Come stay in one of our Gatlinburg cabins this spring and experience one of the best things to do in Gatlinburg in the spring. Embark on a hike through the mountains to view the abundance of wildflowers blooming across these seven trails and many more!

 

Oconaluftee

Late April is the best time for viewing wildflowers along the Oconaluftee River Trail. More than 40 species of wildflowers have been identified along the trail. During the spring, hikers can find several varieties of trillium and violets, jack-in-the-pulpit, squirrel corn, stonecrop and May apple.

 

Porters Creek Trail

This trail is well known for its spectacular wildflower displays from late March through April. During April and May, you can find yellow trillium, toothwort, wild geranium, May-apple, dwarf ginseng, blue phlox, baneberry, foam flower, halberd-leaved violets, woodland bluets and Jack-in-the-pulpits.

 

Kanati Fork

In April, you'll begin to see cut-leaved toothwort, dwarf cinquefoil, large-flowered bellwort, white baneberry, Canadian violets, Vasey's trillium, painted trillium, wake robin, Solomon's seal, Northern white violets and brook lettuce. Most of these flowers will last well into May, but the best time to visit is in late April.

 

Little River Trail

During the early spring you can expect to see spring beauties and trailing arbutus. As the season progresses, look for hepaticas, yellow trillium, dwarf cinquefoil, stonecrop, Canadian violets and umbrella leaf.

 

Cove Hardwood Self-Guided Nature Trail 

This three-quarter-mile loop trail begins in the Chimneys Picnic Area. Through April and May look for yellow trillium, white fringed phacelia, squirrel corn, wild ginger, white trillium and Dutchman's britches.

 

Cosby Nature Trail

Located in the Cosby Campground, this one mile trail passes through several forest types, providing  a variety of wildflowers. Peak months for wildflowers are March and April. Look for Vasey's trillium, squirrel corn, Dutchman's britches, brook lettuce and squawroot. Bleeding heart, showy orchis and Vasey's trillium show-up in April and May.

 

Chestnut Top

Throughout the spring, you can find white trillium, bloodroot, yellow trillium, hepaticas, violets, Jack-in-the-pulpit, bishop's cap, purple phacelia, fire pink, plantain-leaved pussytoes, star chickweed and wild stonecrop. During the late spring and early summer period, look for hairy beard-tongue, rattlesnake hawkweed and squawroot. Many of these flowers can be found within the first couple hundred feet of the trailhead.