.
The mountain itself actually has four peaks on it that are above the 6,000 foot level. The mountain is generally referred to as the LeConte massif - which means the main mass of the mountain. The four peaks are called High Top (6,593 ft.), Cliff Tops (6,555 ft.), West Point (6,344 ft.), and Myrtle Point (6,200 ft.).
Because of the height of Mount LeConte, the scenery from the top is incredible. Several features on the way to the top are well worth seeing.
The shortest trail, which is also considered by some to be the most scenic, is the Alum Cave Trail. This Trail is 5.5 miles to the top, and a round trip of 11 miles. On the way, you can see points of interest like the Arch Rock, the Alum Cave, which is more of an overhang than a real cave, Inspiration Point, and the Eye of the Needle, which is a naturally carved hole in the top of a nearby ridge.
Other trails will also lead to the top and each one has unique features. The Boulevard Trail is about 5.4 miles long. If you like to hike in solitude, the Bullhead Trail is the one you want, and it is about 6.9 miles long. The Rainbow Falls Trail will take you to the Falls, which is the highest water in the Park. Finally, the Trillium Gap Trail is 8.9 miles long, and it is the trail the llamas take when bringing supplies to the Lodge. It also has the only horse trail on the mountain.
The Mount LeConte Lodge near the top also provides a great way to stay overnight in a very rustic setting. This lodge is the highest place providing lodging in the entire eastern US. It has seven rough cabins that can sleep up to a total of 60 people. The cabins have one to three bedrooms and can sleep up to 13 people each. This place is greatly in demand and it is possible that you may have to book a reservation more than a year in advance.
Getting up to the top of Mount LeConte gives the hiker several options. Hiking is the only way to the top. Supplies to the Lodge have to be brought in three times a week by llamas, or by helicopter. Only the main office building of the Lodge has running water. Each cabin is provided with a bowl of water for washing, and there is no electricity. A public toilet does have running water - but no showers.
The temperature on LeConte Mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is such that you will need to consider preparing for it. It is comparable to that of southern Canada. Although the high temperature has on occasion reached 80 degrees, it has never been higher than that. On a summer's night, though, it is possible that it could get down into the 30's. Snow can be expected from October through May, and may be as deep as 71 inches at the top.
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