Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in America. Millions travel through the park every year, but only a sliver of those guests truly experience the magic of the mountains—moments unlike any that can be found at an overlook, roadside, or even on a short trail. This kind of magic will leave you with a true sense of what life was once like before the park was established. That kind of beauty can only be found in a cliff-top sunset or a Myrtle Point sunrise. The warmth of that feeling can only be felt while standing on the porch of your LeConte Lodge cabin, sipping on hot chocolate and looking out over the hustle and bustle of the world below.
The LeConte Lodge is located on Mount LeConte, the third-highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The lodge can only be accessed by the following trails: Alum Cave Trail, Rainbow Falls Trail, Trillium Gap Trail, and Porter's Creek Trail. You can day hike to the LeConte Lodge year round, but to truly soak up the experience, an overnight stay is a must.
Hike up, get settled in your rustic yet cozy cabin, then say hello to the staff and grab a cup of coffee in the dining hall. You'll also find a delicious, family-style dinner and breakfast served there that's included in your stay. Catch the sunset with other guests on the cliff tops and then sleep cozily under the lodge's wool blankets. All rustic cabins are furnished with heat and oil lamps, the water isn't heated, and restroom facilites can be found in the nearby outhouse. These qualities only contribute to what is a very magical, unforgettable, and truly old-fashioned Smoky Mountain experience.
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- Rainbow Falls Trail restorations are complete. Rainbow Falls Trail is now open unless temporary closures are in place by the park.
- As of May 2019, trail crews will begin a restoration project on the Trillium Gap Trail. The trail will be fully closed on Monday - Thursday evenings and will be open Friday-Sunday.
All other trails to LeConte are open unless there is a temporary closure in place by the national park service due to weather or other incidents.
The note about Porter's Creek trail needs to be removed. That area of trails never closed and Porters Creek Trail, Brushy Mountain Trail and the upper portion of Trillium Gap weren't affected in any way by the fires of 2016. However, Bullhead Trail that was once a top route to the LeConte Lodge is still closed from the wildfire damage, at this time - there is no public info on when or if it will be reopened.
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