Hiking Alum Cave Trail in Winter (Great Smoky Mountains national Park)

Alum Cave Trail

Alum Cave Trail is a moderately strenuous trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a very popular trail that starts on Newfound Gap Road. It is a 4.5-mile round-trip hike to Alum Cave Bluffs with an elevation gain of 1200ft. 

However, if you have more stamina and interest, you can continue to Mt. LeConte. The round-trip distance to Mt. LeConte is 11 miles with an elevation gain of around 2,700 ft.

Alum cave bluffs

 I usually prefer hikes with great views, scenic points, mountains, and waterfalls. I am not very interested in Caves. So, I didn't give much importance to this hike while we were planning. But all the reviews made me think otherwise. 

This hike has everything. A walk through the forest, along the stream of the river, experiencing the snow on the trail, climbing an elevation, great views, and the bluff at the end, and the view from there makes it all worth the hike. 

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Trail Details:

Alum Cave Bluffs:

Round-trip length: 4.5 miles

Elevation gain: 1200 ft

Difficulty level: moderate to strenuous

Time duration: 2.5 to 3 hrs

To Mt Leconte:

Round-trip length: 11 miles

Elevation gain: 2700 ft

Difficulty level: Hard, Challenging

Time duration: 6 to 8 hrs

Parking:

• Daily parking tag → $5
• Weekly → $15
• Buy online in advance at Recreation.gov.
• Restrooms are available at the parking
• Parking is limited, so plan to come early

The Hike:

We loved this hike in the national park. It starts off flat in the forest, with snow and water streams along the trail. It is like walking in the woods until we reach the first point, 'Arch Rock'. There are a few steps to climb through the tunnel under the mossy rock. It is fun to walk through the narrow wooden bridges on the trail.

In 1 mile, you reach Arch Rock, and then the elevation increases slowly, and at 2 miles, you reach 'Inspiration Point'. This part of the trail is strenuous for us. We took enough breaks and had snacks in the middle.

Since we hiked in winter, it was very cold at that time of year. We get some great valley views from here and a lot of steps to climb. After 0.5 miles, we reach the Alum cave bluffs. It is not a cave, but the bluffs are over 80 ft tall, and there is nice shade to sit and relax. It is a little slippery near the bluffs, so be extra careful wth kids. 

This trail is good to hike with teenagers and middle school-aged kids. Elementary-age kids might need more stops. If you don't rush, take many breaks, drink enough water, and have snacks, you can easily do this hike with kids. 

As expected, our return was quicker. Overall, a very good hike. We all enjoyed hiking this as a family.

Tips for Visiting:

• Plan to visit early to get parking
• Wear shoes with a good grip
• Carry plenty of water(1 to 2 litres) and snacks
• If you are proceeding to Mt.Leconte, try to stay at Leconte Lodge. 
• Wear in layers when hiking in winter
• Trekking poles might help

I hope you enjoyed the details of our hike. To read more about other hikes and places to see in the Great Smoky Mountains, check this post. 

Until next time,