We're attempting to get reservations at LeConte Lodge at the end of July/first of Aug. If we succeed, I have some questions about the Lodge.
1) Which trail(s) are best to get up there and back. We'll be bu ourselves so it looks like the Bullhead/Rainbow Falls option is best so we'll end back up at the car. But I would really like to see the scenery along the Alum Cave. What are your suggestions? (Wre are experienced Smokies hikers)

2) Any recommendations for when we are at the lodge? Is Myrtle Point too far to go up and see? What can we expect while we're there? What's the food like?

I have searched the board and also visited the Lodge's website, but would like some 1st hand expereinces.

Thanks

I hiked LeConte every year for several years but haven't done it in ages! I think I hiked all the various routes and ultimately decided I liked Alum Cave the best by far, both up and back. The scenery is just the best on that trail. While it's a little steep in places going up, there are lots of nice spots to rest and look at the views.

It may have changed in the past 5 years or so but the food was fine -- nothing to write home about, but perfect when you're starving after a long hike. I seem to recall beef stew and the like. Same with the accommodations -- I always slept great there, probably because I was exhausted. I remember breakfasts being better than dinners. For some reason they always served canned peaches in heavy syrup with dinner. It got to be a joke every time we went: "I sure hope they're serving canned peaches tonight." They have nice rocking chairs at the lodge, and when they ring that dinner bell, people seemed barely able to rouse themselves. After dinner we always walked up to the ridge to watch the sunset, which was gorgeous (and REALLY dark on the way back).

I think they transport supplies to & from the lodge using llamas. You may run into them on the trails.

Have a great time.

Forgot to mention -- a lot of people seem to recommend hiking the Boulevard trail up because it isn't very steep and is a nice wide trail with a very gradual rise -- but that's actually my least favorite route. I thought it took forever and wasn't particularly scenic compared with the other trails. It seemed like we walked and walked and never got anywhere. I like Alum Cave much better. Just my two cents.

Have done the Rainbow Falls trail to the falls but not beyond. For the most part you are in forest with few views. Beautiful waterfall however. The Boulevard Trail is longest at 8 miles one way but with the least amount of elevation gain. The Alum Cave Bluffs is the shortest about 5 miles, the most elevation gain and the most popular of the five routes to LeConte. From the Bluffs about half way to LeConte have an excellent view (though will probably be hazy that time of year) also good spot to look for peregrine falcons. Even if you don't get to stay in the lodge the trip is an excellent day hike. There is also a backcountry campground you could possibly stay at. If you have 2 vehicles alot of folks go up one trail and down another to see even more of the area. A couple of sites you might want to look at http://www.griztrax.net/smokies/sout...tpourri4.html; http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Fo...hikes_a-g.html (yes these are Smokies trails and not Yosemite);http://people.musc.edu/~mitchejm/MountLeConte.html and http://hikingthecarolinas.com/leconte2.php. Be sure to carry water.

I've hiked this a couple of times and we decided this past spring we will now make it an annual family event.

I would definitely recommend going up Alum Bluff and returning one of the other trails, take your pick. You get variety because the trails are all different. Rainbow Falls is nice.

If you don't have two cars, and I never do, use one of the shuttle services out of Gatlinburg. They are usually $20-30 and can pick you up at the trailhead when yopu finish and take you back to your car. Call the Happy Hiker shop in Gatlinburg and they can give you the names of two or three car services. This past trip we had two cars and still used the shuttle just to save time and keep from having to bother with the cars. Get to Alum Cave trailhead early because it is a small parking lot and usually gets crowded.

Our last trip we had three teenagers 14, 14, 16 and four adults. Got to the top and had a great time. The food is good after a long hike, nothing fancy. Pot roast and potatoes kind of stuff.

If you have a birthday in your party they can make you a cake for $15. I surprised my wife this year with one.

They serve wine with dinner if you pay extra - I always do.

Have fun. Email if you want any other info.

Sorry to say that we're unable to catch a cancellation to go at the end of this month. However, we're still hoping to go this year (maybe in Oct), I will continue to try and get reservations and let you know.

Thanks for everyone's help

I should mention that we're instead going to Cumberland Falls to hike and whitewater raft. The moonbow will also happen at the end of the month. Report when we return

One time, many, many moons ago, when I was in college, we went on a week-end hiking/camping trip to LeConte Lodge. I had brought a carton of cigarettes (we all smoked then!) and, to make a long story short, we hiked, came back to our cabins, and someone started screaming because there was a bear who had plundered through some things and was making off to the woods with what? Why, our entire carton of cigarettes! Needless to say, everyone was in withdrawal for the rest of our stay and we cursed that bear! I can still see that young bear in my mind's eye, with my carton of Salems in his mouth!

And BigRed, Cumberland Falls, the family outings of my childhood and teens? Eating dinners in the excellent park lodge there and climbing in and around the big rocks on the side of the Falls to get a better look at the triple rainbows that could be seen above the falls after a rain? Gee, now this truly is a walk down memory lane!

We really enjoyed Cumberland Falls when we went a couple of years ago. I don't know if you've been there before, but there are quite a few hiking trails around there. We were there for the Moonbow also. It was fun (almost party-like) waiting with the others for the sun to go down. Some people brought their lawn chairs down to wait. One night it was very cloudy and the second night we were there it was partly cloudy. People would come down from the campgrounds and lodge whenever the sky cleared. We just stayed down there the whole evening, and did get some good pictures.

If you eat in the lodge,try to get a table by the windows in the restaurant around dusk. Every night there were raccoons, skunks and squirrels eating the food that fell from the bird feeders.They were fun to watch while we ate.

I think Kentucky's parks and lodges are excellent.