I hiked several trails: Metcalf Bottoms Trail, Walker Sisters Cabin Trail, Little Brier Gap Trail, Little Greenbrier Trail, and Wear Gap Road. Beauty at every site.

The Metcalf Bottoms trail starts at the northern end of the bridge at Metcalf Bottoms and ends at the Little Greenbrier School.  (.06 tenths of a mile long).

  • Mountain Camelia – Few – At peak bloom (1st 10th mile)
  • Rosebay Rhododendron – Many – Various stages   blooming.
  • Tick Trefoil – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • White Clover – Few – Past peak bloom.

Walker Sisters’ Cabin trail starts at the Little Greenbrier School and ends at the cabin. (1.1 mile long).

  • Common Elderberry – Many – Past peak bloom.
  • Daisy Fleabane – Many – Mostly past peak bloom.
  • Hedge Nettle – (2) – Almost at peak bloom.
  • Large Bluet – Few
  • Red Clover – Few – Slightly past peak bloom.
  • Rosebay Rhododendron – Many – Some at peak bloom –  others well past peak bloom.  Some buds not open.
  • Spotted Jewelweed – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • Thimbleweed – (1) – Past peak bloom.
  • Tick Trefoil – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • Wild Hydrangea – Few – Past peak bloom.

Little Brier Gap is about a half mile long and runs between the Walkers Sisters Cabin Trail and the Little Greenbrier Trail.

  • Large Bluet – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • Rosebay Rhododendron – Some – Various stages of   blooming process.
  • Star Grass – Few – At peak bloom.
  • White Top Aster – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • Wild Hydrangea – Few – Past peak bloom.

Little Greenbrier Trail starts at the park boundary from Wears Gap Road and runs 4.3 miles to the Laurel Falls Trail (would likely be considered moderately difficult).

  • Coreopsis – Few – At or just beyond peak bloom.
  • Indian Pipe – Few –
  • Reclining St. Andrews Cross – (1) – At peak bloom.
  • Rosebay Rhododendron – Some – Various stages of   the  blooming process.
  • Star Grass – Few – At peak bloom.
  • White Top Aster – Few – Just starting to bloom.

Wear Gap Road runs from the park boundary (at the end of the Lyons Springs Road) to Metcalf Bottoms.

  • Black Eyed Susan – Some – At peak bloom.
  • Common Elderberry – Many – Mostly past peak bloom.
  • Coreopsis – Few – At or just beyond peak bloom.
  • Daisy Fleabane – Some – Past peak bloom.
  • Horse Nettle – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • Mountain Mint – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • Red Clover – Few – At or just beyond peak bloom.
  • Rosebay Rhododendron – Many – At various stages of   the blooming process.
  • White Clover – 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.

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