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Directions to Trailhead:

Starting from Light 8 in Gatlinburg, turn onto Historic Nature Trail / Airport Road. At 0.7 miles, veer right onto Cherokee Orchard Road, upon which you will enter into Great Smoky Mountain National Park. After driving another 2.2 miles, you will enter the one-way Cherokee Orchard Loop. After driving about 0.6 miles on the loop, the Rainbow Falls trailhead will be on your right. (If this parking lot is full, there is an auxiliary parking lot about 0.1 miles further down the road)

Trail Description:

If you’re deciding between which trail to take to Mount LeConte, the Rainbow Falls Trail or Bullhead, I would recommend taking the Bulhead Trail because of the views along the way, (unless, of course, you specifically want to see Rainbow Falls). However, because the Rainbow Falls Trail is less exposed than Bullhead, the Rainbow Falls Trail might be a little cooler in the summer as you ascend to Mount LeConte.  

If you were doing a loop hike, especially during the summer, I would definitely hike up Rainbow Falls Trail and then descend via Bullhead. 

The trail begins at the southwest corner of the parking lot. 

For the first two-thirds of a mile you will climb steadily over a boulder-strewn pathway, while LeConte Creek cascades down the mountain on your right. There are many opportunities for great picnic sites along this section of the trail.

 Mt. LeConte (via Rainbow Falls Tr.)
 Trail Features:   Panoramic Views, Waterfalls
 Trail Location: Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail
 Roundtrip Miles: 13.8 miles
 Total Elevation Gain: 3993 feet
 Avg. Elev Gain / Mile:  579 feet
 Highest Elevation: 6593 feet
 Trail Difficulty Rating:   21.79 (strenuous)
 Parking Lot Latitude: 35.67582
 Parking Lot Longitude:   -83.48527

You will cross over two footbridges at 1.7 miles and then again at 2.4 miles before reaching the 80-foot high waterfalls at 2.7 miles. Rainbow Falls is the highest single-drop waterfall in the Smokies.  

A rainbow produced by mist from this waterfall is visible on sunny afternoons. During extended winter cold spells, an impressive ice formation builds around the falls. You may notice a little bit of ice just to the right of the falls in the picture on the left.

To continue on to Mt. LeConte, cross the footbridge at Rainbow Falls. You will climb more than 1700 feet over the next 3.2 miles before reaching the Bullhead Trail junction.  This section of trail will take you past rhododendron, sand myrtle and mountain laurel, offering hikers beautiful mountain blooms during the spring.

 

At 5.4 miles, the trail comes to Rocky Spur, an outcropping of rocks that offers nice views of the valleys below via a short side trail which loops back on to the main trail.

 

At just under 6 miles, you will reach the junction with the Bullhead Trail. Turn left to continue on to the summit of Mount LeConte.

In another 0.4 miles you'll reach the Alum Cave Trail, which forks in from the right. At this point you'll have your first views of the LeConte Lodge.

A lot people end their hike at the lodge, however, to reach the summit of Mount LeConte, you still need to walk almost another half-mile.

Before reaching the summit, the Trillium Gap Trail will branch off to your left at 6.6 miles. The summit, better known as High Top, will be at 6.9 miles. You’ll know you’ve reached the highest point on Mt. LeConte when you’ve reached the cairn, or pile of rocks, just off the main trail on the right.

Watch Video Highlights from the Summit of Mount LeConte

At 6593 feet, Mount LeConte is the third highest peak in the Smoky Mountains. However, from its immediate base to its highest peak, Mt. LeConte is the tallest mountain in the Eastern United States, rising 5301 feet from its base near Gatlinburg.

There is considerable controversy over which member of the LeConte family the mountain was named for. Most people, including the USGS, assume that Joseph LeConte, the famous geologist and charter member of the Sierra Club, is the man for whom the mountain was named. However, that claim has been challenged in recent years. The authors of A Natural History of Mount Le Conte, and the Georgia Encyclopedia, both claim the name honors Joseph’s older brother, John, who was famous as a scientist and as president of the University of California, in Berkeley.  

You won’t have any views up at High Top; however, there are two places on the mountain where you can find outstanding panoramic views.

One is at Myrtle Point.  

To get to Myrtle Point, you’ll need to walk another 0.4 miles by continuing on the main trail, which has now turned into the Boulevard Trail. About 0.2 miles from High Top, take the fork off the right side of the trail to reach Myrtle Point, which is another 0.2 miles from this junction. Myrtle Point provides nearly 360 degree views and is the best location for sunrises on Mt. LeConte.

The other place to go for outstanding views is known as Cliff Top, which is near the LeConte Lodge. You will have passed two side trails to Cliff Top as you made your way up to High Top. Cliff Top is the best location for sunset views.  

One of the unique things about the hike up to Mount LeConte is the lodge and overnight cabins at the top. 

Hikers have the option of overnighting in these cabins which can accommodate about 50 guests a night (you'll need to make reservations first). For more information on these cabins, visit the LeConte Lodge web site.