One of the best things about a spring visit to the Smoky Mountains is the opportunity to view the famous wildflowers of the region! While the Smokies are certainly breathtaking at any time of year, the sight of wildflowers blanketing the mountains are truly a sight to behold! Here is everything you need to know about viewing the beautiful Smoky Mountain wildflowers during your vacation:
1. Over 1,500 Flowering Plants Can Be Seen
There are over 1,500 flowering plants in the Smoky Mountains, making the region a world renowned preserve of wildflower diversity. In fact, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is sometimes referred to as the “Wildflower National Park”! Although blooming flowers can be found all year long in the Smokies, a group of flowers known as spring ephemerals start the yearly show. Some of these spring ephemerals include flowers such as trillium, lady slipper orchids, crested dwarf iris, bleeding heart and phacelia.
2. Recommended Wildflower Walks
While you can view the Smoky Mountain wildflowers virtually anywhere throughout the Smokies, there are certain wildflower walks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park that are particularly recommended! One of the best trails is the Porters Creek Trail! The trailhead just a few miles away from our campground! The first 1.5 miles of this trail are excellent for wildflower viewing so be sure to bring your camera along to capture some stunning photographs! Another highly recommended wildflower walk is the Cove Hardwood Self-guiding Nature Trail, which offers some of the best wildflower viewing opportunities in the park! You can find the trailhead for this 3/4 mile loop trail at the Chimneys Picnic area, which is just 4.4 miles south of Sugarlands Visitor Center on the Newfound Gap road.
3. Spring is the Perfect Time for Wildflower Viewing
If you are wondering when is the best time to see the Smoky Mountain wildflowers, you should plan your vacation as soon as possible! Spring is the best time to see the wildflowers! The peak of spring wildflower blooming normally occurs in late April. However, the entire spring season is a spectacular time to visit the Smokies. The spring weather is delightful! So, this is the ideal time to explore some of the hiking trails in the national park to find some flowers! However, there is no need to worry if you can’t make it in the spring. The summer months offers their own unique displays of wildflowers! You can find flowers small purple-fringed orchids, red cardinals flowers, pink turtleheads and many more!
4. Where to Stay
Make the most of your spring vacation to the Smoky Mountains with a stay at the Greenbrier Campground! Our great campground is surrounded by the beauty of the Smokies! So, you can enjoy the fresh mountain air and the sight of wildflowers throughout your stay! We offer tent camping facilities with water and electric. In addition to, sites for all varieties of RV/campers including premier river sites, pull through sites and wooded sites. While staying with us, enjoy a wide variety of fantastic campground amenities. Such as recreational equipment, a private swimming area, laundry facility and WiFi!
Check out all of the information about our Smoky Mountain campground today to plan your vacation to enjoy the beautiful Smoky Mountain wildflowers! We look forward to seeing you soon at the Greenbrier Campground!
