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Newfound Gap to Mount LeConte

Rating: Moderate to Strenuous

Distance:13 miles

Trailhead: Park one car at Alum Cave Trail Parking Area and park the other car at Newfound Gap Parking Area. Begin trip on Appalachian Trail at Newfound Gap.

Trails: Appalachian Trail, Boulevard Trail, Alum Cave Trail

Campsites: Icewater Spring Shelter, Mount LeConte Shelter

Overview: Great two night trip in the high Smokies.

View from the Boulevard Trail

Mount LeConte is one of the most popular destinations in the Smokies. Why is Mount LeConte so popular? A major draw is the lodge located just below its summit. The lodge has eight cabins and draws hundreds of hikers to the second highest peak in the park each year. Reservations are usually booked a year in advance. The views from Cliff Top and Myrtle Point are spectacular. In addition, the mountain is readily accessible with over 6 trails culminating on its summit. Alum Cave Trail and the Boulevard Trail are the favored routes to Mount LeConte. The Boulevard Trail is probably the easiest route to Mount LeConte. From Newfound Gap it is 8 miles to Mount LeConte via the Appalachian Trail and the Boulevard Trail. While the Alum Cave Trail is shorter at 5 miles, it is uphill all the way with about 2500 feet of elevation gain.

This trip incorporates the Appalachian Trail, the Boulevard Trail, and the Alum Cave Trail. Two cars are needed to complete this trip. Park one car at the Alum Cave trailhead 5 miles north of Newfound Gap on Newfound Gap Road (Highway 441) in the Tennesse side of the Smokies. Park the other car at Newfound Gap. Begin the hike at the Roosevelt Monument at Newfound Gap. To view the map for this trail click here. The Appalachian Trail crosses Newfound Gap at this point and re-enters the woods to the right of the monument. The trail rises moderatley in elevation as it climbs out of the gap. After 1.7 miles the trail passes the Sweet Heifer Creek Trail to the right which leads to Kephart Prong Shelter. At 2.7 miles the Boulevard Trail branches to the left. However, proceed straight on the Appalachian Trail another 0.2 miles to Icewater Spring Shelter on the southside of Mount Kephart. The spring is to the east of the shelter. In fact, the spring lies directly on the trail about fifty yards from the shelter.

View from Masa Knob

Spend the night at Icewater Spring. A beautiful side trip is to Masa Knob and Charlies Bunion approximately a mile from Icewater Spring on the Appalachian Trail. The views from these two overlooks are incredible.

The next day backtrack 0.2 miles to the intersection with the Boulevard Trail. It is 5.3 miles from this point to the summit of Mount LeConte. The Boulevard Trail is a rugged trail with loose rock underfoot and physically demanding terrain. The elevation change is not significant with no section of the route dropping below 5,500 feet but the constant uphill and downhill is tiring. The only real climb is the final push to the summit of Mount LeConte which entails a thousand feet of climbing over the last mile. However, the effort is well worth it with spectacular views all along this route. This has to be one of the most scenic trails in the Smokies. Before reaching the summit referred to as High Top at an elevation of 6,593 feet there is a 0.2 mile side trail to the left leading to Myrtle Point with views to the south. The Mount LeConte Shelter is to the left just past the summit on the northern slope of the mountain. A little further down is the Mount LeConte Lodge to the right where there is a water pump. Directly across from the lodge and to the left of the trail is a side trail to Cliff Top. From this vantage point there are views to the west of Chimney Top and Clingmans Dome in the distance. Deer often frequent this mountaintop and can be seen early in the morning roaming the woods surrounding the shelter.

On the last day proceed on the Boulevard Trail once again passing the lodge to the right until reaching the junction with the Rainbow Falls Trail. Proceed about 0.1 miles and take a left onto the Alum Cave Trail. This trail descends downhill 4.9 miles to the Alum Cave trailhead and the end point of this trip at Newfound Gap Road.

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