Hiking Destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains
LeConte Lodge - Unusual Mountaintop Accommodations in Tennessee
Aug 25, 2009
Situated on the summit of Mount LeConte, the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, LeConte Lodge is made up of a series of small cabins, a dining hall, and a central lodge. The lodge and its cabins can host up to 50 visitors per night and provides visitors with an overnight experience unlike any other.
LeConte Lodge takes visitors back to a simpler way of life. The rustic cabins are modestly decorated with only the necessary furniture, such as bedding and chairs, and the lodgings provide visitors with a sense of what early pioneers must have experienced. Without the distraction of modern technologies, such as television and the internet, visitors can enjoy nature in its purest form.
One of the most interesting aspects of LeConte Lodge is the mode of transportation used to reach the lodge: one's own feet. In other words, the only way for visitors to reach the lodge is by foot. There are 5 different trails from which hikers can choose to reach the lodge, and the shortest trail is approximately 5 miles in length. For over 80 years, LeConte Lodge has been one of the premier hiking destinations within the park.
The History of LeConte Lodge
Since the early 20th century, many adventurous hikers and outdoor enthusiasts have ascended and descended Mount LeConte. Strolling through the dense forests of Eastern Hemlocks and the thousands of various types of flora and fauna native to the area, hikers would be enveloped by the natural beauty and tranquility of the majestic Smoky Mountains.
The idea to erect a camp atop Mount LeConte to accommodate the many visitors to the area was born in 1925 within the mind and heart of Paul Adams. Desiring to see the Smoky Mountains attain National Park status, a tent camp was erected to provide lodging for dignitaries visiting the area in support of nationalizing this part of the Southern Appalachians. While Paul Adam's tent camp was a thing of splendor, Jack Huff would take this vision to a new level.
Jack Huff had always lived in the shadow of Mount LeConte in the small town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Having been his playground as a young man, the mountain had always fascinated him. He had always held a great love and deep respect for the mountain. It was only natural that he would follow in the steps of Paul Adams in creating a refuge and sanctuary 6,360 feet above sea level. He began building LeConte Lodge, which began as a single cabin, on the summit of Mount LeConte in 1926 and operated the lodge until 1960.
What to Expect During Your Visit to LeConte Lodge
LeConte Lodge is an extremely popular hiking destination, and reservations are required for an overnight stay at the lodge. Reservations are typically made a year in advance, and reservations can be made either online or by telephone. Weekday reservations are often times easier to secure than are weekend reservations.
Hungry and weary hikers are welcomed to the lodge with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or lemonade. A hot dinner and a hot breakfast are provided to overnight guests of the lodge. The lodge does offer sack lunches to hikers for the trip back down the mountain for a nominal charge.
Before dinner, many visitors to the lodge head to Cliff Tops which is only a short walk from the lodge. Guests gather at Cliff Tops to experience one of the most spectacular attractions of the lodge: a glorious mountain sunset. In the morning, guests can again make the short trek to Cliff Tops to enjoy a breath-taking sunrise before being served a hearty and filling breakfast. Myrtle Point is also a popular destination for LeConte Lodge visitors.
Even during the summer months, the temperatures at LeConte Lodge typically do not exceed 80 degrees. Therefore, hikers should be sure to bring warm clothes and layer appropriately even during the summer months. Temperatures can vary by as much as 20 degrees from the base of the mountain to the summit where the lodge is located.
A Smoky Mountain Retreat Unlike any Other
LeConte Lodge offers the only accommodations available within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This seems only fitting as one of the original founders of the lodge worked tirelessly to ensure the area's national park status. The lodge is rich in history and stands as a testament to man's abilty to fulfill dreams through hardwork, perseverance, and ingenuity.
Perched high atop Mount LeConte, LeConte Lodge stands as a reminder of a simpler and more natural way of life. At the lodge where problems seem to melt away, hikers can find respite from the daily hassles and pressures of a busy life. For these reasons and many others, LeConte Lodge has garnered a reputation as one of the top hiking destinations in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
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