Over the last couple of weeks, I have hiked three main trails to see so many wildflowers peeking out from the foliage, tricked by the warm spells: the Old Sugarlands Trail, Huskey Gap Trail, and the Norris River Bluff Trail.

The Old Sugarlands Trail starts from US 441 (Newfound Gap Road) just before reaching the Great Smoky Mountains National Park headquarters and Sugarlands Visitor Center on the left side of the road, two miles from Gatlinburg.

Something new seen today.  Young man coming up the trail with what looked like a miniature Nissan pickup truck – about 30 inches long and 15 inches wide.  It was powered by an electric motor, is four-wheel drive, and can go about 10 miles before needing charging.  He said some hike with a dog – he hikes with “black and blue” (his name for the vehicle).  He carries some of his equipment on it.

  • Common Blue Violet – Few blooming.
  • Common Cinquefoil – Few starting to bloom 1.8 up trail
  • Halberd Leaf Violet – Few starting to bloom.
  • Long Spurred Violet – Many blooming in the 1st quarter of mile
  • Pennywort – Some blooming about .08th of a mile up the trail
  • Plantain Leaf Pussytoe – Few blooming 1st quarter of mile up trail – Appears past peak bloom or frost-bitten.
  • Robins Plantain – Few just starting to bloom 1st   quarter of mile up trail.
  • Rue Anemone – Many in full bloom – some at the start of the trail and some about 1.3 miles up the trail.
  • Solitary Pussytoes – Few blooming – appear past their peak or are bitten by frost.
  • Star Chickweed – Few in bloom
  • Sweet White Violet – Some blooming – 1st half mile.
  • Toothwort – Few just starting to bloom – 1st half mile
  • Wild Phlox – Few blooming about .07 mile up the trail.
  • Yellow Trillium – Many ++ in full bloom 1st mile up tr.
  • Bishop Caps – Few just starting to bloom 1 mile up the trail
  • Halberd Leaf Violet – Many in full bloom.
  • Hepatica – Many – At peak bloom or approaching peak bloom.
  • Large Flowered Bellwort – Few just starting to bloom.
  • Large Flowered Trillium – Many at peak bloom – 1 mile   up
  • Rue Anemone – Many ++ – At peak bloom – 1st mile &   half
  • Seersucker Sedge – 1 clump at full bloom – 1/25th up tr.
  • Spring Beauty – Many in full bloom – 1st mile up trail.
  • Dutchmen’s Breeches – Few blooming a mile up the trail.
  • Squirrel Corn – Some at full bloom – mile up trail.
  • Squaw Root – 2 just starting to come up, 1.6 miles up the trail.
  • Star Chickweed – Some in full bloom – 1st mile up tr.
  • Sweet White Violet – Many at full bloom – 1st mile up tr
  • Sweet White Trillium – Many at or approaching full bloom – mile up trail.
  • Toothwort – Most past peak bloom.
  • Wood Violet – (1) blooming.
  • Trailing Arbutus – Some at peak bloom – 1.7 miles up the trail.
  • Yellow Trillium – Many are at full bloom.
  • Yellow Wood Violet – Few at peak bloom.

The Huskey Gap Trail starts about three miles up Newfound Gap Road from the Park Headquarters.  The parking area for the trail is on the left, going toward Newfound Gap. About a mile up the trail, hillsides are covered with white Trillium in full bloom (both above & below the trail) – a real treat to see.

The Norris River Bluff Trail starts off of US 441 after driving across Norris Dam – second left turn – after turning left, turn left again immediately.  At the foot of the ridge, there is a parking lot.  The trail is a loop trail, 3.2 miles long (in total).

  • Bishop Caps – Few – Just starting to bloom.
  • Celandine Poppy – Some – Near the halfway point of the trail – brilliant yellow.
  • Common Blue Violet – Few
  • Dutchmen’s Breeches – Many at full bloom – near half   way point of trail – hillside covered with blooms
  • Hepatica – Many – At or approaching peak bloom.
  • Pennywort – Few – near the beginning of the trail.
  • Purple Phacelia – Few just starting to bloom – many   plants
  • Red Trillium – Many – Budded – should be blooming soon.
  • Rue Anemone – Many – At full bloom.
  • Spring Beauty – Many – At or approaching full bloom.
  • Trout Lily – Many ++ – Just starting to bloom.
  • Wild Phlox – Some – Just starting to bloom – near half   way point of the trail.

It appears that the Trout Lilies will be at peak bloom soon. Much of the side of the ridge is covered with them.  It is a real treat to see them at peak bloom in the full sun. Near the half way point of the trail much of the side of the ridge is covered with Dutchmen’s Breeches at peak bloom. There must be several hundred of them.  Amazing!

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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