Where: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
When: spring, summer, fall
If you like: the outdoors and sports
Why you should go: One hundred years after it welcomed the first hikers to the top of Mount LeConte—the third-highest peak in Great Smoky Mountains National Park—LeConte Lodge remains just as blissfully low-tech as it was in 1925. You still won’t find electricity, internet, or running water, and the only way to reach its rough-hewn cabins is to lace up your hiking boots. But the lack of contemporary creature comforts hasn’t kept the lodge from remaining solidly booked March through November. “Staying at the lodge has been a longtime tradition for countless guests, many of whom have been gathering here for generations,” says general manager John Northrup. “And even with it being a hike-only destination, the trek to the summit is achievable for a range of fitness levels and age groups.” The lodge is booked for the 2025 anniversary season, but Northrup invites prospective guests to call or email to join the cancellation list and advises checking the website toward the end of summer for information on 2026 reservations.
G&G tip: Alum Cave Trail is the preferred trail for most visitors. At five miles, it’s the shortest and the steepest of the five trails leading to the lodge but also the most scenic. Even still, Northrup suggests contacting the reservations office for the most up-to-date trail and safety information before you set out.
