Mt. LeConte Hike August 2021

Here’s our phenomenal 19.1-mile hike at Mt. LeConte in the Great Smoky Mountains where we visited all the key places there—Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, Eye of the Needle, LeConte Lodge, Cliff Tops, High Top, Myrtle Point, Charlie’s Bunion, and Jumpoff. Starting super early ensured us a parking spot as well as time to hike it all and still get back home by midnight. We started with Alum Cave Trail while it was still dark, took all the spur trails to overlooks, and we returned via Boulevard Trail and Appalachian Trail to Newfound Gap. Admittedly, the darkness kept us from seeing much of Arch Rock, but it’s close to the trailhead—easy to return for a quick visit. It rains a lot there, so you often must hike through the rain and clouds. On our visit to Cliff tops we saw nothing but opaque white behind the cliffs. Though it was gorgeous, I’m eager to return to see the scenery. If your timing is just right, you’ll be there just in time to see the clouds open like curtains revealing the beauty behind them. We watched this at both Charlie’s Bunion and Jumpoff. Mount LeConte is magical!!