Hike to Abrams Falls sees peak blooms, bright foilage

Tom HarringtonOur Town Outdoors

I made it to the mountains for a hike yesterday and hiked the Abrams Falls trail to the falls. The waterfall and the creek are named after a Cherokee chief by the name of Oskuah, who later adopted the name Abram (or Abraham). His village once stood several miles downstream from the waterfall.

The roundtrip hike to Abrams Falls is about five miles, and is considered to be moderate in difficulty, attracting nearly 1,000 visitors per day during peak season – making it one of the more popular waterfall hikes in the park. Research tells us that even though the falls are only 20 feet high, it is one of the most dangerous waterfalls in the park due to strong currents and the presence of an undertow.

There were several wildflowers at peak bloom or just past.

  • Coreopsis – few: Past peak bloom.
  • Curtis asters – few: At peak bloom.
  • Erect goldenrod – many: At or just beyond peak bloom. Several other varieties of goldenrod in bloom.
  • Great lobelia – some: Past peak bloom; however still some attractive blooms.
  • Hearts-a-busting – few: Past peak bloom but still colorful. (not the bloom – the seedpods).
  • Pilewort – some: At or just beyond peak bloom.
  • Purple asters – many: Most at peak bloom.
  • Southern harebell – few: Past peak bloom. Dainty but beautiful.
  • White top aster – many: At peak bloom.
  • Whitewood aster – some: At peak bloom.
  • White turtlehead – some: Past peak bloom (been two to three years since I found these in bloom).

There were several varieties of yellow asters, white asters and purple asters which I could not determine which species they were. Many of the white asters were well past peak bloom.

Some nice foliage on blueberry bushes. Several of the sourwood trees had brilliant red foliage. One bright red maple with nice foliage.

Some of the blackberry leaves are changing colors and not that colorful at present.

Photos are file photos.

Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on wildflowers in the Smokies.

 

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