View of Mount Mingus from an overlook on the trail to Alum Cave Bluff

Alum Cave Trail

The Alum Cave trail is well known as the shortest route to Mount LeConte (about 5.5 miles each way). The majority of people who take this beautiful hike, however, do not venture all the way to LeConte. And the vast majority of beauty along this trail is found by the time you reach the "cave". The first or second week of June is just incredible for purple rhododendron along this trail. Mountain Laurel is also waxing near this time. The very wide trail follows a quaint creek bed for the first mile or so to Arch Rock - an interesting hole through a shaly spur. The trail then heads up the base of Mount LeConte. The trail is usually crowded, but wide and enjoyable.

Edye hiking to Alum Cave at Arch Rock.

As you pass scenic views overlooking the steep countryside, perhaps a couple of miles beyond the Arch Rock formation, keep an eye peeled for a fascinating hole, almost circular, right through the ridge ahead. You may not be able to find it until you pass the next stopping place, shortly ahead. If you are lucky, or planned well, the mountain laurel blossoms may be swarming around your head at this point. The rocky overlook a mile beyond Arch Rock is my favorite spot on the trail. The view is spectacular beyond words and the path tunnels through a gorgeous thicket of Catawba (purple) rhododendron, laurel and blueberry. Ironically these romantic and picturesque jungles of brush were called "hells" by pioneers, due to the difficulty with which trails may be blazed through them, especially since rhododendron is quite a tough wood. Ground squirrels, birds and chipmunks mooch spare morsels almost with song and dance on the rocks. If you follow the rocks down hill, you will normally find fewer people, more wildlife and most importantly, more luscious blueberries! The arch-covered paths are very romantic, but muddy almost year round, don't say I didn't tell you so!

The upper chimneys are visible from the overlook a couple of miles beyond arch rock, as the lower ones hide behind the shoulder of Mt. LeConte.

Anakeesta Ridge rides above you to the left from the overlook.

<== Rhododendron canopy on the trail toward Alum Cave.

The way continues on beyond the shady evergreen arches, hugging the south flank of Peregrine Peak. The trail is very steep for a few hundred feet below the cave, which is about a half mile beyond the overlook. But do continue up all the way to the 'cave', actually a cliff (and a popular hike of which to boast). The view from the cave is just all right, but it is too big a landmark not to visit, especially after making it this far! We found a small trail continuing up the Bluff leading to the peak. Rain prevented us from making it as of this writing.

The way on up to Mount LeConte is long, not terribly exciting and steep at times. All cliff hugging is accompanied by sturdy cable handrails, accommodating the novice hiker. The most impressive sight to me is probably the aforementioned hole through the ridge. However, the rating as shortest route to Mount LeConte is enough to attract crowds. The attire of hikers is likely to change from blue jeans and tennis shoes to shorts, hiking boots, packs and bandanas once you pass Alum Cave! I (Albert) still prefers tennis shoes to hiking boots. (I think a pair of hiking boots is next to worthless unless you plan to go places where rattlesnakes might be a problem. I have yet to lay eyes on a pair of boots that could come close to the comfort of tennis shoes. Just watch your feet and don't step on things which could hurt you. Even on backpacking and night hikes I will wear them.)

We make the round trip to Alum Cave in about an hour and a half - a fairly quick pace. The round trip time to Mount LeConte is impossible to estimate. Before we were married Albert used to go it in two and a half hours round trip running part way, but that's pretty fast. Three is a practical limit. Most beginners walking briskly would average two miles per hour - that is five and half hours plus stops, so BRING FOOD AND WATER. In winter, this is a VERY icy, but beautiful pathway. Cable handrails are located along the worst places - near Arch Rock and beyond Alum Cave enroute to LeConte.

Leslie's notes: I hiked this trail to Mt. LeConte on my first visit to the summit. It is not for the fainthearted or less than moderately fit. There are lots of steep drop offs next to the trail, and I remember being glad that I was prepared to meet my maker, in case I should fall off! While it is the shortest trail in length, I think it is one of the hardest because of the steepness. If you get too tired and have to make lots of rest stops, you can use up the time you gained by it being a shorter trail. >From the trailhead to arch rock seems long, but is fairly easy. After the arch, the steepness picks up and the trail gets quite strenous after Alum Cave. However, I would recommend taking another trail up, such as Trillium Gap and coming down Alum Cave trail if you can arrange for someone to drive your car from the trailhead of Trillium Gap to the start of Alum Cave trail. It is the quickest way down, and that it a plus when you are tired and hungry. However, if you have bad knees, it can be quite hard on them coming down a very steep trail.

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