In the old days, before the creation of the national park and its groomed trails of gently ascending switchbacks, hikers reached the summit of Mt. LeConte by a more direct route. Early adventures closely followed the mountain's namesake creek through a wild and rugged landscape. It was in 1924 that a group of twenty-some hikers, including Louise Smith, took this route on a trip that would make history. It was on this beautiful little stream that the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club was born and activism for the creation of a national park in the Smokies was stirred. Just a few years later, the 1927 Smoky Mountains Hiking Club handbook, emblazoned with the iconic emblem designed by Louise, contained a beautiful description of a hike up LeConte Creek. Tales of scrambling up Rainbow Falls and glorious pictures of the awaiting scenery likely enticed many to join that hike nearly a century ago. I can make similar promises to you now. We, too, will scramble up Rainbow Falls, rock-hop along a sparkling creek, negotiate large boulders, hike steeply through high- elevation forest, and enjoy the wintry solitude of a route up Mt. LeConte that has been nearly forgotten with the passage of time. Rated difficult. Ten miles on-trail + 1 mile off-trail.

Leaders: David Sands and Ken Wise

To register, contact the leaders directly. You can find contact information in the January 2024 newsletter writeup for this hike.