Prints available here. Photographed from the tallest mountain peak in Tennessee, Mount LeConte stands 6593 feet above sea level and offers hikers expansive views of a picturesque Smoky Mountains landscape.
Tag: Alum Cave Bluffs
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Mountain Trail
This mountain trail was photographed on top of Mount LeConte, as seen when returning from the farthest viewing area, known as Myrtle Point. Because of a steep cliff on the mountainside, a cable (see right) has been added for safety…
Watch that first step!
You can discover great prints available when visiting my galleries at Pixels and ArtPal. Select from several options, and enjoy the great outdoors – at home!
Carolina in My Mind, by James Taylor (1969) – see lyrics here.
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Mountains Beyond
This black and white photograph features several trees obscuring a background view of the Smoky Mountains, as seen from the top of Mount LeConte, located near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. You can see more in my gallery.
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Mount LeConte
The tallest mountain located fully with the state of Tennessee, Mount LeConte stands an impressive 6593-feet above sea level and provides visitors stunning panoramic scenery of the Smoky Mountains. Hiking the Alum Cave Trail up the mountain to its farthest most point, Myrtle Point, one can expect to log approx. 12 miles roundtrip. Or, if you book a room one year in advance, a few cabins at LeConte Lodge offer accommodation for a more restful visit. Either way, you can enjoy prints of these peaks with a purchase when you visit my gallery. Wall art selections include framed, metal, art, acrylic, wood, poster, canvas and tapestry. Thanks for visiting!
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Mount LeConte
The Smoky Mountains
Mount LeConte stands an impressive 6593-feet above sea level – the tallest mountain entirely within the state of Tennessee – and provides hikers with stunning panoramic scenery of the Smoky Mountains. Enjoy this view from your couch or office desk chair, when you purchase a print from my gallery. There are several options available to select, and framed prints may also be customized to make it your own!
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Mount LeConte
The tallest mountain located entirely within the state of Tennessee – near Gatlinburg – Mount LeConte stands an impressive 6593-feet above sea level and provides hikers with stunning panoramic scenery of the Smoky Mountains.
Clingmans Dome (at 6664-feet, the tallest peak in the Smoky Mountains National Park) and Mount Guyot (6621-feet) each have higher elevations, though both occupy boundaries within Tennessee and North Carolina.
There are five trails to the summit of Mount LeConte. This hike – my second – began at the Alum Cave Trailhead, located approx. 8 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, along Newfound Gap Road. During the initial 1.5 miles, the trail parallels two creeks – Alum Cave Creek & Styx Branch – providing visitors with pleasant background sounds of running water.
Shout Out: I enjoyed conversation at Myrtle Point with two visitors from Maryland (Kathy) & Virginia (Gail), and hiking back down the mountain with a nice woman – Shawnie – from Dayton, TN. Nice to meet you!
One can expect to meet many people along the trail – it’s a popular place to hike, with most folks opting to walk 1/2 the distance, stopping at Alum Cave Bluffs (an area originally mined for deposits of magnesium sulfate & alum in 1838, by the Epsom Salts Manufacturing Company).
Other landmarks include Arch Rock (a long stairway which winds through the mountainside), Inspiration Point, and the Eye of The Needle. This area is also home to Peregrine Falcons – the fastest bird in the world, with a top recorded speed (during descent) of 242 miles per hour. And, the trail is equipped with several different steel cables, affixed to the mountainside for safety.
The Top
Hikers are greeted at the top of the mountain with a series of buildings – LeConte Lodge, cabins, gift shop, fresh water pump & an outhouse.
LeConte Lodge operates via a seasonal airlift of supplies by helicopter in March, restocking throughout the season using alternating teams of pack llamas for several days each week. Cabin availability is limited and reservations should be made one year in advance.
Cliff Tops
Located a short 0.2 miles away from LeConte Lodge, Cliff Tops is one of two primary overlooks enjoyed by visiting hikers. It’s a great place to relax with a snack and take in the view!
My next destination was the eastern most edge on top of Mount LeConte; also known as Myrtle Point. Here are a few photographs taken en route…
Myrtle Point
This is my favorite of the two overlooks. It has a more expansive, panoramic view, and much flatter rock surfaces for comfortable seating. Mountain views include Mount Kephart, Newfound Gap, Charlies Bunion and Clingmans Dome.
Conclusion
Including visits to/from the Cliff Tops & Myrtle Point overlooks, I tallied over 12 miles on the hike along the Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte. It’s the shortest route, but, being the steepest trail, a strenuous endeavor. My advice is to be well-rested, bring appropriate clothing but travel as lightly as practical, take a break if fatigued, stay hydrated, use trekking poles when possible, and watch your step. Oh, and take pictures!
Photography
Fine quality prints are available through my galleries at Fine Art America & Pixels. Select between framed, canvas, art, poster, metal, acrylic, wood and/or tapestry. Customization options, also.
Thanks for stopping by!
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Alum Cave Bluffs In Tennessee
About
The 2.3 mile trail to Alum Cave Bluffs is located in the Smoky Mountains, approx. 8 miles from the Sugarlands Visitor Center, near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It’s the shortest and steepest of 5 different trails to Mount Le Conte.
Originally mined in 1838 by the Epsom Salts Manufacturing Company for deposits of magnesium sulfate & alum, it’s now a popular hiking area with limited parking – one should plan to arrive early; or, park along the road some distance away.
Arch Rock
At 1.4 miles along the trail, hikers have the opportunity to pass through a natural tunnel in the side of the mountain – at Arch Rock. A series of steps with a cable handrail make this a fun, navigable passageway.
Here are some photographs –
Water
At lower elevations, the trail meanders alongside the Alum Cave Creek, providing a pleasant and constant sound of running water throughout the forest.
Here are a few photographs –
Eye of The Needle
As hikers continue up the trail, the sound of water fades and glimpses of the surrounding mountains begin to appear between the trees. Inspiration Point is situated at 4,700′, which, on a clear day, provides an unobscured view of the surrounding landscape, most notably Little Duck Hawk Ridge – which features the Eye of the Needle (a see-through hole cut into the side of the ridge). It is in this area, if you’re lucky, that you might see Peregrine Falcons.
Here are a few shots –
More Scenes From The Trail
Note: it’s not really a cave. Rather, large sandstone bluffs standing 80′ tall, extending 500′ in length, with a substantial ceiling-overhang.
Prints
If your home or office has an empty wall, please consider purchasing a print – framed, canvas, art, metal, wood or acrylic – from my gallery at Pixels. Customization options are available to make it your own! Other items to see, also.
Thanks for stopping by!
See also – Hiking Mount LeConte In Tennessee
Phil Perkins • Photography 