The Great Smoky Mountains are known for their towering peaks, their stunning views, and their abundance of cabins where guests can enjoy everything about the park. But there is one lodge in the park that is only accessible by hiking trail, and experiencing its sweeping vistas at night is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. People from around the world come to this spot just to see the untouched beauty that is Mt. LeConte.
Jacob Reser - Flickr High in the Great Smoky Mountains, there’s a group of cabins that are only accessible by hiking to them.
Natures Paparazzi - Flickr LeConte Lodge, as the camp is known, sits 6400 feet above sea level, making them the highest cabins in the Eastern United States.
Tim Lumley - Flickr The views from the lodge are worth the trek alone. They sit right on the edge of the mountain with sweeping views of the valley below and the mountains out in front of you. It’s a truly breathtaking sight!
Natures Paparazzi - Flickr Meals are served by the staff at LeConte Lodge in the main dining room. Everything is family style, and it’s absolutely delicious!
Natures Paparazzi - Flickr Getting to the lodge is tricky and not for the faint of heart. There are five trails that lead to this destination, the shortest being 5.5 miles one way, but that trail is also the steepest. Any trail you take will take you 5-6 hours one way.
Natures Paparazzi - Flickr While most people who hike to the lodge already have overnight reservations, you can also visit during a day hike. They have a small souvenir shop and offer sack lunches for $11 to any day hikers passing through.
Michael Hicks - Flickr It’s truly a rustic experience, hiking the lodge with your belongings and settling into camp once you get there, but many describe it as one of the best and most unique experiences our country has to offer!
Natures Paparazzi - Flickr LeConte is open from the middle of March through the middle of November, but guests can anticipate the possibility of encountering snow and ice on the trails as late as May and as early as September. Plan accordingly!
Matthew Self - Flickr Bookings at LeConte Lodge fill up fast, so be sure to check out their website for more information and availability. Happy hiking!
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Jacob Reser - Flickr
High in the Great Smoky Mountains, there’s a group of cabins that are only accessible by hiking to them.
Natures Paparazzi - Flickr
LeConte Lodge, as the camp is known, sits 6400 feet above sea level, making them the highest cabins in the Eastern United States.
Tim Lumley - Flickr
The views from the lodge are worth the trek alone. They sit right on the edge of the mountain with sweeping views of the valley below and the mountains out in front of you. It’s a truly breathtaking sight!
Meals are served by the staff at LeConte Lodge in the main dining room. Everything is family style, and it’s absolutely delicious!
Getting to the lodge is tricky and not for the faint of heart. There are five trails that lead to this destination, the shortest being 5.5 miles one way, but that trail is also the steepest. Any trail you take will take you 5-6 hours one way.
While most people who hike to the lodge already have overnight reservations, you can also visit during a day hike. They have a small souvenir shop and offer sack lunches for $11 to any day hikers passing through.
Michael Hicks - Flickr
It’s truly a rustic experience, hiking the lodge with your belongings and settling into camp once you get there, but many describe it as one of the best and most unique experiences our country has to offer!
LeConte is open from the middle of March through the middle of November, but guests can anticipate the possibility of encountering snow and ice on the trails as late as May and as early as September. Plan accordingly!
Matthew Self - Flickr
Bookings at LeConte Lodge fill up fast, so be sure to check out their website for more information and availability. Happy hiking!
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