The Smokies Cabins mountain hollow blossoms with millions upon millions of wildflowers every spring. Trillium, columbine, wild geranium, bloodroot, hepatica, Solomon’s seal, galax, bishop’s cap, wild strawberry, blue phlox, and thyme-leaved bluets abound. Take a leisurely spring wildflower walk through the meadow by Owl’s Hoot Chalet (accessible to guests of Hideaway on the Creek, too). Then relax in the gazebo, near the largest concentration of wildflowers.
Smoky Mountain Wildflower Walks
If you’re up for a longer walk, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park website lists 10 trails that are fairly easy and offer good to excellent wildflower viewing. For more information, including a trail map, see https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/wildflower-walks.htm.
- Oconaluftee River Trail – easy, 3 miles roundtrip
- Deep Creek Trail – easy, about 2 miles roundtrip
- Gregory Ridge Trail – first 2 miles offer good wildflower viewing
- Kanati Fork Trail – first 1-2 miles offer good wildflower viewing in early spring
- Schoolhouse Gap Trail – easy, 4.4 miles roundtrip
- Little River Trail – easy, first two miles provide good wildflower viewing from mid-March through April
- Middle Prong Trail – first 2 miles offer a variety of wildflowers
- Cove Hardwood Self-Guiding Nature Trail – 3⁄4 mile loop trail offers some of the best spring wildflower viewing in the park
- Porters Creek Trail – first 1.5 miles offer spectacular wildflowers from late March through April
- Appalachian Trail – 2-mile section between Newfound Gap and Road Prong Trail has good flowers from mid-April through May
Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
The park hosts the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, featuring programs, guided walks, and hikes that explore the wondrous diversity of life in the national park. In 2020 the pilgrimage will be April 22-26. Visit http://www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org/ for additional information and to register.
For availability this spring at Smoky Cabins, see https://smokiescabins.com/owls-hoot-chalet/ or https://smokiescabins.com/hideaway-on-the-creek/. What are your favorite spring wildflower walks and memories?
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