I hiked Rich Mt. Road from the park boundary two hours up towards Cades Cove. Rich Mt. Road runs from across the street from the Missionary Baptist Church in Cades Cove to Townsend.  The one-way gravel part of the road is 6.8 miles long.  The name of the road at the park boundary is Old Cades Cove Road

It is hard to see many of the wildflowers while driving, and a tree has fallen across the road about two miles up the road. The park road crew got it removed quickly and efficiently.

Once there, I found dozens of wildflowers, mostly at peak bloom. (It is challenging for me to identify many of the Asters, so forgive it there are mistakes.)

  • Basil Bee Balm – Some – At or just beyond peak bloom.
    Black Eyed Susan – Some – Mostly at peak bloom.
  • Black Cohosh – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • Coreopsis – Some – Mostly at peak bloom (nice).
  • Daisy Fleabane – Many ++ – Mostly at peak bloom.
  • False Fox Glove – Some – Approaching peak bloom.
  • Goats Beard – (1) – Almost gone – past peak.
  • Heal All – (1) – Almost at peak bloom.
  • Horse Nettle – (1) – At peak bloom. (nice bloom).
  • Oxeye Daisy – Few – At peak bloom.
  • Pale Jewelweed – (1) – Just starting to bloom.
  • Poke Weed – (1) – Almost at peak bloom.
  • Red Clover – Few – Past peak bloom.
  • Rosebay Rhododendron – Many – At peak bloom.
  • Ruellia – Few – At peak bloom – very attractive.
  • Spiderwort – (2) – Just beyond peak bloom.
  • John’s Wort – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • Star Grass – (1)
  • Tick Trefoil – Few
  • Wild Hydrangea – Many – Mostly past peak bloom.
  • Wood Mint – Few – Just starting to 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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