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Mt. LeConte Clingmans Dome

Treks / USA (Tennessee)

Mount LeConte (Alum Cave)

USA (Tennessee) · Nearest city: Knoxville (also Nashville, Atlanta)

TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 18 km
Climbing≈ 850 m
Highest point2,010 m

A classic Great Smoky Mountains hike past Arch Rock and Alum Cave Bluffs to a summit lodge reached only on foot.

Fitness Demanding
Best seasonApril to November
High pointMount LeConte

Watch out: Parking tags are required in the Smokies. Icy sections in winter need traction.

Why people choose it

It's a classic Smokies hike to a summit lodge that can only be reached on foot and is supplied by llamas.

What makes it different

  • Summit lodge supplied by llamas
  • Arch Rock and Alum Cave Bluffs
  • Sunset at Cliff Tops

Route options

There is rarely just one way to walk Mount LeConte (Alum Cave). These are the main choices people make.

Similar treks to consider

Highline Trail (Glacier) USA (Montana) · 1 day · 19 km A spectacular trail along the Continental Divide from Logan Pass, with mountain goats, bighorn sheep and... Angels Landing USA (Utah) · 1 day · 9 km A short, famous hike in Zion National Park that ends along a narrow sandstone fin with chains and big drops. Mount Marcy USA (New York) · 1 day · 24 km The highest peak in New York State, in the Adirondacks, reached on a long day through forest to an open summit.

Before you go

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.

Phone and data

Roaming in USA is expensive on most phone plans. A data eSIM bought before you fly gets you online as soon as you land.

USA eSIM on Airalo

Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.

Insurance that covers this trek

This trek reaches 2,010 m, and many policies stop covering hiking at 2,000 to 3,000 m unless you add an activity upgrade. World Nomads needs its Level 3 activities above 2,000 m, Heymondo its Adventure add-on above 3,000 m, and SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covers trekking up to 4,500 m.

Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.

World NomadsSafetyWingHeymondoTrue Traveller

True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.

Camping and where to sleep

In national parks, overnight stays need a wilderness permit and camping is often limited to designated sites. On most national forest and BLM land, dispersed camping is allowed.

Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.

Route map

Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.

Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city

Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.

Stops: Alum Cave Bluffs → Mount Le Conte

Simple overview map
Alum Cave BluffsMount Le ConteKnoxville20 kmN

Step by step

  1. Months before

    Plan and book

    • Get the required permit, reservation or ticket. Popular dates sell out.
    • Best time to go: April to November.
  2. 6–12 weeks before

    Train and test your gear

    • Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
    • Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
    • Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.

    Readiness quiz · Packing list

  3. Getting there

    Travel to the start

    • Most people start from Knoxville.
  4. On the trail

    Walk it

    • Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
    • Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
  5. The finish

    Get home

    • It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.

How the season changes things

Best time: April to November

April to June

Spring

Mud season in the north, blackflies in May and June, and fresh green forests.

Bring

  • Waterproof boots
  • Insect repellent
  • Warm layer for summits

July to August

Summer

Warm and humid in the forests, with thunderstorms and cool, windy summits.

Bring

  • Rain jacket
  • Plenty of water
  • Warm layer above the treeline

September to October

Autumn

Famous fall colours and crowds, with early snow and ice on higher summits.

Bring

  • Warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Microspikes late in the season
  • Headlamp

What you'll see

5 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.

Mt. LeConte Clingmans Dome
View atop Cliff Tops on Mount LeConte, GSMNP, TN
Near Mount Le Conte (Tennessee)Alum Cave Trail
Near Mount Le Conte (Tennessee)Mountainous landscape at dusk
Near Alum Cave BluffsSmokemont Campground, Smokie Mountains NP, Gatlinburg, TN - panoramio

Gear for the Mount LeConte (Alum Cave)

Hiking boots Top pick: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX Trekking poles Top pick: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Rain jackets Top pick: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L

Photo credits: Mt. LeConte Clingmans Dome by Bneu2013, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; View atop Cliff Tops on Mount LeConte, GSMNP, TN by AppalachianCentrist, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Alum Cave Trail by Andrew Heneen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Mountainous landscape at dusk by Joey Kyber jtkyber1, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; Smokemont Campground, Smokie Mountains NP, Gatlinburg, TN - panoramio by Ron Bruce, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.