The Magical Night Hike In Tennessee That Everyone Should Take At Least Once
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Meghan Kraft
Author
The Great Smoky Mountains are known for their towering peaks, their stunning views, and their abundance of cabins where guests can enjoy everything about the park. But there is one lodge in the park that is only accessible by hiking trail, and experiencing its sweeping vistas at night is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. People from around the world come to this spot just to see the untouched beauty that is Mt. LeConte.
High in the Great Smoky Mountains, there's a group of cabins that are only accessible by hiking to them.
LeConte Lodge, as the camp is known, sits 6400 feet above sea level, making them the highest cabins in the Eastern United States.
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The views from the lodge are worth the trek alone. They sit right on the edge of the mountain with sweeping views of the valley below and the mountains out in front of you. It's a truly breathtaking sight!
Meals are served by the staff at LeConte Lodge in the main dining room. Everything is family style, and it's absolutely delicious!
Getting to the lodge is tricky and not for the faint of heart. There are five trails that lead to this destination, the shortest being 5.5 miles one way, but that trail is also the steepest. Any trail you take will take you 5-6 hours one way.
While most people who hike to the lodge already have overnight reservations, you can also visit during a day hike. They have a small souvenir shop and offer sack lunches for $11 to any day hikers passing through.
It's truly a rustic experience, hiking the lodge with your belongings and settling into camp once you get there, but many describe it as one of the best and most unique experiences our country has to offer!
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LeConte is open from the middle of March through the middle of November, but guests can anticipate the possibility of encountering snow and ice on the trails as late as May and as early as September. Plan accordingly!
Bookings at LeConte Lodge fill up fast, so be sure to check out their website for more information and availability. Happy hiking!
If you’re looking for something a little easier to get to, check out this Nashville candy store that everyone should visit at least once.
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