Alum Cave Bluffs Trail – A Sensational Hike

View of the Great Smoky Mountains from Alum Cave Bluff

Alum Cave Bluffs Trail is one of the best-known trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A “must-do” hike, it has it all – a noisy creek, beautiful wildflowers, and spectacular views!

Here’s what you need to know…

Published July 15, 2025

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The Short and Sweet Details

  • Distance – 4.5 miles out & back
  • Duration – 3+ hours, including a stop at the bluff
  • Difficulty – AllTrails ranks this trail as “Moderate“, but I would call it “Moderate Plus”, somewhere between moderate and hard. It’s a steady climb of approximately 600 feet/mile.

Where is the Trailhead to Alum Cave Bluffs Trail?

The trailhead for Alum Cave Bluffs Trail is on Newfound Gap Road, 11 miles from Gatlinburg and 23 miles from Cherokee. It’s just a few miles north of Kuwohi Road.

Map linking to Alum Cave Trailhead Parking Area on Google Maps

(Click the map to link to Google Maps.)

Alum Cave Bluffs Trail

Traihead sign for Alum Cave Trail: Arch Rock 1.4 Alum Cave Bluffs 2.3 Mt. LeConte 5.0

We recommend arriving early for this hike. It’s very popular (this is also one of the trails that lead up to the summit of Mt. LeConte), and Alum Cave Bluffs trailhead parking can be challenging. There are pit toilets in the parking area.

Alum Cave Trail begins with crossing the bridge over Alum Cave Creek and follows the creek for about half of the hike. The trail then turns north and follows the Styx Branch for a bit. Both creeks are noisy and beautiful.

The trail is well-maintained and is a continual climb all the way to the bluffs.

Pro Tip

We recommend good hiking shoes or boots on this trail. The proper footwear will protect your feet and give you better traction as you climb. We would advise against hiking this trail in sandals.

Informational sign and trail map for Alum Cave Nature Trail
Long, wooden bridge across a creek
A beautiful, bubbling creek

While hiking the trail in June, we were treated to a wildflower show! Blackberry bushes were in bloom, as were rhododendrons and especially mountain laurel.

White flowers growing on blackberry bushes
Bright pink flowers on a rhododendron
White and pink mountain laurel blooms

At 1.4 miles into the hike, you’ll come to Arch Rock. I was expecting something like the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Moab, UT, but this arch is different.

You’ll cross the Styx Branch on a split-log bridge and climb a set of stone stairs leading through the arch. It feels a bit like a tunnel.

This is an excellent place for photos. The Styx Branch at the foot of the arch is beautiful here, and the arch is unusual and so interesting.

Split log footbridge crossing a creek, leading up the stone stairs through The Arch on Alum Cave Trail
Stone stairs leading up and through the Arch on Alum Cave Bluffs Trail

After the Arch, you’ll continue to climb another 0.9 miles up to Alum Cave Bluffs. On your way there, you’ll enjoy some fantastic views, including the one at Inspiration Point, 0.6 miles past the Arch. Photo opps!

Just 0.3 miles past Inspiration Point, you’ll arrive at the Alum Cave Bluffs. Alum Cave is not really a cave – it’s a large overhang formed by huge bluffs. (To get an idea of the size of the bluffs, look carefully at the photo below on the far left. You’ll see a very tiny hiker…)

This is a great place to do a couple of things:

  • Take a break! Sit down, drink some water, eat a snack, and rest. You deserve it! Look for the friendly squirrel that frequents the bluffs.
  • Then get out your camera and start taking photos. The views up here are spectacular!
Steps leading up to the Alum Cave Bluff, an enormous, stone overhang. A hiker can be se
Far off mountains under a blue sky, seen through green trees from underneath the overhang of Alum Cave Bluffs
A mountaintop seen through treetops from a far distance

Pro Tip

The area around the bluffs slopes down and can be a bit slippery. Watch your step. Be safe.

(Click anywhere on the map to enlarge it.)

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What will I see if I continue hiking past Alum Cave Bluffs? More views, more flowers, and more stairs. You will reach the summit of Mt. LeConte and the Le Conte Lodge in a little less than three miles.
  • Is Alum Cave Bluffs worth it? Oh, yes! The views are breathtaking, and the bluffs are unique.
  • What other hikes are nearby?
    • Kuwohi (AKA Clingmans Dome) is just a bit south of Alum Cave Bluffs.
    • On the way to Kuwohi, you’ll pass two spots with amazing views – Ben Morton Overlook and Newfound Gap. The Appalachian Trail passes through Newfound Gap here, and will take you up to Charlies Bunion, a well-known site on the AT. There are also restrooms at Newfound Gap.
    • Beyond that are other scenic overlooks before you reach Kephart Prong Trail, one of our favorite trails in the national park.
  • When is the best time to hike to Alum Cave Bluffs? We recommend starting as early as possible in the morning for a couple of reasons. Mornings are less crowded on the trail, and parking is easier to find. Mornings are cooler than later in the day, and your chance of seeing wildlife is better in the mornings.
  • Can I take my dog on this trail? No, this trail is closed to dogs.

The Wrap – Alum Cave Bluffs Trail

We love, love, LOVE this trail! It’s not easy, nor is it too difficult – after all, I made it, and I’m 68 years old! I would rate it as “Moderate Plus” – somewhere between moderate and hard. Nevertheless, we highly recommend it!

Happy Hiking!

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Jeff Powell

Jeff Powell is the Creator/CEO of two blogs - National Park Ventures and Smoky Mountains Ventures. He and his wife Mary Ellen are on a venture to visit every national park in the United States and share what they experience with their readers. Their goal is to help their readers "supersize" their own national park ventures.

Jeff and Mary Ellen have been married for 35 years. They have two sons, two grandkids, and two dogs. They live in a cabin in the mountains outside of Blue Ridge, GA.