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HikingGuy · Dec 1, 2023

Mt LeConte Trail Guide

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Cris Hazzard · HikingGuy

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Updated & Reviewed August 2026

The hike to Mount LeConte from the Alum Cave Trail is considered the marquis trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s a challenging hike but very doable by most folks. The trail is beautiful, easy to follow, and offers lots to see along the way.

Distance
11.2–12 mi

Difficulty
Hard

Total Climbing
3050–3100 ft

Time
6–8 hrs

Who It's For Strong hikers who can handle all the climbing.

Biggest Risk Lightning on exposed summit ridge. Turn back if afternoon storms develop, weather escalates fast.

When to Go April-November. Winter can bring snow and ice.

Video

Here’s a video I shot of what it’s like to hike the trail and what you can expect if you do it yourself.

How to Hike Mt LeConte (Alum Cave Trail)

Trailhead

Laconte Area Map
The hike is located in the heart of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, along Newfound Gap Road (Rt 441). The closest town is Gatlinburg, which is also a great place to use as a base to explore the park.
Laconte Area Parking
There are two parking lots. The westernmost lot has a bathroom. The trail starts in the middle of the two lots.
Mount LeConte Hike Parking Lot
The parking lot is not big, and there is no roadside parking allowed.
Mount LeConte Hike Parking Machine
You now need a parking pass within the park, and unfortunately, the America the Beautiful passes don’t work here. Pick up a pass at the nearby Sugarlands Visitor Center, or get one in advance online (you need a license plate number and a printer).

Notes

Joe Leconte
Joseph Le Conte (1823-1901), geologist and Sierra Club co-founder, died during an outing in Yosemite Valley.

  • According to the USGS, Mt LeConte is named after Joseph Le Conte (1823-1901), a geologist and early conservationist. Le Conte was a co-founder of the Sierra Club with John Muir in 1892. He was such a popular guy that after he died in 1901, he became the namesake for Le Conte Glacier, Le Conte Canyon, Le Conte Divide, Le Conte Falls, Le Conte Mountain, and Le Conte Lodge.

  • But some people say it’s named after Joseph’s older brother, John, who helped measure the mountain’s elevation.

  • These mountains formed around 480 million years ago, making them some of the oldest in the world. The rounded peaks you see today are the result of 200 million years of erosion.

Maps

map and elevation profile of the Mt LeConte hike
The Alum Cave route climbs steadily to Alum Cave Bluffs before the trail steepens toward the summit and Myrtle Point.
Resource What It’s For
CalTopo Map Interactive map for planning and printing
GPX Download Put my route on your GPS
AllTrails recent reports What other hikers are seeing now
Trailhead Weather Forecast at the trailhead
Summit Weather Conditions near the summit
GSMNP Current Conditions Trail closures and alerts
Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00002
Some sections of trail have wire cables that you can hold onto.

Directions

Bridge crossing over West Prong of the Little Pigeon River at Alum Cave Trailhead
Start with a bridge crossing over the West Prong of the Little Pigeon River.
Gentle uphill trail with bridge crossing on the way to Arch Rock
The first mile is a gentle uphill with a few more bridge crossings before the terrain steepens toward Arch Rock.
Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00005
At about 1.4 miles, you’ll reach Arch Rock.

Info

The arch came into being as the softer rock underneath the harder rock was worn away by the cycle of freezing and thawing.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00006
At about 2 miles you’ll reach Inspiration Point.
Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00007
At about 2.3 miles you’ll reach Alum Cave Bluffs.

Info

Alum Cave Bluffs is a vast overhanging cliff, named for the alum deposits found here in the 1800s.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00010
At about 5 miles, make the right at the junction with the Rainbow Falls Trail.
Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00011
Shortly after that, make the right turn onto the trail to Cliff Top. The lodge is just past this turn on the left.
Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00013
And look for the large exposed area and viewpoint. This is Cliff Top.
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Head back the way you came, but don’t take the trail down. Instead go straight.
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At the top of the hill look for the pile of rock on your right. This is the official summit.

Tip

For a better viewpoint, continue straight past the summit on the short downhill.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00017
At the split, stay right toward Myrtle Point.
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Enjoy Myrtle Point, then head back the way you came.

Tip

You can avoid the spur to Cliff Top and just go straight down.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00019
It’s worth stopping at LeConte Lodge on the way back. There’s drinking water and bathrooms.

Next Steps

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