Place

LeConte Lodge

Wooden cabins surrounded by trees and grass, with a mountain view in the distance.
LeConte Lodge offers cozy cabins and expansive views.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts
Significance:
Highest Elevation Guest Lodge in the Eastern U.S.

Animal-Safe Food Storage, Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Fire Extinguisher, First Aid Kit Available, Food/Drink - Snacks, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Hitching Post/Corral, Picnic Table, Restroom - Seasonal, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Shelter/Cabin, Toilet - Vault/Composting, Water - Bottle-Filling Station

What started as a tent camp in 1925 for visiting dignitaries from Washington D.C., is now the highest guest lodge in the eastern United States. From wood burning stoves, horses, and mules, to propane, solar power, and llamas, the rustic lodge has seen many owners and embodies a rich history. Visitors can now enjoy family-style meals and basic amenities away from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 6,593 feet (2,010 m). LeConte Lodge predates the national park’s 1934 establishment and is located west of the summit at 6,360 feet (1,939 m).

Brief History

Paul Adams established a tent camp atop Mount LeConte in 1925 when the movement to establish a national park in the Smokies was in full swing. Jack Huff, the lodge’s founder and a Gatlinburg mountaineer, began constructing the rustic retreat in 1926. Jack, along with wife Pauline and their family, operated the lodge until 1960. Huff built many of the existing buildings still used today. From 1960 to 1975, Herrick and Myrtle Brown owned and operated the lodge. Jim Huff, Hugh Ogle, and Bill Rinearson shared ownership of the lodge from 1976 to 1989. The Stokely family began its tenure of lodge ownership and operational oversight in 1989. It is currently a limited partnership between Stokely Hospitality Enterprises and Tim Line. Learn more about the lodge’s history and make reservations on the LeConte Lodge website.

Lodge Access

The five hiking routes to the lodge vary in length from 5 to 8 miles one-way.

  • Alum Cave Trail
  • Boulevard Trail via the Appalachian Trail
  • Bullhead Trail
  • Rainbow Falls Trail
  • Trillium Gap Trail

Reservations

The lodge is generally open from mid-March through mid-November. Advance reservations are required to stay at the lodge.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tags

Last updated: June 6, 2024