About Trillium Gap Trail (to Grotto Falls and Mount LeConte)
The Trillium Gap Trail starts as an easy waterfall walk and turns into one of the five routes to Mount LeConte. The National Park Service lists the full trip at 13 miles round trip (about 6.5 miles each way), rewarding hikers with mountain views, diverse forest and a waterfall. The climb is about 3,000 feet in all.
The hike
For the first 1.3 miles the route is the Grotto Falls hike, a moderate climb through old-growth hemlock to a waterfall you can walk behind. Beyond the falls the trail climbs steadily through spruce-fir forest to Trillium Gap and then on to the lodge. Llamas still carry supplies up this route to LeConte Lodge, so you may meet pack animals on the trail and should step aside to let them pass.
NPS currently lists a bear warning on the Trillium Gap Trail, so carry no food outside your pack, keep a safe distance and make noise.
When to go
Spring brings flow and wildflowers; fall brings color and the biggest crowds. Winter ice can linger above 5,000 feet, so carry traction. Start early; the summit round trip takes most hikers 8 to 10 hours.
Getting there
The trailhead is on the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a one-way loop that closes in winter (open mid-April through Nov. 29 in 2026). On the first stretch of Cherokee Orchard Road, from the park boundary to the Ogle Homesite, NPS currently asks drivers to stay in their vehicles because of bears.
You need a parking tag for any stop over 15 minutes in the park. It costs $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful are not accepted. Buy it at a visitor center or on recreation.gov, and display the physical tag.
Know before you go
Plan overnight stays at LeConte Lodge far ahead of time. Pets are not allowed. Bring a headlamp, rain gear and a warm layer, and check the closures page before you go.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Gatlinburg Trail: an easy 4-mile round trip that allows dogs and bikes
- Grotto Falls: a 2.6-mile round trip to a waterfall you can walk behind
- Rainbow Falls: a 5.6-mile round trip to an 80-foot waterfall
Planning and safety
Treat this as a full-day commitment. Steep mountain trail often takes closer to one mile per hour on the climbs, so build in extra time. Start early, set a firm turnaround time, carry a headlamp, and tell someone your plan before you lose cell service.
Weather in the Smokies changes fast, and it is noticeably cooler as you climb. Bring a rain layer even on a sunny morning, wear shoes with good traction, and carry more water than you expect to need. Black bears live throughout the park, so stay at least 50 yards away, never feed wildlife and store food properly. The park's hiking safety guidance is worth a read before any trip.
Good to know
- How long is Trillium Gap Trail (to Grotto Falls and Mount LeConte)?
- Trillium Gap Trail (to Grotto Falls and Mount LeConte) is 6.5 miles one way (13.0 miles round trip), with about 3,000 feet of climbing. It is rated strenuous.
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
