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After a 60/54 day we have had cold rain, hot sunshine, and cloud cover. You get everything up here! Pack for layers, that rain sure knocks you out. Question of the day: What trail would you recommend for a persons first time up here? They can't all be Alum! Llamas tomorrow!  Snakeroot!
Walter Norvell
8/18/2016 08:46:44 pm
We hiked up Trillium Gap July a year ago. The trail was wonderful with Grotto Falls and several streams to cross. It also rained 4.5 inches that day. I should have bought a shirt that says "I Swam LeConte." I loved every step of the way. The mountain and the lodge are truly treasures.
Tammy (Tx)
8/18/2016 09:12:50 pm
Another beautiful picture today! I wonder why it's called Snakeroot? Well.....eventhough I've only been as far as the bluffs on Alum, since it's the shortest I bet everyone will say take Alum. BUT, I had a park ranger and several Smokies friends tell me to take Trillium for the easiest route and we had planned on it. But, forgetting the water and having to go back to Gatlinburg to get some, put us on Rainbow, one of the hardest, for our first hike up. I'm taking your survey bait...hook, line and sinker! Have a great weekend!
Carl
8/19/2016 09:31:34 am
I always take Alum--(views and the shortest).That extra mile the other trails have is alot -I hiked Trillium and thought i would never arrive.Boulevard is the same and Rainbow you have no views.
Susan B
8/18/2016 09:14:30 pm
We hiked to LeConte in July - two wonderful days on the mountain. We hiked up Alum and came down Blvd. Blvd was long, but beautiful. As someone said it, we did Blvd and that's enough. We did Trillium a couple of years back and not another soul. Two more trails to try but I still love Alum.
elktonbrant
8/19/2016 11:29:05 am
While our favorites are Alum (about 25 times) and Rainbow Falls/Bullhead (8-9 times), probably the easiest in terms of impact on the body would be Trillium (including the Brushy Mountain side trail). Boulevard (1 time) just seems to take much, much longer than the others.
Oldmapper
8/19/2016 08:49:42 am
I have hiked all the trails up BUT Alum. I loved Rainbow Falls as the most beautiful. My family hiked up Trillium this past May and thought it was too long and they got tired of stepping around the llama poop. I think Boulevard is too long for first time and the drop offs possibly too intimidating. We are trying Alum next year so we will see. I still love Rainbow Falls.
Honey
8/19/2016 09:26:50 am
I swore I'd never hike up Rainbow again because it is non-stop up and rocky and not safe in too much rain but I loved hiking down Bullhead. I hear it is unpopular to hike up. It is hard to beat hiking up Alum. It has been a year since I hiked up Rainbow and I am ready to try it again. I have only been to Grotto Falls on Trillium so I want to try that one all the way up and maybe down Boulevard since I hear the 1.5 miles at the top is a hard climb after such a long hike. In my opinion, the Alum trail has the most spectacular views, especially above the bluffs, and it's also the shortest by distance and rocky. If you enjoy seeing a lot of tourists, then Alum will provide that for you up to the bluffs, above which the people "thin out". I prefer the Trillium trail for its solitude and less "traffic', and sometimes seeing the llamas. Is it easier ? Perhaps, but that's another subjective opinion. I like Rainbow and Bullhead nearly as much and sometimes Boulevard as well. There's also Brushy Mtn. trail which I've taken to the Lodge but twice. It boils down to trying them all if one can manage to do so. Enjoy.
barrieb
8/19/2016 10:45:57 am
our favorites for years has been alum up and trillium down. Alum is the trail of choice for many reasons.....shortest, water, overlooks and the wonderful last 1/2 mile of flat. Anybody remember the horse gate at the top to keep the horses from getting on the trail and not being able to turn around and not being able to get down?
Kent
8/19/2016 01:04:07 pm
I highly recommend going up Rainbow Falls, then leave the trail via LeConte Creek (the second crossing above the falls). It's tough, but not a terribly hard bushwhack. Great fo4r beginners!
Terri (KY)
8/19/2016 01:17:19 pm
We hiked up and down Trillium Gap back in June for our 2 night stay up top. Took us 5.5 hours up and 2.55 hours down. I hope to do Alum up and Bullhead down the next time. I would also like to do all 5 trails. We shall see.
Sandra
8/19/2016 03:16:39 pm
My first hike to LeConte July 2014 (and first hike ever) was up Rainbow Falls and down Bullhead. As a beginner I was too ignorant to know Rainbow was a rough hike (which it was!) I loved coming down Bullhead but would hate to reverse that route. July 2015 I did Trillium up and down. Not a lot of fear factor involved in it and the llamas were nice to see--made me very aware of what goes up must come down. And then in September 2015 we did Boulevard up and back--NEVER again! I realized close to the top that I'd have as hard a time the way back as I did the way to LeConte--up and down up and down! That trail is no walk on the Boulevard. Sept 2016 I am doing Alum up and back for the first time. I haven't heard much about Brushy Mtn Trail.
Cincinnati Jeff
8/19/2016 04:11:17 pm
I have hiked nearly 400 miles of trails throughout the park. I tell everyone if I could only do one more trail it would be Alum. Gorgeous streams at the bottom with big boulders, old growth forest, dense 10 foot high rosebay canopies, arch rock, the bluffs, and spectacular views. Heck there's even a 0.4 mile downhill section halfway up! No other trail has it all. Of all the things you want to see in the park Alum has everything BUT a waterfall and some things you can see nowhere else. The only negative? Crowds. But even they can be somewhat avoided with trailhead timing. I agree with you Jeff. I always say that the Alum trail is the most spectacular, and also the shortest of course, but I avoid hiking it these days precisely because of the tourist crowds, mostly only up to the Bluffs. I get so disgusted with all the trash I see on this lower part of that route, too. Trillum is my trail preference and i have taken all the others multiple times and personally I believe that it matters little which one you choose. Just do it ! Try them all ! By the way, if you ever reach the point where you've hiked all "900" miles in the Smokies {803 officially maintained now} contact me and I'll send you one of my own personally designed embroiderd patches signifying the accomplishment. Just remember: "No matter where you go, there you are !" G'day Jeff
Larry
8/20/2016 09:22:00 pm
Doug, Kay and I are hiking up next week. We hiked up Boulevard last year and are thinking we would take Rainbow this year. Everyone keeps saying how hard it is. We are 70 but in good hiking condition.We are not fast but consistant. I would appreciate your opinion. We plan on coming down alum after a day's rest.
John L
8/19/2016 07:16:41 pm
I remember the horse gate. It was always a welcome sight. I also remember horses bringing up guests for a wedding.
Bill Yeadon
8/20/2016 04:23:18 pm
I determined my goal a few years back to hike LeConte 75 times by age 75. I am at #53 at 67. I have done all the trails but have hiked Alum 90% of the time. But if you can catch the sunrise at Newfound Gap on your way up Boulevard you can't beat it. I also try to leave at sunup on Alum to miss the crowds.But any trail you choose you will love it. Larry: I was camping this past weekend when your comments were posted apparently. A trail that is hard for one person might be easy for another, so as long as you're in good shape you should do just fine on any trail leading up to the Lodge. Trillium is my favorite, for now, and I like all the others almost as much. G'day Comments are closed.
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LeConte LodgeWelcome to the official blog of LeConte Lodge. We hope you find the information provided here both helpful and enjoyable. Thank you for visiting the site, and we hope to see you on the mountain! Archives
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