Alum Cave to Mount LeConte
Arch Rock, the Alum Cave Bluffs, and Mount LeConte with its historic summit lodge
The route
The line through Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, United States - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Season & conditions
Spring-fall (rhododendron bloom early summer; foliage in fall)
Smokies fog and rain, summer thunderstorms, winter ice up high
Best spring-fall; ice on the upper ledges in winter (the cables help). Confirm.
On the trail
Creek-side forest, Arch Rock, Alum Cave Bluffs, cabled ledges to the summit
Non-technical but rocky; cable-assisted ledges past Alum Cave Bluffs
Well-worn signed trail
Suitable for reasonably fit hikers; not wheelchair accessible - confirm specifics
Very popular Smokies classic
Turn around at Alum Cave Bluffs (~4.4 mi return) for a shorter classic
Getting there & staying
Alum Cave trailhead on Newfound Gap Rd
Out-and-back/loop - no shuttle needed
LeConte Lodge (rustic, reservation lottery) at the summit; otherwise a day hike
Day-hike kit, water, sun/rain protection, sturdy footwear; coverage varies
Services in Gatlinburg; limited or none on the trail
Not required; self-guided
Permits & safety
No entry fee (a parking tag is required for Great Smoky Mountains NP); LeConte Lodge overnights are a competitive lottery. Confirm.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Slick ledges/ice, storms, crowds, black bears
Retrace the route to exit; dial local emergency services; carry a means of calling for help where remote
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.