Hike Mount Laconte Via Alum Cave Featured

Hike Mount LeConte via Alum Cave

12 miles - Hard Effort
6-8 Hours (Total)
Can Get Very Busy
3,100 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 6,593 feet
No Dogs Allowed

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.

In this Guide:

Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Video
Interactive Trail Maps
Insider Tips & Recommendations

Quick Links:
Parking Tag - Park Website - Weather Forecast - My Apr 2024 Gear

Where is the Alum Cave Trail?

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.

Use this trailhead address:
Alum Cave Trailhead Parking Area, 3639 Newfound Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Laconte Area Parking — There are two parking lots. The westernmost lot has a bathroom. The trail starts in the middle of the two lots.

This is the most popular hike in the park. Get here at sunrise for your best chances at getting a parking spot.

Mount Lactone Hike Parking Lot — The parking lot is not big, and there is no roadside parking allowed.

Mount Lactone 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).

Gear Recommendations

This is a true backcountry hike, and you should prepare accordingly.

Bring at least 1.5 liters of water. You can refill at Lactone Lodge at the top.
Trail runners work best on the dirt trail, which can get wet and muddy.
Bring a snack to fuel up; this is a long hike.
Be prepared for changing conditions with some layers and a rainshell.
There's no phone coverage, so having a satellite communicator is a smart bet.
In the winter, it can be snowy and icy. Check the mountain weather link at the top of this page for the conditions, which will usually differ from those at the start of the hike or in Gatlinburg.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

Worth Noting

Joe Leconte — Joe Le Conte: he loved the outdoors so much that he died in Yosemite (true!).

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 are some of the oldest in the world. The Smokies date back 200-300 million years.

Mount LeConte Trail Maps

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00002 — Some sections of trail have wire cables that you can hold onto.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Mount LeConte Hike Directions

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00003 — Cross the bridge at the start of the hike.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00004 — Head upstream, crossing several bridges along the way.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00005 — At about 1.4 miles, you'll reach Arch Rock.

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.

Alum Cave Bluffs, named for the alum deposits found here in the 1800s, are a prominent geological formation characterized by a vast, overhanging cliff about 80 feet high and 500 feet wide.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00008 — Continue past the bluffs on the other side.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00009 — Now you have about 2 miles of climbing.

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 00012 — At the top of the short stretch to Cliff Top, make the right.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00013 — And look for the large exposed area and viewpoint. This is Cliff Top.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00014 — Head back the way you came, but don't take the trail down. Instead go straight.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00015 — Then emerge back onto the main trail, where you'll make the right.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00016 — At the top of the hill look for the pile of rock on your right. This is the official summit.

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.

Mt Laconte Hike Directions 00018 — Enjoy Myrtle Point, then head back the way you came.

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.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.