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Attention Valued Guests,
At this time, Congress has not passed legislation to continue funding the federal government. There is a legitimate possibility that the federal government shuts down at midnight Wednesday, October 1, 2025. In the event of a shutdown, the National Park Service would modify its operations throughout the country, which directly affects the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As our direction comes from the NPS, how a shutdown will affect LeConte Lodge and the services we provide is undetermined at this time. We will inform you as soon as the NPS provides us with their plan and directives. Until then, the Lodge will continue to operate as normal, hosting overnight guests and providing retail, food and beverage, and shuttle services. In the event the NPS closes LeConte Lodge during a federal government shutdown, our reservations office will be in contact with each guest affected by the closure, and how to proceed, as soon as possible. The booking process for the 2026 season is still on schedule to begin tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM Eastern. As our valued guest, we want to alert you to this possibility so that you can plan accordingly. We will post up-to-date information on our official website, www.lecontelodge.com, as well as this blog and social media pages, as more information becomes available. We apologize for any inconvenience this notice may have in your planning, but seek to give you as much notice as has been made possible in the event there is a federal government shutdown. Thank you for your understanding and support, as this matter is not in our control.
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 While Saturday produced plenty of rain and thunder, Sunday turned out to be a much sunnier and serene day than first anticipated. No complaints from anyone there. And while we have a slight chance for seeing some precip tonight and tomorrow, this week is shaping up to be a pleasant one. The track for Imelda has shifted favorably, with it set to spin back out to sea instead of inland and toward the Smokies as it once did. As the week progresses, we are going to gradually see temps at the summit slide down a tad, with more nights dipping into the 40s. Everyone will want to have that extra layer or two for staying comfortable upon reaching the top.
After Saturday’s rain-driven landslide, the Gatlinburg Bypass remains closed. And the closure of a section of Cherokee Orchard Rd in Gatlinburg is still in effect for some road maintenance there. That means anyone looking to enter the park via US 441 for accessing Alum Cave Trail will need to do so by driving through downtown Gatlinburg at this time. And travelers interested in taking the loop road to either Rainbow Falls or Trillium Gap trails will need to come up from the direction of the space needle via Airport Rd. Between these closures and the autumn season getting underway, expect plenty of traffic congestion while in transit. Although we seem to have dodged a potential tropical storm, there are still plenty of unknowns related to a possible federal gov’t shutdown come Tuesday night. Regardless, our booking process for 2026 reservations remains on schedule to begin this Wednesday morning, October 1st at 8:00 AM!  Our dance between clouds and sun, calm and rain, soft breezes and rumbles of thunder all continue. Expect this mixed bag of dynamic and choppy skies to persist through the weekend. Even as guests wake up and slurp down pancakes and hot cocoa, the booming of nearby storms can be heard echoing across the mountains. Mornings should be mostly pleasant both today and tomorrow, with possibilities for storms in the afternoons and evenings. So early starts up the trail will benefit everyone for avoiding the worst of what the weather has in store for us. Temps at our location are going to sit snug in the 50s day and night.
There’s a lot on the docket this coming week. Here’s a quick rundown to assist you with your planning: *Beginning this Sunday, Sept. 28, supper for overnight guests will be served at 5:45 PM. This is to allow our overnight guests the opportunity to enjoy a hearty and well-earned supper with plenty of time to make the short trek up to Cliff Tops for sunset. We’ll continue to serve supper at this time for a few weeks until the next shift in mid October. Breakfast will remain at 8:00 AM. *Potential for Tropical Storm Impacts - it is appearing more certain every day that Imelda will grow into a hurricane and approach the Carolina coast. What remains uncertain is if the storm will in fact make US landfall and push toward the Smokies, or spin itself back out to sea. If the still-developing cyclone finds its way to us, it will be early to mid next week when we would could experience any impacts like rain or gusty winds. Stay tuned. *Potential for Federal Gov’t Shutdown - at this time, there are still a great many unknowns as to whether a lapse in appropriations will occur come midnight October 1st, and how that will affect operations and staffing here in GSMNP. Our direction will come from the NPS, should a shutdown come to fruition, as it relates to our ability to provide visitor services or not. Stay tuned. *Regardless of the above, the 2026 bookings process is still on track to begin this coming Wednesday, October 1st. Our reservations team will begin simultaneously processing the thousands of online written requests previously submitted and accepting phone calls inquiring as to 2026 bookings during normal business hours (8:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern) starting on Wednesday.  As anticipated, we haven’t gotten to enjoy much in the way of sunshine these past few days. And that pattern doesn’t appear to be changing anytime soon. Thick clouds, intermittent rain showers, and light breezes have taken control of the summit. Conditions have remained rather comfortable though, as temps continue to hover between 50s and 60s at our elevation. Until this trough shifts that is currently rolling all this wet weather through our region with such regularity, everyone coming to the Smokies should have the rain gear in tow. With each passing day, it looks and feels more like autumn atop Mt. LeConte. The mountain ash trees are glowing with their gold leaves and bright red berries, adding a beautiful “pop” against the dark greens of the firs and spruces. Elsewhere, the withering fleshy vegetation occupying the open spaces is transitioning to yellows and browns. Though it’s not necessarily their first choice, any year that the mountain ash berries come to fruition tends to attract black bears to the area. We’ve had some decent bear activity in recent days requiring NPS involvement, so it’s especially important that all visitors are being responsible during their time in the wilderness. Packing out your trash, not leaving your belongings unattended, hiking in groups…these are but a few helpful steps to take to avoid negative interactions with the local wildlife.  A sedated black bear, weighing more than 350 lbs (!!!) about to get a detailed medical evaluation.  Skies are particularly cloudy this morning as we officially welcome autumn. Today’s forecast appears to be a continuation of what we saw this past weekend…pleasant mornings followed by a mix bag of clouds and storms for the afternoon. In fact, rain chances are expected to increase with each day as the week goes along, so please keep that in mind if you’ll be visiting the mountain soon. Despite the wet outlook, temps will remain moderate for us in the 50s and 60s. For anyone interested in vying for a 2026 reservation, reminder that you have until this Wednesday at 4:00 PM Eastern to go to our website and submit a written request for preferred dates. After that deadline, we will not be accepting new written requests prior to when the 2026 booking process begins next Wednesday, October 1st. Please be very clear in your requests as it relates to dates, accommodation types, group sizes, and thoroughly review your request before hitting submit.   Here we go, it’s officially the last weekend of summer. With the first leaves already changing along the highest elevations, autumn is pounding on the door. Expect weekend warriors and distant travelers to be flocking to the park these next couple days. Especially with warm temps both day and night across all elevations. Our run of highs in the 60s and overnight lows in the 50s is on going. As word continues to get out regarding US 441’s recent reopening, popular trails like Alum Cave are gradually getting back to their normal congestion levels. Hikers getting early starts today and tomorrow are going to enjoy the clearest skies and best conditions. Anyone waiting to hit the trails will increase their likelihood of encountering cloudier skies and afternoon thunderstorm chances. So depending on your plan of attack this weekend, either take care of business by ascending and descending the mighty mountain quickly, or pack the appropriate rain gear should you get caught out in any wet weather.
 An impeccably cloudless morning got things started for us this Friday. Anyone taking advantage of the opportunity to catch sunrise at a place like Myrtle Point would have gotten an additionally captivating show beforehand. The eastern sky played host to a striking crescent moon paired quite closely with an equally bright Venus. A rarity and very neat scene to behold for anyone who was an early riser today!
While abundant sunshine and deep blues stretched in all visible directions to start the day, clouds have slowly popped up overhead and toward the horizons. They’ll continue to build this afternoon, especially while there’s a slight chance for the mountains to receive some precip. The rest of the weekend looks promising for visitors hoping to scale Mt. LeConte, but the percentages for late day storms increase the next couple days. So start your adventure early to beat the crowds and improve your chances at staying dry.  The mountain crest has been in and out of the clouds today, but no one seems to mind when it feels so fine. The mood is definitely one that is ready to welcome autumn. The sights, sounds, and smells of the surrounding landscape continue their subtle march away from summer. These kinds of days are some of the best for hiking in the Smokies. As we enter the weekend, conditions will be mostly sunny and pleasant at our location, with only itty-bitty possibilities for rain each day. Temps are going to roll between 50s and 60s. While the NPS Trail Crews will continue to rehab Bull Head Trail until early November, the team that has been up here since May is being reassigned. They sure accomplished quite a bit this summer, and we’re thankful for all they’ve done on our various trails. Hikers can admire their hard work during the miles-long treks to and from the Lodge, and also along those spur trails accessing the many grand vistas. Heads up to visitors coming to the mountain from the TN side. Beginning next week, a section of Cherokee Orchard Rd in Gatlinburg (not the park) will be closed for repair work. The project is expected to last two weeks. So anyone looking to drive up to Rainbow Falls or Grotto Falls parking lots will need to come from the direction of the Space Needle. Trying to circumvent downtown by way of Baskins Creek/Pi Beta Phi Elementary will find that option blocked. And because we’re approaching October, count on this reroute creating more than average traffic congestion in Gatlinburg.   With just 10 weeks to go in the 2025 season, the signs of autumn are becoming more apparent by the day. Cool breezes, waning daylight hours, wilting vegetation, and the first leaves to fall whirling with the wind. In small patches around the mountain, tiny splashes of yellows and golds appear among the vastly green landscape, the first trees looking to shed their summer time coats. It’s natural to get excited about the changing of the seasons and the beauty that it brings, especially to a place as renowned for such a vibrant and long lasting display as the Smokies. Clouds sat thick atop the summit this morning, but as we move further into the day, skies are attempting to open up and let the bright sunshine in. Grand views and rich blues should take control of what’s above by this afternoon, leading us into a solid stretch of pleasant days to get outside and enjoy the woods. Temps remain stellar at our elevation, continuing to range from 40s to 60s.   Thick clouds hover and hound the higher peaks of the Smokies this Tuesday. Glimpses of sunshine will be few and far between from our vantage point today. It’s decently warm feeling despite the gloomy gray scene, with temps sitting in the 50s and little to no air movement. The threat of rain looms overhead and all around. Will we see some liquid precip this afternoon, or will brief storms continue to duck and dodge our neck of the woods? The script will flip tomorrow though, as we’ll welcome the return of sunshine and clearer skies for a few days. That should inspire hikers to hit the trails these last few days of summer. Guests and crew alike are all grateful to have Alum Cave Trail back in the fold ever since US 441 (Newfound Gap Rd) got reopened this past weekend. It can develop a bad wrap, especially when it serves as a commute and tends to be so crowded. But after a month and a half of having to utilize trails that add several more miles roundtrip and greater elevation change, Alum Cave suddenly feels like a breeze comparatively. So hopefully now and through season’s end, all trails to Mt. LeConte will remain open and accessible (except Bull Head of course Mon-Thur weekly).  |
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
February 2026
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