I pulled off two hikes last week: Abrams Falls Trail and Chestnut Top Trail.

Abrams Falls Trail starts about five miles into the Cades Cove Loop Road.  It is considered moderately difficult.  It is 2.5 miles to the falls. A visitor reported a sow with two cubs crossed the trail in front of him (ignored him).

  • Bar Cucumber – Many + – Slight past peak bloom
  • Bleeding Heart – Some – Past peak bloom (just after the top of the horseshoe).
  • Blackberry – Many + – Almost at peak bloom.
  • Crossvine – (1) – At peak bloom.
  • Daisy Fleabane – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • Dog Hobble – Many – Past peak bloom.
  • Dwarf Cinquefoil – Few
  • Fairy Wand – (1) – At peak bloom.
  • False Solomon’s Seal – Some – At various stages    of blooming process – far side of horseshoe.
  • Galax – Many ++ – Various stages of blooming.
  • Hawkweed – Many – Mostly at peak bloom.
  • Little Brown Jug – (1) –
  • Maple Leaf Viburnum – Some – At peak bloom.
  • Mountain Laurel – Many ++ – Not at peak bloom.
  • Partridge Berry – Many ++ – At peak bloom.
  • Red Clover – Few – At start of trail.
  • Solomon’s Seal – Some – Past peak bloom.
  • Solomon’s Seal Grande – Few – Past peak bloom
  • Star Grass – Some – At peak bloom.
  • Sweet Shrub – Many ++ – Most slightly pass peak
  • Sweet White Violets – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • White Clover – Few – At start of trail.
  • Wild Hydrangea – Few – Just starting to bloom. 

Chestnut Top Trail starts from Townsend Wye across from the large parking lot. This trail is moderately strenuous.

  • Bar Cucumber – Some – At peak bloom.
  • Beard Tongue – Some – Mostly at peak bloom.
  • Blackberry – Some – Mostly past peak bloom.
  • Cancer Root – (2) – At peak bloom (1st half mi).
  • Daisy Fleabane – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • False Solomon’s Seal – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • Fire Pink – Few – Well past peak bloom.
  • Foam Flower – Few – Well past peak bloom.
  • Four Leaf Milkweed – Few – At peak bloom.
  • Galax – Many ++ – Various stages of blooming   process – Some almost at peak bloom.
  • Hawkweed – Many + – Mostly at peak bloom.
  • Large Bluet – Many ++ – At peak bloom.
  • Long Spurred Violet – Few – Almost gone.
  • Maple Leaf Viburnum – Some – At peak bloom.
  • Mountain Laurel – Many – Approaching peak   bloom.
  • Partridge Berry – Many ++ – At peak bloom.
  • Solomon’s Seal Grande – Many – Past peak bloom
  • Star Chickweed – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • Star Grass – Some – At peak bloom.
  • Sweet White Violet – Few – Past peak bloom.

Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on his hikes and mountain stories from the Smokies. See more of his column here.

Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook and Instagram.  Get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place with our Free Newsletter.