I've never actually stayed at the lodge but I have hiked all the trails dozens of times leading up there. On a fall day during peak colors from the summit the view is beautiful. I sit back for a hour or so and soak in the mountains before starting the trip back down. I'd love to start a hiking club with my students to make this trip but the school district says the liability is too great. read more

The Best Hotel Ever! The *only* way you can get to Leconte Lodge is by hiking up to the summit of Mount LeConte in the middle of the Smoky Mountain National Park. You cannot drive up to LeConte Lodge because there are no roads. It's on top of one of the highest mountains east of the Rockies. The highest mountain east of the Rockies is Mount Mitchell (in west NC), which is 6,683 feet above sea level. Mount LeConte (in east TN) is 6,594 feet above sea level. Meals and bed linens are transported up the mountain by the lodge employees on the backs of llamas in rain-proof bags (the only place I've seen llamas outside of the Andes is on Mount LeConte). There's no electricity at LeConte Lodge, so you go to bed when it's dark, however they do have lanterns and propane heaters. Bring your own towel. read more

Leconte Lodge - LeConte Lodge Llamas! - Guest Houses Near Me - Sevierville, Tennessee

Wow, wow, wow. Getting here was painful even for an experienced hiker but the reward was well worth it. From the great room amenities (bucket, cup and bed) to the lack of electricity and phone signal, this is an experience I will never forget. There was 14 of us and let me tell u, we have never laughed and enjoyed each other's company like we did going up, staying up and going down. For some it was a 3.40 hr hike and others, it was a 7 hr. My only advice is to pack smart, light, good solid boots and a stick or two. Btw, the staff was great and the food was delicious and filling and they truly made the stay enjoyable. read more

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If hiking Mt. LeConte and staying at LeConte Lodge isn't on your bucket list, you need a better list! There aren't really any words that do this experience justice. After you hike one of five trails to the lodge at 6593', you will stay in one of several rustic cabins, which are heated and have oil lamps but don't have electricity or running water. The cabins are cozy and dark. Take a flashlight! Beds are pretty comfy. Most of them in the cabins I've stayed in are bunk double beds. There are outdoor pumps for water and an outhouse type structure with flushing toilets for guests. Day hikers can use the permanent portapotty setup (no flushing for you). Views are spectacular if you are favored with good weather, and even a cloudy day offers something worth seeing. You can hike .2 miles to see the sun set, and you can hike .7 miles to see the sun rise. Watching the squirrels and deer from the porch of your cabin is a great way to spend the afternoon and evening after your hike. The office and the porch of the dining hall are the social hubs where you can meet other guests while sitting in rockers around the heater or on the porch. Dinner and breakfast are served family style and made at the lodge. The chef was even able to work with me on my food allergies. read more

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I love this place. Hubs and I went here for our anniversary trip. You hike to the lodge that has no power and is very rustic. You sleep in a cabin and eat your meals in a large dining hall with other guests. The staff is so friendly and the food is so delicious. This is such a great place for those looking for an adventure. This place books up fast so dial like crazy on Oct. 1 to get your reservation. Words really can't describe this place, it's an experience you have to try for yourself. read more

UH-MAZING!!! This place is not for everyone, but let me tell you what, it's for those who are adventurous, like to hike and be one with nature. I heard about this place from a co-worker who hiked in and stayed at the lodge several years back, and ever since then it's been on my bucket list. My husband isn't into hiking so it was me and a girlfriend who went after being called up when there was a cancellation. It's all that I expected, aside from the hike being a little more challenging than I ever imagined. We took Rainbow Falls trail up and it's not for the faint at heart. It's 6.6 miles straight up, and the last mile you're more than ready to be at the top. We took Bullhead down and while it was a bit easier it still wasn't for beginner hikers. A stay at LeConte Lodge is what I call an 'experience'. No electricity, showers or bathrooms in your cabin, but for most up there, you could really care less. It's the challenge of getting there and taking in the big sky, sunsets, and sunrise. I was surprised how good the meals made by the staff were, but not surprised at just how awesome the people on the mountain are. Everyone from the staff, to the other guests could NOT have been any nicer. We made new friends and had the best time ever. I hope to go back at least every other year! P.S. they serve a bottomless glass of wine at dinner but it's only about an hour long. Most everyone that traveled up packed in some sort of booze. So, if that's your thing, make room in your pack! People even took cocktails on the hike up to see the sunset! read more

Leconte Lodge - Guest Houses Near Me - Sevierville, Tennessee

My family has hiked up and stayed the first Monday in May since I was born! My parents started the tradition prior to my and my older brother's birth. I've now been able to add my husband and daughter to the family tradition. I cannot express how much I love this mountain and the lodge up top! The moment we step off the mountain I start looking forward to the next year (hopeful that we can continue to get a reservation) we've made a hiking family out of the other first Monday in May-ers. If you can make it a priority to experience this but please be respectful of the lodge, the trails, and the mountain. In the ever changing mess that is Gatlinburg/ Pigeon Forge/ Sevierville LeConte is a sanctuary for what the Smokies are and should be! read more

Leconte Lodge - My brother and I with our kids....hiking the same trails we "hiked" at their age! - Guest Houses Near Me - Sevierville, Tennessee

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I am going to do my best to put into words how totally amazing this place is. Le Conte is not just a place to stay or a destination but an experience that is not to be forgotten. For anyone who does not know what this place is I would suggest you look up their website for the full info... but in a nutshell... you pay about 150$ a person. Per night. To sleep in a cabin with no electricity or running water. And you have to HIKE there and the shortest hike is 6.5 miles. Going up a hill the whole way pretty much. And you wonder if there are bears. And you sleep in bunk beds. And then you have to hike BACK down when you leave and if you pick a different route it may be 7 miles (which is what we did). And you will NEVER forget how awesome it all was. Getting a reservation is a process and they do a lottery system to even get the ability to then get a room. I got on a wait list as I missed the lottery window and basically said.... we will take ANY night during this three week period. I got notice that we got a Tues night for 2 people. We planned everything else about our trip around this one night. Once you get to the park you park your car at one of the trailheads depending on what trail you want to hike up. There are 5 total trails but the most popular one (Alum Cave) is closed for a while now for renovations. We took Rainbow Falls up at 6.5 miles. It took us a little under four hours to get to the lodge as we stopped for lunch and breaks. Get to the trailhead EARLY as the spots fill up. We get to the lodge and are checked in by one the awesome staff. Shown to our cabin and given our bucket for water and the bathroom key on a big stick. There is hot cocoa and chocolate in the dining hall till 5. Dinner was at 6. My boyfriend and I wandered around some, took pictures, talked to a few of the other guests as they came into camp. Dinner was at 6. You are seated at a table to folks from the cabins nearest to you. Had a great table full of couples... we were all from different states. Dinner is served family style...big plates of food! After dinner you can hang out.... we went to the office area and played board games and talked to folks. Bedtime is pretty much when the sun goes down (remember the no electricity part??). Getting up to use the bathroom in the dark is something let me tell you. Oh and a mouse got in bed with me about 6:30 am. Again, remember you are IN THE MOUNTAINS. Things happen! Breakfast is at 8. Again served family style and you sit with the same folks from the night before. Huge plates of yummy food to get you fueled for your hike back down if you only stayed one night. You can also buy a 10$ sack lunch to take down with you and refill water bottles and such. We took the 7 mile Bullshead Trail back down. I had a lot of fun during my over week long TN vacation. Le Conte was the HIGHLIGHT of the trip and the staff were beyond wonderful. I would highly recommend this place!!! read more

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For my 500th review, I've been saving a place that's pretty unique, cool and special. Just browsing a Family Fun magazine, there was an article on LeConte. Ever have one of those experiences where you were like "Wow! Where am I and what just happened?" An almost life changing experience or journey? This may be that destination for you. It was for me. There are multiple trails that lead to the summit of Leconte. You can check their website for trail names and distances and pick the way up and down that best suits you. And yes it is at the summit! After a long day of hiking my friend and I checked into our mini cabin. Large bunk beds with wool blankets and a more than sufficient heater. At night you can hear the wind howling and rushing by the cabins. The package includes dinner and breakfast. You can pay a little extra for all you can drink wine with dinner; well worth it for a good warm up. The food is served family style, sitting together with other people/families. The food also happens to be really, really good home cooking. Later you can go to the common area in another cabin and read or play games. You are encouraged to see the sunset and sunrise, as the views are spectacular; you can see for miles! Yes the toilet seats in the restrooms were freezing at night; just another part of the adventure. The people that run LeConte really make you feel pampered and cared for, even though in some ways you are "roughing it" a little bit. All that's left is a beautifully scenic hike back down the mountain and the car ride home with extremely sore legs! No it's not an easy place to get to - in fact it can be quite challenging but it's a great place to reflect, think about life and how big this world we live in is.... read more

A great hidden gem. Yes you have to hike to get to it. No there is no electricity. But wow. The views are amazing. The other visitors will be friendly because you all share something. It books up a year in advance so be ready. Follow them on their blog highonleconte.com for dates. My son and I do this annually and hope to continue it. This past trip, as well as a few times in the past, we met people in their 70's or older! Just leave early and pace yourself. Whichever trail you decide, read about it. There are so many things to look for along the way. Many people just run up the mountain and never stop to see the amazing views. Also once you get close it smells absolutely amazing, like walking through the Christmas tree farm. If you have "oak or ragweed" allergies they will leave you at about 6000ft. Best breathing you will have. read more