Hiking Alum Cave Trail With The Family
Alum Cave Trail is one of the iconic hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You will find spectacular vistas from the top of Mt LeConte, a cool “cave” (really Alum Cave is a giant bluff but still awesome), a tunnel, and fantastic views along the hike up, which is a rarity in the Smokies because most trails are so densely forested.
Taking Alum Cave Trail all the way to Mount LeConte is a strenuous hike (11 miles RT, +2700 ft elevation) and definitely not for every kid or every family but it is not as bad as its mileage or elevation gain might suggest.
You can also choose to hike just to Alum Cave (4.6 miles RT, +1100 ft elevation) for an easier but still gorgeous hike. Many people choose this option and skip going all the way up to the summit.
Regardless of whether you decide to hike all the way to the tippy top of Mount LecConte or just do part of the trail, take your time, have the right shoes, bring plenty of water, and above all, snacks/candy to dole out every mile, and Alum Cave Trail could be your family’s favorite memory from the Smokies.
Alum Cave isn’t really a cave but the kids won’t care. It is still pretty cool.
Can You Hike Alum Cave Trail With Kids?
Absolutely. This is a fun trail with lots to see and kids enjoy it. You don’t have to hike the whole trail all the way up Mount LeConte if your kids are young or are not experienced hikers. Just hike half of the trail, turning around once you reach Alum Cave where you can have a memorable picnic, perhaps splash around in Alum Cave Creek near the trailhead, and it will be a fantastic day out.
If you think you are ready to tackle the entire Alum Cave Trail all the way up to the summit of Mount LeConte, then read our tips below to make sure you are prepared and go for it. This is a strenuous hike but we have hiked it with our kids. Your kids should have a little bit of hiking history as I would not make hiking all the way to Mount LeConte their first experience.
If your family has beginner hikers, plan on only doing half of the trail and turn around when you reach Alum Cave. This is a decently long hike with some climbing and the kids will still feel a sense of accomplishment when they reach the cave.
Know that there are some narrow sections with steep dropoffs once you start climbing up above Alum Cave, but nothing this acrophobic writer couldn’t handle. (Luckily the worst sections are short.) But it would give me pause with younger kids, kids that don’t have much hiking experience, or if it was rainy or slick.
As far as age, I would say age 9-10 is a good rule of thumb baseline if you are planning for a push all the way to the summit. For little kids, the hardest part is not always making it to the top but making it back down again. Their legs are tired, their feet are hurting and they run out of energy by the time you are 4-5 hours in which is usually when you are headed back down. And the down on this trail isn’t a breeze because of all the stairs. Tired legs make it much more likely you will trip somewhere and take a tumble. (Been there, done that, bruises to show for it.)
It is the innumerable stairs on the way up that seem to get older kids (and adults). Maybe because we are always carrying far more stuff in our backpacks, we aren’t able to zip right up on this trail like all the younger kids do in their best mountain goat impressions.
Last time I hiked all the way up to Mount LeConte on Alum Cave Trail (Sept 2020), it was with twin 11 year olds, a 13 year old, and a 15 year old. Everyone did fine, although certainly tired by the time we got back to the car 7.5 hours later.
Moleskin was needed on 2 kids feet once we got to the top as it is hard to keep growing kids in properly fitted shoes! We usually keep our hikes to 3-4 milers, but we do try to pull off a 10-12 miler every couple of months or so. So the kids weren’t in great hiking shape but this also wasn’t their first time with a long hike.
We ended up hiking about 12 miles with all of our walking around on top of LeConte (11 miles from trailhead up to the summit at High Top and an extra mile walking to the different view points, Myrtle Point and Cliff Top). It took us 3 hours to get up and about 2.5 hours to get down. We spent 2 hours walking around exploring the different parts of the summit of LeConte and having lunch.
Taking Alum Cave all the way to the top of Mount LeConte is a fabulous hike if you are up for it and is doable for kids with the right kind of motivation (we prefer Skittles, handed out at 30 minute intervals).
Several spots along the trail are narrow and have cable handrails so hold on to little ones. But the views are spectacular though.
This trail is not lacking in stairs. My quads were sore the next day.
Hiking To Mount LeConte- Alum Cave Is The Shortest Route
Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smokies at 6593 ft. There are 5 trails that reach the summit- Rainbow Falls, Bull Head, Trillium Gap, Boulevard, and Alum Cave.
Alum Cave is the most popular trail of those 5 trails to the top of Mount LeConte, due to it shorter length and spectacular scenery. It is called Alum Cave because just under halfway to the summit, the trail goes under a humongous bluff that overhangs enough to be sort of cave-like.
You can choose to hike just to Alum Cave (2.3 miles, 1100 ft elevation gain from the trailhead), have a snack, take some cool pictures, and turn around there. This is a popular choice for lots of folk. Or you can continue on to the top of Mount LeConte (5.5 miles, 2700 ft elevation gain from the trailhead) for some of the best views in the national park on a clear day.
*The trailhead sign says 5.0 miles to get to the true summit of LeConte. However, it is 5.5 miles becausee you walk 0.5 miles on Rainbow Falls Trail to reach the final summit of Leconte called High Top. That is how most people list the mileage for Alum Cave Trail up to LeConte.
Map courtesy of NPS with my own highlights. The true summit of LeConte is called High Top.
Getting To The Alum Cave Trailhead
The trailhead for Alum Cave Trail is on Newfound Gap Road (aka US 441). Drive 8.6 miles from Sugarlands Visitor Center on the TN side of the Smokies (near Gatlinburg, TN) or 20 miles from the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on the NC side (near Cherokee, NC).
Alum Cave Trailhead Parking
There are 2 parking areas at the trailhead with a decent amount of spaces and the lower parking area has vault toilets. If the parking lots are full, people will start parking along the road. The park rangers will mostly ignore this as long as all 4 of your wheels are at least a couple of inches from the road. Keep in mind that oversized trucks hauling bigger-than-some-apartments campers travel this road so pull your mirrors in and park as far off the road as you can.
From the parking area, it is a short walk to the trailhead. Look for the sign next to a wooden bridge and this marks the start of Alum Cave trail. You won’t miss it.
*DON’T FORGET YOUR PARKING PASS!* As of March 2023, you will need a parking pass to park anywhere in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Parking passes can be bought online, at all Visitor Centers, and at a few other places, like the Townsend Visitor Center. Passes are $5 for the day, $15 for the week, and $40 for a year. They are not transferable either, meaning you will need one for each car you plan on driving into the park. The GSMNP website has lots of details and FAQ about the new parking passes. These new passes will help pay for some much needed maintenance throughout the park, including at rest areas and campgrounds.
Alum Cave Trail Description
From the trailhead, you start on a pretty steady incline through a pretty forest (this hike averages a little over 500 ft per mile elevation gain). The trail follows along scenic Alum Cave Creek with several spots suitable for picnics and places for kids to splash around in the water. You could always hike to Alum Cave and then come back here for an afternoon picnic and some fun water time.
There are 4 or 5 single log bridges (hand holding needed here for really small kids) as the trail crosses over Alum Cave Creek.
Arch Rock
At 1.4 miles from trailhead, you come to Arch Rock, a set of stairs carved into the rock face under a natural arch, one of the few rock arches in the Smokies. Definitely a kid-favorite.
Click on images below to enlarge
Inspiration Point
Not long after Arch Rock, you come to Inspiration Point (2 miles from the trailhead), a spectacular point with nearly 360 degree views of the Smokies. It has these views because Inspiration Point is a heath bald, meaning there are no trees obstructing the view, only dense mountain laurel and rhododendrons. This is a good place to stop with the kiddos for a breather and enjoy the scenery.
The smaller ridge you see running west-ish from Inspiration Point is Little Duck Hawk Ridge and it has a small rock arch called the Eye of the Needle at the very top of the rockiest part of the ridge. Supposedly you can see the “eye” better from a little farther up the trail beyond Inspiration Point but I couldn’t find it at all on our last trip, although I really need to update my contact prescription. (Totally going with that and not age causing my deteriorating eyesight.)
Peregrine falcons are also called Duck Hawks, hence the name of the ridge, which is one of only 2 known eyries for peregrine falcons in Tennessee I believe. So keep an eye out for soaring and diving birds. These guys can hit 200 mph when they dive for prey.
View from Inspiration Point. The ridge on the right is Little Duck Hawk Ridge.
We were early enough on the trail to catch the sunrise hitting the trail on Inspiration Point. The light was beautiful.
Alum Cave
At 2.2 or 2.3 miles (the park says 2.3, multiple other hikers say 2.2, I forgot to start my Garmin so I don’t know which it was for us), you come to the impressive Alum Cave. As said before, it is not a cave but a giant overhanging bluff, but the kids will think it is cool regardless. It took us an hour to get here from the trailhead.
There is lots of space to spread out and enjoy the view but I warn you most of the big rocks will be taken by fellow hikers, leaving you with the choice of standing or sitting on the very dusty ground. Bring a large poncho or cheap plastic tablecloth to sit on if you plan on having a picnic here.
*Tip- If you are hiking in winter, watch out for falling icicles from the top of the bluff. Some of them are big enough to do real damage.
Alum Cave is so named because it was mined for alum, a common name for aluminum sulfate, which was used by settlers for dyeing and tanning. Saltpeter (potssium nitrate, used to make gunpowder) was mined here as well, especially during the Civil War, but neither mineral deposit was very big or lead to great riches.
The bluffs that create Alum Cave really are quite tall…..
Trail Description From Alum Cave To Mount Leconte
If you decide to keep going beyond Alum Cave, the views continue being awesome but the trail does get much narrower in sections and there are more sections where you are gonna want to hold on to the cable handrails, especially if it is rainy or icy.
Yep. Definitely holding onto the handrails here.
The next section after Alum Cave Trail actually goes slightly downhill for a bit, which is a nice change except you realize you just have to go right back up. It is only about 200 ft that you go down but it’s annoying because you have to regain it in the next miles. The kids were not fans of this.
There are several spots where there are some fairly sheer dropoffs to one side so I would hold onto younger children when crossing these parts. Luckily, they are pretty short. You will know you are getting close to the top of LeConte when the trail levels out somewhat and you are walking through a peaceful evergreen forest.
You will see the mileage for Alum Cave to LeConte listed as 5 miles sometimes, this is because the trail technically ends at the junction with Rainbow Falls Trail. Most people list the mileage of Alum Cave Trail all the way to LeConte as 5.5 miles because that includes the 0.5 miles on Rainbow Falls you need to hike to get to the actual summit, called High Top.
You Made It To Mount LeConte!
*Pro-Tip- The top of Mount LeConte is often cloud covered so don’t count on having a spectacular view. And on hot summer afternoons, the haze can be pretty bad too. Spring and fall or early in the day are your best bets for clear pictures. And check the detailed weather forecast specifically for the summit as it can be different than the valley below. LeConte Lodge has a link to a specific summit forecast on their website.
Map of the summit of Mount LeConte. with its major points of interest. Map courtesy of NPS with my own additions.
What Is At The Top of Mount LeConte?
There are 3 main places to check out once you get to the top of Mt. LeConte, besides the neat lodge:
High Top- the true summit of Mt. LeConte but it is remarkably unremarkable
Myrtle Point- the eastern edge of LeConte and my favorite viewpoint
Cliff Top- the western edge of Mt. LeConte and the most popular viewpoint
HIGH TOP
This is the true summit of Mount LeConte at 6593 ft.
From Alum Cave Trail, turn right onto Rainbow Falls Trail and walk another 0.5 miles to get there. You will pass LeConte Lodge (where you can spend the night if you get lucky enough for a reservation at this constantly sold-out place), and LeConte Shelter, a basic wooden shelter for backcountry campers (permits and reservations needed).
Rock cairn at High Top marking the highest point on Mount LeConte. No view whatsoever, just a decent- sized pile of rocks.
When you pass the junction with Trillium Gap Trail, you are now on Boulevard Trail. Keep going and a short distance later, you will see the short trail to the spring on top of Mount LeConte where you can get water (you will need to purify it).
After you walk past the Mount LeConte shelter, keep an eye out on the right for a huge cairn of rocks just off the trail. This is High Top and it is surprisingly unheralded- no sign, marker, or plaque, just a large pile of rocks without much of a view. You are now at 6593 ft above sea level. Take a picture and move on, that’s what everyone does at this anticlimactic climax of your hike.
*The Lodge asks that you add a rock to the cairn as they are trying to out do Clingmans Dome at 6643 ft. By my math they are 50 ft short so tell the kids to find some really big rocks.
MYRTLE POINT
This is my favorite viewpoint on LeConte, even if it does mean you are walking an extra 0.4 miles (it doesn’t sound like a lot but wait until the kids find out you want them to walk even farther once they reach High Top). But Myrtle Point is worth it, with almost 360 degree views from this rock outcropping on the easternmost edge of the ridge on top of Mount LeConte.
To get to Myrtle Point, walk 0.2 miles past High Top on Boulevard Trail. You lose about 200 feet which is not fun when you are already tired and you know you will have to climb back up it but keep going. Parts of the trail cross through laurel and rhododendron thickets so you get awesome views out over the park.
Go right when you see the sign for Myrtle Point and take this path for another 0.2 miles. It follows a narrow ridge out to a rock outcropping that is my favorite lunch spot on LeConte.
Because it involves more walking and going a little downhill, Myrtle Point tends to be less busy than the other viewpoints on LeConte.
The views from several sections of the Boulevard Trail are outstanding.
You follow this narrow ridge out to Myrtle Point.
Myrtle Point on the top of Mount LeConte
CLIFF TOP
This is the most popular viewpoint on LeConte, mostly because the trail to it is the first one people see when they are hiking up the two most popular trails to LeConte- Alum Cave and Rainbow Falls. You have a great view south and west from this heath bald and you can pick out the viewing tower on top of Clingmans Dome/ Kuwohi on a clear day. (It is REALLY small so squint hard.)
*There is a push to change the name of this mountain from Clingmans Dome back to the original Cherokee name “Kuwohi.” This is led by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and has the support of many the counties in the area.
To get to Cliff Tops there are 2 trails- one from Rainbow Falls Trail near the lodge and one from Boulevard Trail nearer High Top. I like to go to Myrtle Point first, then go up to Cliff Top via the trail near High Top and come down the other trail that puts me back near LeConte Lodge.
The view from Cliff Top on top of Mount LeConte. The rock outcropping is also a popular lunch spot.
View from Cliff Top over to Clingmans Dome/ Kuwohi, the highest peak in the center of the picture.
Tips For Successfully Hiking Alum Cave Trail With Kids
Tip # 1- Know What You Are Getting Into
Hiking to Alum Cave itself is not bad at 2.3 miles (4.6 miles RT) with an elevation gain of 1100 ft roughly and will take you about 2-3 hours RT. It is doable for most kids and we have done it even when they were small.
If you take Alum Cave Trail past the “cave” all the way up to Mt. LeConte, you are looking at a strenuous hike at 11 miles round- trip with an elevation gain of roughly 2700ft. This is an all day hike and you need to plan on 5-8 hours.
Beyond Alum Cave itself, the rest of the trail up to LeConte is steep with a seeming never-ending supply of stairs, and at certain points, it has sheer drop-offs on one side of the trail that would necessitate holding smaller children’s hands. There are cable handrails at many points along the trail. The drop-offs aren’t terrible as I have a very well-developed fear of heights and it doesn’t bother me too much.
Our family and I know plenty of friends that have hiked all the way to the summit of Mount LeConte with kids as young as 7 but I would not do it with every kid or even every adult. You know your family best and be honest about expectations and abilities. You can always just do the first part of the trail to Alum Cave and leave the summit for another time.
Other Resources To Check Out Before You Go
There are other fantastic, detailed, trail descriptions out there besides the one I gave you above; read a couple of different ones so you know what to expect. We rely on Hiking In The Smokys for great trail info about all hikes they have done in the park (and they have done a lot). LeConte Lodge has a blog with a nice description of the trail. Woodlands and Water is another blog I really like and they have lovely pictures of the flowers you can see May- early July.
Always check the National Park Service website for Temporary Road and Facility Closures in the Smokies to see if there are any trail closures, etc. to know about. Fallen trees, aggressive bears in the area, trail maintenance, washouts after big rains- I have seen all of these things cause trails to be closed. You definitely don’t want to find out the trail closed after you drove all the way to the trailhead and got the kids psyched up for a big hike.
Twitter is the best place for current road information- check Smokies Road Info @ SmokiesRoadsNPS. The road to the trailhead is called Newfound Gap Road/US 441 and it is often closed in winter for icy conditions and occasionally at other times for wrecks, fallen trees, etc.
You are definitely going to want to hang onto the cable handrails at some points on the trail.
Tip # 2- Be Okay With Not Getting To Mt. LeConte
If you decide to try for the summit, just be ready to turn around if need be. This is a long hike. Blisters happen, weather changes, kids can throw tantrums, etc. Be mentally okay with changing the plan on the fly.
I have seen parents push themselves and their kids to get to the top, forgetting to leave energy and patience for the long hike down, which is not an easy trip with all the stairs. Don’t turn a fun family outing into a do or die battle for the sake of saying “ I climbed LeConte.” The mountain has been here for approximately 300 million years, it will still be here for next time.
I once climbed LeConte in late fall and it started snowing near the top. But I was set on doing it so I kept going, despite the fact I had no crampons or gaiters because the snow was light and I was soooo close. My trip down the mountain involved hiking in deep snow, periodically stopping to make sure I was still on the trail, navigating around fallen trees and branches, and generally regretting my stupidity/obstinance the entire way. Yeah I made it to the top but it took me hours to get down and was not fun at all.
Tip #3- Go EARLY. So, So Early.
This is an iconic trail and the Smokies are the most visited national park in the US so put those things together and you can often have a few too many people. A few meaning-- no parking, stop and go traffic on the road to the trailhead, people on sitting top of one another at the viewpoints, and lines of hikers forming at certain sections of the trail too narrow to have two- way traffic.
Sunrise is a good time to start on this hike, especially on weekends and holidays. We live 90 minutes from Alum Cave so getting the kiddos up at 430 am and in the car by 5 am to be at the trailhead by 630am on our last trip here was not a popular decision. (Can’t say I was super excited either.) But it was well worth it as we saw the chaos at the parking lots as we were leaving at 2pm with cars parking everywhere on both sides of the road.
Parking everywhere along the road will no longer be allowed as the Smokies have started enforcing parking regulations so you can only park in designated parking places starting in 2023 with the new parking permits. But that just is another reason to be early because those small parking lots fill up FAST!
Going early for us also meant the hike up was relatively quiet with only us in our photos. On the way back down from the summit, lines formed at narrow parts of the trail as people waited to pass each other. It would have taken us a lot longer to hike the trail had we had to negotiate these crowds on the way up as well as on the way down.
*Winter is much less crowded but you will need crampons and gaiters in your backpack, just in case. Snow can happen Oct- April on top of LeConte and even worse is the ice that forms on the trail. Super slippery. Check the forecast!
Tip # 4- Check The Weather At The Summit Of Mt. LeConte
Unless you are just into bagging peaks, Mount LeConte feels a little pointless to climb when the top is cloud covered. The kids will not be impressed they hiked all that way to see zilch and get cold and wet to boot.
Besides the cloud cover, the weather on top of a mountain can be vastly different than in the valley below. The website for LeConte Lodge has a link to an excellent forecast specifically for the top of the mountain. Take a minute to look at it. You won’t regret it.
Pretty views right? This picture is taken from Mount LeConte on a cloudy and rainy day. Courtesy of sumidiot (CC-BY-2.0)
Tip # 5- Be Prepared
Channel your inner boy scout and think about what you are gonna need on this hike. This is what we consider bare minimum necessities when we hike LeConte:
Decent Shoes
I really think hiking shoes are a necessity for this trail because it is so rocky. Without the harder soles of hiking shoes, you will probably get foot bruises. But I have seen people hike Alum Cave in tennis shoes, Chacos, and even Vans so I guess whatever works for you. (Except flip flops- that’s just dumb and the rescue people will absolutely make fun of you when they have to carry you and your broken ankle down the trail.)
Plus, there is often water running over the trail, making all the rocks a little slick, even when it is dry out. Wearing good traction hiking shoes will help stop you from wiping out. I know in 2023 they had to airlift someone off of Alum Cave that fell and had a head injury.
Water
Depending on time of year and in how good of shape you and the kids are, you may need anywhere from 1-3 liters of water per person for this hike. I drank about 1.5 liters on our last trip when it was 85 degrees but we started at 7am when it was 60 degrees. One kid drank 2 liters of water, two kids drank 1 liter, and one only drank 500 ml.
*There is a year-round stream along the first 2 miles of this trail and a spring at the top of LeConte but you will need to purify water from either of these sources.
CamelBak
Using a Camelbak (or offbrand hydration backpack like our $30 Amazon ones) really helps everyone stay hydrated. The kids can drink constantly without having to stop.
I don’t know about your kids, but ours can’t get on the same schedule and everyone seems to want to stop at different times when they are carrying water bottles. It makes it hard to get a rhythm going. The camelbaks fixed this.
Rain Shell
Even in summer, I bring a rain shell on this hike. Not only because afternoon thunderstorms are definitely a thing in East Tennessee but also because the summit of LeConte is colder and windier than you might think, even in the dog days of summer.
It is hard to imagine needing a jacket when you have been sweating thru 95 degree temperatures for weeks on end but I always end up slipping on my jacket when I get to the top of LeConte, especially if we stop for awhile. The temperature has only hit 80 twice in recorded history at the lodge so believe me when I say it is not warm.
Moleskin
My most used item in the medical kit by far. Growing kids means hiking shoes that fit fine last month start rubbing after 2 miles this month. Plus, this is just a long hike.
Moleskin is a lifesaver especially when used early, when you are just beginning to feel the rubbing and before blisters form. It’s light and cheap and I always make sure I have some with me before any hike. I like Dr. Scholl’s moleskin roll and throw a small pair of scissors in the pack so I can cut it to the size I need. (See on Amazon or look for it at Walgreens/CVS/Target, etc).
Lunch
We are partial to PB& J in our family as well as dried fruit, mandarin oranges, and granola bars. We bring everything in tupperware containers because it stops sandwiches from getting smushed in backpacks plus diminishes the smell for nosy bears (Ha! See what I did there?).
You can buy a sack lunch ($12) and assorted baked goods ($2) from LeConte Lodge if they are open and have any left but I would not count on this as your sole food source. Hiking is hard work and nothing ruins the fun like hungry and whiny kids. We always pack some candy too as a reward at the summit or motivation to keep going when enthusiasm flags. It’s amazing what kids will do for a bit of candy.
Hand sanitizer
There are no bathrooms on the trail and kids will touch a lot of things along the way (cool looking rocks, the hand cables on the narrow bits that everyone else touches) so you are going to want to sanitize those hands before snack time.
A couple of rocky sections have water seeping out over the trail making it slick even on dry days. Good traction shoes are really helpful.
Tip # 6- Bathroom Facilities Are Limited
Bathrooms are available at the trailhead (the lower parking lot) but they are vault toilets so bring your hand sanitizer. There are toilets at LeConte Lodge but they are for guests only, requiring a key for entry.
Most people make their own facilities along the trail but please, please, please don’t leave toilet paper on the ground. I am astounded how frequently this happens. Bring several Ziplocs and pack it out. Don’t leave it for the next person to deal with. Come on people, we can do this!
Tip # 7- Go On Monday, Wednesday, or Friday To See Llamas
Several times a week, LeConte Lodge gets supplies delivered via llama pack train coming up Trillium Gap Trail. The llamas usually arrive around noon to the lodge, unload, have some lunch, and then return back down the mountain.
The llamas are pretty friendly and their handlers are used to kids asking a billion questions so unless they are on a tight schedule or your kid is trying to poke a llama in the eye, you can probably get a picture with them.
*The schedule is subject to change based on weather, seasonal needs, llama moods, etc. So could be be any day of the week but generally speaking it’s M, W, F.
Lllamas waiting for lunch at LeConte Lodge. Image courtesy of the lodges’s blog High On LeConte.
Tip #8- Be On The Lookout For Animals (And Not Just Bears)
Alum Cave is a popular trail and Mount LeConte is a popular destination and all those visitors mean the local populations of animals aren’t super wary of people anymore. It could be the huge amounts of crumbs dropped and also the TP issue mentioned above.
Bears aren’t really an issue- although it is not a surprise if you see one, they still tend to leave people alone. The squirrels, chipmunks, and even a mouse on the trail didn’t let people stop them from their crumb collecting and will get quite close to you and your snack time. We had a mouse ignore a large group of kids huddled over it until it got all the dropped granola it wanted.
We saw a deer who paid us almost no attention as we hiked by the shelter at the summit of LeConte on our last visit. It was just 10 ft off the trail and kept right on eating. Even the deer in heavily trafficked Cades Cove were more wary than this gal.
Where To Stay On Your Smokies Trip
LeConte Lodge
For this hike, the best place to stay is obviously LeConte Lodge. It is the only lodge or non-camping option for staying inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The views from its cabins perched right at the top of LeConte are breathtaking.
Take your time exploring everything to see on Alum Cave Trail, then have a one-of-a -kind- experience staying in the rustic lodge, followed by a leisurely hike down the next day. It’s the perfect way to really experience Mount LeConte and you get to see the sunsets and sunrises from the Myrtle Point and Cliff Top. The lodge is open March- Nov.
The lodge has small cabins with double bunks and larger cabins with 2 and 3 bedrooms with more bunks. Dinner and breakfast are provided, not fancy but delicious. There is no electricity on the mountain so meals are by lamplight. Guests have access to flush bathrooms and linens are provided but you bring your own hand towel/washcloth.
The price is not nearly as cheap as you might think given the rustic nature of the amenities. But remember all the food supplies and laundry have to be delivered via llama which makes the price more understandable. Adults are $154.50 and kids 4-12 are $87.50 per night which includes dinner, breakfast, and your lodgings.
Getting a reservation is the hardest part about staying at LeConte Lodge, they routinely book up completely as soon as they start taking phone reservations for the next year, usually on Oct 1 (and are booked by the end of day, no joke). You can submit an email request for your preferred dates Aug -Sept and that works a little better. Do it as soon as they start taking requests so check the website for dates. If you don’t get your dates, they will put you on a waiting list but this also is usually filled up in no time flat.
Many people get reservations by checking the twitter feed of the lodge. They will announce cancellations and the first people to contact them, get the reservation. It requires a little flexibility and a lot of luck, but for people within easy driving distance with a free couple of days coming up, it is worth keeping an eye on the twitter feed.
FRONTCOUNTRY CAMPING
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has 10 frontcountry campgrounds (9 are open with no word on when Look Rock campground will ever reopen). The two campgrounds closest to Alum Cave trailhead are Elkmont and Smokemont. Both of these are perfectly fine national park campgrounds, although Elkmont is our personal favorite. But Smokemont is great too, especially if you want to spend more time on the NC side of the Smokies.
Read our blog “A Detailed Introduction To Elkmont Campground In The Great Smoky Mountains” for a thorough description of Elkmont Campground. We’ll tell you what sites we like best, what trails are nearby, where to go for supplies, basically everything you need to know before your trip.
Or if you want to be close to the scenic Cades Cove loop for car-free biking on Wednesdays, then check out Cades Cove Campground but keep in mind that it is about an hour away from the Alum Cave trailhead.
BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING AT LECONTE SHELTER
If you want to backcountry camp at the shelter on top of Mount LeConte, you will need a backcountry permit and a reservation. It is not intuitive the first time you use the backcountry permit website but you get the hang of it.
Basically, when you click on “Begin Reservation” you enter your number of campers and whether you have horses, then it will bring up a map of the park and you click on your preferred site on the map. That will bring up that backcountry site’s specific reservation page and you can see what days are still available and how many spots per day. Each backcountry site has a max number of people that can stay per night.
Read the backcountry permit website carefully as it will give you some helpful planning information.
Outside Of The Park
We prefer staying in Wears Valley or Townsend versus Gatlinburg because I generally head to the woods to get away from people, not to be crowded on top of other folks. The traffic in Gatlinburg and nearby Pigeon Forge can be brutal and 10 mile trip into the park can take an hour or more to complete. I prefer to avoid it if I can.
If you have younger kids, then the attractions in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge can be appealing-- fun mazes, old time photos, taffy makers, arcades, indoor skydiving, so much mini golf, etc. But none of it is cheap, including lodgings, and I would rather drive over for the day to see the few things I think are worth fighting traffic for- Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Anakeesta Theme Park, Gatlinburg Sky Bridge, and of course, Dollywood.
We wrote a whole blog listing all the places to stay that we recommend in Townsend and Wears Valley which are on the quiet side of the Smokies- less traffic and only one or two mini golf places. But they still have great restaurants and amenities like grocery stores and gas stations, just with less air brushed T- shirt shops and shot glass souvenirs.
We recommend mostly VRBOs and cabin rentals that are perfect for your family to spread out and relax after a long day hiking. We have either stayed at these places ourselves, have family or friends that have, or have checked the places out for future stays with our kids.
See our blog post “Where To Stay In Townsend- The Gateway To The Smokies”
Map of campgrounds and towns closest to Alum Cave Trailhead. Map courtesy of GoogleMaps with my own additions.
Other Smokies Blogs You Might Like
Elkmont is one of our go-to campgrounds in the Smokies because it has so many kid-friendly activities to do at or near the campground. Hiking, swimming, biking, fishing, history… there is even a ghost town on site to explore. These are our family’s top 10 favorite activities when we camp at Elkmont.