The Boulevard Trail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Boulevard Trail | |
|---|---|
 The starting point on the hike to Mount Le Conte is here at the Appalachian Trail, which leads into The Boulevard Trail shortly into the hike. |
|
| Length | 5.3 (8.0 to LeConte Lodge) mi; 8.5 (12.9 to LeConte Lodge) km |
| Trailheads | Newfound Gap, Tennessee (Trailhead at Newfound Gap, off of U.S. Highway 441 [Newfound Gap Road], between Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, North Carolina) Terminus near the LeConte Lodge |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation Change | 1,080 ft; 329 m |
| Highest Point | Terminus near the LeConte Lodge |
| Lowest Point | Trailhead |
| Trail Difficulty | Moderate |
| Season | Spring to Fall |
| Sights | Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains |
| Hazards | Ice (in winter), loose rocks, narrow trail |
The Boulevard Trail is an American hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in Sevier County, Tennessee. The trail ascends Mount Le Conte, the tallest [1] (and sixth highest) mountain east of the Mississippi River and offers outstanding high-elevation views before terminating near the LeConte Lodge.
Contents |
[edit] Vital information
- The Boulevard Trail is longest route to the summit of Mount Le Conte (elev. 6,593 ft; 2,010 m)
- The path follows the Appalachian Trail for 2.7 miles, between Newfound Gap and Charlie's Bunion
- Never during the hike does the trail dip below 5,000 feet (1,524 metres)
- The trailhead is located at Newfound Gap, off of U.S. Highway 441 (Newfound Gap Road), between Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, North Carolina, on either end of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
[edit] Landmarks/overlooks
- Newfound Gap (at the trailhead)
- The Jumpoff (via spur trail)
- Myrtle Point (via spur trail)
- High Top
- Mount Le Conte backcounty shelter
[edit] Trail synopsis
[edit] Appalachian Trail to Boulevard Trail split
The Boulevard Trail follows the main crest of the Great Smoky Mountains, connecting Mount Le Conte with the Appalachian Trail. The trail itself technically does not begin until 2.7 miles into the Appalachian Trail, which picks up at Newfound Gap, just to the right of the Rockafeller Memorial. Unlike the other trails leading to the top of Mount Le Conte, the Boulevard begins near 5,500 ft (1,676 m), thus the overall elevation gain along the trail is dramatically less than that of all other routes. However, this often-quoted statistic is a bit misleading, as the trail contains many dips and subsequent rises over its eight mile course. Still, the high elevation provides for a (much welcome during the summer months) much cooler hike. The trail itself is rather gentle, providing some peeks through the brush of the surrounding mountains, until it reaches the forks of the trails, where the Appalachian continues on for about a mile to Charlie's Bunion. The hiker ascending Le Conte, though, will want to merge left, and continue along the flank of Mount Kephart.
[edit] The Boulevard Trail to LeConte Lodge
Immediately following the confluence of The Boulevard and Appalachian trails is a side trail that leads to a promonotory of Mount Kepkart, named The Jumpoff because of the steep 1,000 foot (305 metre) cliff below it. The spur is two-thirds of a mile but affords wonderful views of nearby Charlie's Bunion and Horsehoe Mountain. About a mile past the trail to The Jumpoff, the trail actually descends for 500 feet, before rising again along the eastern side of Mount Le Conte. At 7.5 miles the trail comes to another spur, this time leading to one of the peaks of the Le Conte massif, Myrtle Point. Myrtle Point is particularly known for its fantastic sunrises, as it overlooks the eastern Great Smoky Mountains, but the panoramic view is great regardless of what time it is, so long as the weather isn't so incliment as to inhibit any sort of sight. Just one-fifth of a mile past the side trail to Myrtle Point, the Boulevard Trail arrives at High Top, the highest point on Mount Le Conte (6,593 ft; 2,010 m). In the vain of an ancient Cherokee custom whereby it is said that passersby should add a stone to the pile of rocks, as a peace offering to evil spirits. From here, the Mount Le Conte backcountry shelter (modeled after those found on the Appalachian Trail) is just another 0.2 mile away, where, with a permit obtained from the national park, a small group of hikers is allowed to spend the nite on the mountain. Of course, the LeConte Lodge, at the end of the trail, just 0.1 mile ahead, also offers overnite stays on the mountain. In fact, it is the only commercial lodging available in the national park, as it operates about 10 rustic cabins with no electricity or appliances. The Lodge also operates an office which provides t-shirts and other merchandise for hikers and various ammenities for guests of the lodge. For many, this signals the end of their journey, but Cliff Tops, which offers arguably the best payoff on the mountain, is a short distance away, as are all of the other trails leading back down the mountain.
[edit] Sources
Manning, Russ, Sondra Jamieson (1991). The Best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Hiker's Guide to Trails and Attractions. Norris, Tennessee: Mountain Laurel Place. ISBN 0-9625122-2-2.
