Llamas and a rustic mountain cottage: The adventure of a LIFETIME that will leave you speechless
Here’s your Friday getaway:
leconte lodge
Drive time from Nashville: 3 hours 52 min
This trip is perfect for travelers:
who LOVE the outdoors (and are ok with no electricity, no showers, and lots of hiking)!
Where should YOU go this weekend?
Have you heard of the rustic Leconte Lodge nestled high atop the peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains? You must hike one of five trails to get to the lodge, which is a quaint bed & breakfast comprised of a couple of mountain-top cabins and a restaurant. But that’s right…you didn’t misread.
You have to hike between 5.5 miles - 8 miles, depending on the trail you choose to get to the lodge…as it is unreachable by car.
In fact, they have to use llamas multiple times a week to get supplies up to the lodge itself. Hikers who aren’t staying at the lodge often hike the trails just to see the “llama train” bringing much needed food and supplies up the mountain. It’s a special view, reminiscent more of something you’d see in Machu Picchu, not the Great Smoky Mountains.
When and where can we see the llamas at Mt. Leconte?
“The llamas generally pack on Monday, Wednesday and Friday using Trillium Gap Trail. They get to the trailhead between 6:00 and 6:30 am and should be on the trail between 7:30 and 8:00 am. It takes them about 4 hours to make the hike. They will have lunch and return to the parking lot around 6:00 pm. Hours vary depending on weather and season.” —excerpt from Leconte Lodge
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#RoadTripUSA, #BestWeekendRoadTrips: Leconte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains, photo cred: Leconte Lodge Facebook page
What’s so special about this destination?
Leconte Lodge is rustic, kerosene lanterns and propane heat type of rustic. There is no electricity and no showers, although they do have flushable toilets. Imagine log cabins and Hudson Bay wool blankets, like real pioneer times. That’s what you can expect atop the mountain. The lodge provides hearty, home-cooked meals for guests. And if you’re just hiking in for the day, you can purchase a sack lunch or hot chocolate, as well as assorted baked goods at the lodge!
It’s quite cool at the peak; even during the summer, temps can get down to 30 degrees. Hikers have to be prepared and experienced; it’s definitely an advanced hike in to the lodge area. Weather conditions can make the trails treacherous, especially during the winter months. Ice and snow can affect trails, so traction shoes are a MUST. You should always check weather forecasts prior to hiking.
Here’s the hard thing: they are booked for the year.
It is very difficult to get a reservation at the lodge, like trying to get Broadway tickets to Hamilton in NY city. Highly sought after, this exclusive experience is often booked a year in advance.
Here’s what you can do to better your odds at getting a reservation at Leconte Lodge:
Be flexible with your dates and try to book weekday dates instead of weekends. Avoid holidays.
Call often to check if there is a cancelation, especially if you have some travel dates in mind. Cancellations with less than 30 days’ notice are not rebooked from the wait list but offered to the first inquiry that fits the cancellation.
Some cancellations may be posted on Twitter. So monitor their Twitter account frequently!
Is there anything else to see nearby?
You can visit nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge with all their attractions!
Red pandas and jellyfish: You’ve never had a Knoxville trip like this
Why not make a pitstop in Knoxville which is along the way!
Here’s another trip idea for travelers who want to try a delightful family resort.
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#RoadTripUSA, #BestWeekendRoadTrips: Leconte Lodge in the Great Smoky Mountains
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