Which are thebest wildflower hikes in th e Smokies?

“working on a maybe an extended weekend backpack trek through the GSMNP and was wondering what may be some of the best hikes for spring wildflower watching..

thanks”

“White Oak Sinks, Gregorys Bald, the trail across from the wye...I can't remember the name of it just now...”

“the trail across from the wye...I can't remember the name of it just now...” are you thinking russel field - spence field area? anthony cr.?

wh. oak sinks sounds like a nice place..

gregory's i could make into a loop... hmm.. thanks”

“Chestnut top trail is across from the Y just out of Townsend.

Most people in Townsend and the Park claim it has the biggest variety of wildflowers of any trail in GSMNP.

Gregorys will not bloom until June.

If you are going in April, I would park at the Y in Townsend, hike up chestnut top to School house gap, down SHG trail until just before Turkey pen, go up to White Oak Sinks and stroll through fields of wildflowers waist high. From the upper end of white oak sinks, bushwhack straight up the incline (bearing about 350 degrees) and intersect Scott Mountain Trail, hang a left and cruise over to BC6.

It will be about a 10 to 12 mile day. Maybe a little more, I would have to look at the map.

From BC 6, you can hit Indian Gap Trail, hang a right and move counter clockwise over to Rich Mountain Loop Trail and over to Cades Cove.

Road walk to the picnic area and take Anthony Creek a short ways to crib gap to Finley Cane to West Prong to BC 18 which is a huge, but beautiful spot on the creek.

From there cut on across to Tremont, road hike downhill to Laurel Creek Road turn right and road hike up to the Wye and point of beginning.

It will be two big days and one with about 5 miles or road hike, but doable. I will just about guarantee you will max the wildflowers on that loop.
last edited: 3/04/09 8:41:59 PM”

“White Oak Sinks can be tricky if you haven't been there.

Shoot me an email and I can give you a pretty good description of how the trail network unfolds. It isn't on the map.”

“Is the wye that mountain style beach area where hundreds of people go to swim, tube, jump from rocks, etc?”

“yes hyway it is...”

“We went tubing there. What an awesome place. Too bad its not a little harder to get too.”

“yep..chili and I once found a place a little more secluded...but the water was a tad cold that day...”

“embarrassing for chili, but I bet you looked stunning.”

“the first day of what you described doesn't look all that bad.. 6-7 miles or so.. the second one would be about 12 or more though..

thanks for the suggestions.. we'll have to see how many are going to join.. i don't think i'd want to go trampling though the sinks with a group of 8 but 4, i may consider it.

i did find some info last night.. seems the sinks may not be all that hard to find nowadays.

thanks for the gregory bald note.. i kind of was figuring that the upper areas were all about azaleas and such which are much later in the year.. maybe the next time..

seems all the wildflowers are in TN.. i have not found any info on wildflower hikes in the NC side.. what gives?

originally i was considering Mt. Sterling loop.. my other thought was Porters Cr. to #31, then up the old manway to icewater and out to NFG but not sure if i'd want to drag a whole bunch up that way either.. all but one of the guys are new to me (backpacking wise) so i'm not sure of their abilities and styles.. i think we're going to have a pow-wow next week so i'll know more then.

thanks folks.

oh, here is one of the better sites i found about the wildflower hikes: http://hikinginthesmokys.blogspot.com/2009/03/best-wildflower-hikes-in-smoky.html”

“Don't worry about taking 8 to the sinks....there will be more than that there. However, the trail system is pretty distinct and most people stay on it.

�Is the wye that mountain style beach area where hundreds of people go to swim, tube, jump from rocks, etc?�
hyway
5:22:37 AM
3/05/09

Jumping off the rocks there is now illegal.”

“look what i stumbled upon; current bloomings:

http://www.smokiesinformation.org./wildlife.htm”

“well, looks like the above link doesn't work anymore.. here is the new one: http://www.thegreatsmokymountains.org/wildflowers_and_trees”

“I have to go to Knoxville next weekend. Hopefully we can work in a dayhike.”

“What a great link! Thanks for posting! I didn't get out today to look for wf...but have been playing in the yard instead!”