Mount LeConte via Rainbow Falls and Bull Head Loop

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN Smokies + Southern Blue Ridge Mountains

Trip stats

Distance
14.4 mi
Net Gain
4,100 ft
Time
6-8 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 1
Route
Loop
Peaks
1

Ratings out of 10

Effort
5.6/10
Personality
6/10
Beauty
8/10
Solitude
2.8/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. Mount Le Conte
    6,593′ elevation · 1,360′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

35.675711, -83.485667

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Apr 30, 2016 — Mount LeConte is a popular high point within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I wanted to hike to it via a longer loop than the more common approach from Alum Cave. For this hike, I started from the Rainbow Falls Trail and followed this popular hike to Rainbow Falls. After passing the falls, the trail had a bit more solitude and began to gain much more elevation. Mossy and heavily forested, the Rainbow Falls Trail continued along the northwestern ridge of Mount LeConte. It reached a junction with the Bull Head Trail. I'd be returning to this junction later to make a loop, but first I headed east to the summit of Mount LeConte. The summit area is quite developed, a popular camping area for backpackers.

I took in the exceptional views from the summit of Mount LeConte before backtracking to the Bull Head Trail. This led west along the ridge crest for a while before descending to the north through more pretty forest. This took me to the Old Sugarlands Trail, an old converted road, back to the trailhead.

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Photos

36 photos

  1. Along the Rainbow Falls Trail.
  5. Rainbow Falls.
  7. Rainbow Falls is pretty. Past here the hike became a bit less crowded.
  8. Ascending past Rainbow Falls on my way to Mount LeConte.
  9. A pretty stream along the way.
  12. Progress up to Mount LeConte.
  15. Mossy, rocky tail at times.
  16. As I gained elevation, the terrain changed. It was more lush and mossy and the trees became less deciduous-heavy.
  21. Mount LeConte summit area.
  22. Views from Mount LeConte.
  23. Mount LeConte.
  25. Along the Mount LeConte ridgeline.
  26. Mount LeConte summit cairn.
  27. Along the Bull Head Trail.
  31. A switchback along the Bull Head Trail.
  32. Bull Head Trail.
  34. Descending along the Bull Head Trail.
  36. A short walk along the Old Sugarlands Trail brought me back to the trailhead.

Photo 1 of 1

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Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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