September is beginning to bring subtle changes to Roundtop Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where late-summer wildflowers remain in bloom while the first hints of fall color are appearing along the trail.

Roundtop Trail is 7.5 miles long, beginning at Wear Gap Road just inside the park and ending at Little River at the Townsend Wye. The trail would likely be classified as moderately difficult, although hikers should be aware of a section approximately 3 miles from the trailhead where the footing becomes very challenging for about 20 feet.

The Sept. 7 hike covered approximately two hours up the trail and offered more than flowers and changing foliage. Two bears — a sow and cub — were spotted in a tree about 1.8 miles from the trailhead. The sow came down the tree within seconds and fled into the woods away from the trail. The cub responded by climbing higher into the tree.

Wildflowers along the route ranged from fading summer blooms to varieties just beginning their fall show.

Wildflower report — Roundtop Trail

  • Black-eyed Susan — Many; just beyond peak bloom.
  • Blue asters — Few; just starting to bloom.
  • Coreopsis — Few; past peak bloom.
  • Curtiss milkwort — Many; mostly at peak bloom.
  • Erect goldenrod — Some; other varieties also observed.
  • False foxglove — Many; many buds, with some at peak bloom.
  • Flowering spurge — Some; past peak bloom.
  • Hearts-a-bustin’ — Few; seed pods.
  • Ironweed — Few; at or just beyond peak bloom.
  • Pale jewelweed — Few; at peak bloom.
  • Southern harebell — Many+; past peak bloom but still nice.
  • Star grass — One.
  • Starry campion — Few; past peak bloom.
  • White-top asters — Few; appear to be just starting to bloom.

The transition toward fall was also evident in the foliage. Red was beginning to appear on several plants, with sourwood providing the most brilliant color during the hike.

Foliage report — Roundtop Trail

  • Blackberry — Few beginning to turn red.
  • Blueberry — Few beginning to turn red.
  • Sassafras — Few beginning to turn red.
  • Sourwood — Some; several showing brilliant red color.

Roundtop Trail offered a little of both seasons on Sept. 7 — the remaining blooms of summer and the first red leaves signaling that fall is beginning its annual return to the Smokies.

Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on his hikes and mountain stories from the Smokies.

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