From the #8 traffic light, follow along Airport Road and begin traveling out of Gatlinburg toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Typically we would do Alum for a sunrise hike, but as is tradition in the Smokies, 441 was closed due to ice and snow. To get here, continue up the Rainbow Falls Trail (if you are standing with your back to the lodge, take a left). The bathrooms at the trailhead were nothing to write home about, but they get the job done if you're a morning person like me. © 2020 - SmokyMountains.com. Hiking to Mount LeConte Summit LeConte in the Smokies begins from the Rainbow Falls Trailhead, located just outside of Gatlinburg. Hikers report that the beautiful Rainbow Falls, lush vegatation, and amazing scenery make the difficult hike well worth it. Le Conte shelter Day 2: boulevard trail to icewater springs shelter Day 3: boulevard trail back up to Mt. If you have the gusto, we suggest taking Bull Head Trail on your descent. The falls are visible from the trail, but you will have to navigate through dense trees to get an up-close view of the drop pool. at this point, I was in a race with daylight to get back down. LeConte trails have to offer. Up the the falls was amazing. Route: Rainbow Falls Trail to LeConte Lodge and down Bullhead Trail. This hike to Mt. Le Conte. Mount LeConte and Rainbow Falls via The Bullhead Trail is a 14.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. missed my turn for Mt. I arrived at the trail head parking around 0915 and got the last spot. Didn’t do the extra .6 miles up to the lodge. However beautiful the views were to repeat on the rainbow Falls Trail, the crowd of people in the afternoon below the falls made me wish I did the bull head trail on the way back. The lodge is a hiking destination, accessible only by foot by way of one of the five trails leading to the summit. Keep in mind that the rocks near the falls are slippery, and the area should be approached with caution. From the LeConte Lodge, it takes about ten to fifteen minutes of hiking (about .5 miles) to reach the true summit of Mt. After walking a short distance past the junction you'll arrive at the outskirts of the LeConte Lodge area. It is approximately half a mile longer than the Rainbow Falls Trail, but it compensates with spectacular views and panoramic vistas. It is believed that Rainbow Falls Trail is the oldest trail to the peak of Mt. Rainbow falls trail to the mighty Mt. The creek water tasted very refreshing if you're looking for a cool, cool beverage along the way. Bullhead Trail to Mt LeConte is a 6.9 mile hike. I saw a couple black bears and a lot of turkeys at the parking lot. It is challenging. Hikers report that the beautiful Rainbow Falls, lush vegatation, and amazing scenery make the difficult hike well worth it. The way down bullhead was rocky but manageable and very well marked the whole way. This was our favorite hike during our stay at GSNP! I love the loop. You'll find Grotto Falls on this hike & even some llamas. Le sentier longe une cascade et sa difficulté est difficile et donc seulement recommandé pour les aventuriers expérimentés. Mount LeConte: Rainbow Falls on Mt LeConte - See 270 traveler reviews, 392 candid photos, and great deals for Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN, at Tripadvisor. We went up Rainbow Falls and down Bullhead, while stopping at Mt LeConte at the top. The last mile to the lodge hurt a lot. Trail Experience In the first 2.3 miles alone, the trail gains more than 1,500 feet. Unfortunately, my phone died and I was unable to finish the full recording. Michael Wifall. I was not fully prepared for this trip! LeConte Treks Any other tips or concerns you have for these trails this time of year? Day 1: rainbow falls to Mt. I didn't think the upper portion was as scenic however the mosses and ferns were spectacular. It is situated on an open glade just below the summit of Mt. Definitely an amazing trip and something I recommend anyone do! John, too, was highly successful. The Trails Forever project has already made several improvements to the path here, but please stick to the main path and avoid cutting corners that lead to erosion and de-vegetation. Around 3 hours from trailhead to peak. LeConte Trails Trillium Gap Trail is a popular choice for people who want to see Grotto Falls or who prefer a more gradual elevation gain than some of the other Mt. Cliff Top and Myrtle point are absolutely worth spending some time going to and taking in the views. Length 13 miElevation gain 4002 ftRoute type Out & back We continued past the falls and to the split at Bullhead. Pressing on to Mount LeConte Since the rocky terrain and significant elevation gain make this trail moderately strenuous to difficult, a few hours may be just enough to enjoy nature, torch some calories and work up an appetite for a hearty lunch. The first mile kicked my butt but I got another wind. The trail parallels LeConte Creek from the onset, occasionally crossing it over single log footbridges during the first 2.7 miles to Rainbow Falls. The Lodge serves as a grandstand for the entire Park and commands spectacular views of the Smokies. You may find yourself itching to reach the summit of Mount LeConte and we don’t blame you one bit!. I started at 930am & roughly got to parking lot around 730pm. After driving 0.7 miles veer right onto Cherokee Orchard Road, upon which you'll enter into Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The trail was muddy and a thin dusting of snow lay on the ground. Bring a water filter though since there is still a lot of animal activity in the area. Starting from Light 8 in Gatlinburg, turn onto Historic Nature Trail / Airport Road. The SmokyMountains.com Local Experts Team, review of the shorter round-trip to the falls. Don’t underestimate it either. The trail is only recommended for very experienced adventurers and is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching. At roughly 6.6 miles the trail dead-ends into the Rainbow Falls Trail. Hikers should proceed straight here to continue towards the summit of Mt. While the entire trail is technically nine miles, most hikers choose to drive roughly two miles in and park at the Grotto Falls parking area. © 2020 AllTrails, Inc. Tous droits réservés. LeConte. To reach the summit, which can be found approximately 4 miles past Rainbow Falls, you will also hike a small part of the Bull Head Trail and Alum Cave Trail. I think starting at 8 would definitely guarantee a parking spot right near the trail head. Hikers should turn left at this junction to visit the summit. Le sentier offre plusieurs activités. Got back to the parking lot at 3:30pm with a few breaks and lunch. Summary: The Rainbow Falls Trail is fairly challenging if completed all the way to Mt LeConte. Note that there is additional parking 0.1 miles past the primary lot. We only passed two other people on this trail, so if you're looking for solitude you can definitely find it on this trail. LeConte via Rainbow falls trail and came down Bull Head Trail. The trail opens along a fairly rocky and rooty traverse overlooking Leconte Creek. Highlights from a beautiful fall hike to Mt LeConte via Rainbow Falls Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you plan to reach the peak, we recommend starting your hike early in the day to allow plenty of time to return before dark. The waterfall is located about 2.7 miles from the trailhead. The Bullhead Trail now shares a trailhead with Rainbow Falls. Rainbow Falls Trail is one of the 6 trails leading to Mount LeConte; it's also one of the most popular. This was my first hike in GSMNP and I couldn't have asked for a better hike. Trillium Gap is the longest Mt LeConte trail with Bullhead in second place. We had heard that the Bull Head Trail was one of the best and it was. After driving 0.7 miles veer right onto Cherokee Orchard Road, upon … Lots of icy patches around the falls. However, I would have gone up bull head first. ... LeConte Lodge® is located within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the top of Mt. Awesome experience!Took us 9 hrs but worth it ! at the end of my hike, my GPS logged nearly 18 miles. Heading down Bullhead was a nice change of scenery, but it is quite rocky so sturdy shoes are a must. Hikers should proceed straight ahead here. Don’t need snowshoes, but yaks would probably be worth carrying until you needed them. Wow! To climb Mt. Looks like there is water at each of the shelters. The Rainbow Falls Trail is just a short jaunt from Gatlinburg and a great day trip for tourists and locals alike. LeConte at an elevation of about 6400 feet. This is a wonderful hike that is lush with plant life and gradually offers amazing views on the way up to Mt. Le Conte shelter Day 4: hike out via Bull Head Trail. Allow an hour and a half to Rainbow Falls and four hours to Mt LeConte. A couple miles above the falls turns to more manageable snow. After walking another four-tenths of a mile you'll reach the Alum Cave Trail, which branches off to the right. Bullhead Trail. While I am glad I did the loop, I would do Rainbow in and out if I were to do it again. Continue on Alum Cave Trail for less than a half-mile, and then veer left along the Trillium Gap Trail to reach the summit approximately 6.9 miles from the trailhead. 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