Great Smoky trail heads to ‘caves,’ views

View from Alum Cave. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Topo map of Alum Cave Trail.

Popular Alum Cave Trail
refurbished during 2015

A pair of cave-like formations and fantastic vistas await day hikers on the Alum Cave Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The 4.4-miles round trip sports an elevation gain of 1120 feet but is well-worth the effort. In fact, the trail is so popular during autumn and on any weekend with pleasant weather, that you’ll want to arrive early or you won’t find a parking space.

To reach the trailhead, from Gatlinburg, Tenn., drive south on Newfound Gap Road/U.S. Hwy. 441 for about 10 miles; look for parking lot on left/east for the Alum Cave Trailhead. The dirt-packed trail starts at 3830 feet elevation in the Grassy Patch and immediately crosses Walker Camp Prong.

For the next mile, the trail heads through an old-growth forest of hemlock and yellow birch alongside Alum Cave Creek. The grade is gentle.

It then turns north and follows the Styx Branch, a tributary of Alum Cave Creek. During summer, rhododendron blooms here, making for an impressive sight.

Arch Rock
At 1.3 miles, the trail reaches the first cave-like formation, Arch Rock. Freezing and thawing created the arch by eroding away the softer rock beneath the harder black slate. The trail goes under the arch, and steel cables sometimes serve as handrails. Hikers take stone steps out of Arch Rock.

From there, the trail crosses the Styx Branch and becomes fairly steep.

At 1.9 miles, the trail reaches Inspiration Point, an outcropping at 4700 feet elevation. It offers great views. To the west is Little Duck Hawk Ridge; the Eye of the Needle, a hole in the rock at the ridge's top, can be seen from here as well. To the northeast is Mount Le Conte, the sixth highest peak east of the Mississippi River.

Peregrine falcons – locally called duck hawks – can be spotted flying about in the area. In fact, the trail’s destination sits just below the aptly named Peregrine Peak.

Alum Cave
At 2.2 miles, the trail arrives at Alum Cave. Not truly a cave but a bluff of orange clay with a concave wall that stretches 80 feet high and close to 500 feet long, it technically is known as a rock shelter. Water often drips off the black slate ledges above, and during winter, icicles will form and drop, making this a dangerous stop during the colder months.

The cave takes its name from the alum that was mined there during the mid-1800s. A company dug out Epsom salt from the cave as early as 1838; this was used as a reddish brown dye for clothing. The Confederate Army in the 1860s mined saltpeter from the cave to manufacture gunpowder.

Sitting at 4950 feet elevation, the cave offers excellent views of the surrounding countryside. The trail can be taken all the way to the summit of Mount Le Conte (even better vistas are to be had on the climb up), but for a day hike the cave makes a good spot to turn back.

Other trail reports often claim the route can be muddy and with tree roots difficult to walk. While those reports are accurate, in 2015 the trail got a much needed makeover, repairing sections where erosion and landslides had caused damage.

Learn about other great trails at this national park in Best Sights to See at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Paved trail heads to high, scenic waterfalls

Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, courtesy Wikipedia.

Topo map, Laurel Fall Trail.

Popular route sits in northcentral Great Smoky Mountains NP

A picturesque 80-foot waterfall awaits day hikers on the Laurel Falls Trail at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The easy-to-reach trail runs 2.6-miles round trip but gains 314 feet in elevation. During peak season, get to the trailhead early as the parking lot for the popular trail quickly fills up. For great photos, hike early morning or late in the day, as the shade from the nearby mountains will prevent the water in your pictures from being washed out as reflecting sunlight.

Mountain laurel
To reach the trailhead, from Gatlinburg, Tenn., take U.S. Hwy 441/Newfound Gap Road south. Turn left/west onto Fighting Creek Gap Road. Upon reaching Fighting Creek Gap, watch for a parking lot on right/north side. The trail leaves from the center of the lot's north side.

One of the reasons this trail remains popular is that the section leading to the impressive waterfalls is paved. Built during 1932 so fire crews could quickly reach the Cove Mountain area if needed, erosion quickly became a problem, and the trail was paved. Still, due to the steep grade and rough pavement, it’s not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.

The trail heads through a pine-oak woods with hemlock and beech along the stream, making for a colorful walk in autumn. May also is impressive, as mountain laurel blooms along the trail and near the falls, which runs its highest that month.

Within short order, the trail crosses Pine Knot Branch then begins to parallel Laurel Branch. Wooden posts appear every 0.1 miles so that you know far you’ve come.

Laurel Falls
Deer, often with fawns, wood squirrels, and songbirds are common on the trail. Be aware that black bears do live in the area and sometimes can be seen from the walkway; don't litter – including tossing apple cores – along the trail, as this attracts the bears.

The waterfall on Laurel Branch is magnificent, consisting of an upper and a lower section. A wide walkway crosses the stream where the mist from the falls roils over her head.

Stay off the rocks near the falls, as they are slippery due to mist and algae. In addition, the trail sports steep drop-offs, especially close to the falls, so keep an eye on children.

For those with a little extra energy, the trail continues past the waterfall to an old fire tower on Cove Mountain's summit. The tower is 4-miles round trip from the parking lot.

Learn about other great trails at this national park in Best Sights to See at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Hike to Great Smoky’s ‘highest’ waterfall

Rainbow Falls. Photo courtesy of Great Smoky Mountains NPS.

Topo map for Rainbow Falls Trail, Plate 1

Topo map for Rainbow Falls Trail, Plate 2

Topo map for Rainbow Falls Trail, Plate 3

Rainbow Falls drops 80 feet near Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Families can hike to Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s highest waterfall on the Rainbow Falls Trail in Tennessee.

The 5.4-miles round trip does come with an asterisk – there are several other falls in the park that are taller, but Rainbow is the highest single-drop waterfall. To see it, you must traverse a 1500-foot gain in elevation, which is enough that temperatures will vary a few degrees between the parking lot and the falls.

To reach the trail, from U.S. Hwy. 441 in Gatlinburg, drive south on Historic Nature Trail, which becomes Cherokee Orchard Road as entering the park. These are segments of a set of roads that form the famous Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. After a couple of miles in the park, the road loops; once on that, look for Rainbow Falls parking lot signs.

Le Conte Creek
The trail leaves from the lot's southwest corner at about 2575 feet elevation. It heads through an old-growth forest and in short order crosses the Trillium Gap Trail.

From there, the trail curves south over a boulder-strewn path and then parallels Le Conte Creek. Portions of trail here are rocky, so be sure to wear a good pair of hiking boots and bring trekking poles.

The trail crosses the creek a few times, as well as two tributaries. The gurgle of a number of cascades on the creek fill the air, and along the way you’ll be sure to find some great spots to picnic.

Most of the cascades are due to the creek flowing down a steep grade. The trail actually is heading up a side of Mount Le Conte, the park's third highest peak. The ridge on the creek's north side is the mountain's Rocky Spur.

Rainbow Falls
At last, the trail arrives at Rainbow Falls, which makes an 80-foot drop. The falls’ lip sits at 4326 feet elevation, and a footbridge crosses the creek below the falls.

Spring marks the best time to see the falls, as the water flow will be the greatest. Mount Le Conte receives about eight feet of rain per year. It’s also worth waiting for a sunny afternoon to make the trek, as a rainbow then forms in the mist, giving the trail its name.

Winter can offer its own delights, though, as ice formations sometimes build up around the falls during cold spells.

As tempting as it may be, stay off the rocks near the waterfalls. They are slick from the mist and algae, and over the years several people have fallen off them to their deaths.

Turn back at the waterfalls. If you have some extra energy, you can continue on to Mount Le Conte, however, for an additional 8-miles round trip and a significant ascent.

Final tip: If you bring a camera with you to catch a picture of the falls, leave early in the morning. The sun’s position in the late morning and early afternoon will adversely effect the photo, and a number of other hikers are likely to get into your shot.

Learn about other great trails at this national park in Best Sights to See at Great Smoky Mountains National Park.