Regular readers of my blog know that one of my personal goals, when it comes to fitness, is to make fitness-related activities an integral part of my lifestyle. Since work doesn’t afford this opportunity in a meaningful way, the next best solution is to incorporate outdoor activities into my leisure time. So, when we decided to take the kids to the Great Smoky Mountains for their fall school break, it was with the intent of spending the majority of our time in the park. We spent part of the first day hiking alum cave trail with the kids, and it was quite the sight.
Hiking Alum Cave Trail With Kids
Alum Cave Trail is a 2.3-mile hike on Mt Le Conte that crisscrosses the Little Pigeon River for much of its length. After the first 1.5-miles, the trail strays away from the river, ascending quickly through rocky terrain. The trail starts by taking hikers through mature, old growth forests that are mainly comprised of hardwoods, including the Eastern hemlock, with the largest trees estimated at more than 200 years old. As hikers traverse the 1300-foot climb, hemlocks gradually give way to yellow birch, spruce, and fir trees. Wildlife includes everything from squirrels and ravens, and bear sightings are not uncommon.
While the trail includes a 1300-foot ascent, most of it isn’t very steep. Having said that, there are a handful of portions that are VERY steep, with a staircase cut in stone that has a wire-rope handrail. As hikers climb above the hemlocks, the trail widens and becomes very rocky. This last half mile to mile ascent is the most difficult portion, and while hikers are never reduced to crawling or scrabbling over rocks, the trail does grow very steep, with drop-offs near the trail.The trail is described by written guides as being of moderate difficulty, but hiking Alum Cave Trail with kids brings additional complications. Where the trail crosses the Little Pigeon, bridges are made of large logs split lengthwise with single rails. Although the bridges are wide enough to walk single-file, traversing them with kids can be a little disconcerting.
Although Alum Cave Trail ends after 2.3-miles, hikers have the option of continuing an additional 2.5-miles to Mt. Le Conte. While my kids had grand plans to continue on from the Bluffs, once they sat down for a rest, they rapidly changed their mind. As we neared Alum “Cave” my 8-year old commented on the nice rocks he could “…lie down and die on…”
Having said all that, I would recommend hiking Alum Cave Trail with kids. We were there while water levels on the Little Pigeon River were down, giving ample opportunity to step off the trail and play in the river with the kids. We searched for rocks, wondered at the cairns set up by others, and marveled at the plant and wildlife. The ascent took us over 2-hours, with the return being slightly less, and there were several families hiking the trail. It definitely makes the list of trails to hike again.
