Fall may be arriving in the Great Smoky Mountains, but wildflowers are not quite ready to surrender the trails.

A recent hike on Finley Cane Trail offered several late-season blooms, along with stream crossings, evidence of yellow jackets and one very large obstacle near the end of the trail.

Wildflower sightings

  • Erect goldenrod — Few; mostly at peak bloom.
  • White snakeroot — Many; some at peak bloom and some past peak.
  • Whitetop aster — Many++; mostly at peak bloom. Identification is not certain; these could be white wood asters.

Finley Cane Trail begins on the left side of Laurel Creek Road about six miles from the Townsend Wye. The 2.8-mile trail is considered moderate in difficulty.

Lead Cove Trail begins from the same location, while Turkeypen Ridge Trail starts across the road.

Hikers should come prepared to get their feet wet. Finley Cane has 11 unbridged stream crossings, and three of those crossings can be challenging following heavy rainfall.

There was another reason to watch where you step. Three large yellow jacket nests that had been dug up were spotted beside the trail. Even this late in the season, hikers should remain alert around disturbed nests.

The biggest obstacle came about 2.6 miles along the trail, where a massive blowdown blocked the route. With steep embankments both above and below the trail, going around it is difficult. It is possible to carefully crawl over the fallen trees, but caution is essential.

Finley Cane is also a horse trail, and hikers may encounter horseback riders along the route. A horse hitching rack is among the features along the trail.

The combination of late-season wildflowers, numerous stream crossings and changing conditions makes Finley Cane an interesting Smokies hike — but this week, it is one where paying attention to the trail is every bit as important as looking at the flowers.

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

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