APRIL 28
ACE GAP TRAIL: MANY BLOOMS— Catesby Trillium (various stages), Common Cinquefoil*, Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages), False Solomon’s Seal (various stages), Galax – Many budded (JSB), Meadow Parsnip*, Mountain Laurel (JSB), Robins Plantain (BP), Star Grass*, SOME BLOOMS—Fire Pink*, Flame Azalea*, Meadow Rue (JSB), Milkweed (JSB), Solomon’s Seal*, Wild Geranium (BP), Yellow Mandarin (BP).  FEW BLOOMS—Beard Tongue (JSB), Bird Foot Violet (APB), Carolina Wood Vetch (BP), Common Blue Violet*, Halberd Leaf Violet (BP), Hawkweed (JSB), Hispid Buttercup (JSB), Hooked Buttercup (JSB), Rue Anemone*, Squaw Root*, Sweet Shrub*, White Clover (JSB), Wild Confrey*, Wild Oats (JSB), Yellow Trillium*, Yellow Wood Sorrel*.

APRIL 25
LUMBER RIDGE TRAIL (B TO TOP OF RIDGE): MANY BLOOMS—Common Cinquefoil*, Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages), Hawkweed (various stages), Mountain Laurel (JSB), Rue Anemone*, Star Chickweed*, Star Grass*, Sweet Shrub (APB).  SOME BLOOMS—Daisy Fleabane*, Dog Hobble (BP), Robins Plantain (AG).  FEW BLOOMS—Alum Root (various stages), Bird Foot Violet*, Blue Berry (JSB), Common Blue Violet*, Dogwood*, False Solomon’s Seal*, Flame Azalea, Foam Flower (BP), Halberd Leaf Violet (BP), Little Brown Jugs, Long Spurred Violet (AG), Maple  Leaf Viburnum (JSB), Meadow Parsnip (JBP), Plantain Leaf Pussytoe (BP), Silverbells (BP), Solomon’s Seal*, Squaw Root (BP), Umbrella Magnolia*, Wild Oats*, Yellow Mandarin*.

APRIL 21
PORTER CREEK TRAIL (B TO FERN FALLS): MANY BLOOMS—Bishop Caps (AG), Brook Lettuce*, Canadian Violet, Common Cinquefoil*, Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages), False Solomon’s Seal (various stages), Foam Flower*, Robins Plantain (BP), Solomon’s Seal*, Stone Crop*, Sweet Cicely (APB), Sweet White Violet*, Trillium Erect (BP), Umbrella Magnolia*, Yellow Trillium*.  SOME BLOOMS—Dog Hobble (APB), Large Flowered Trillium (BP), May Apple*, Meadow Parsnip (APB), Wild Phlox*.  FEW BLOOMS—Blue Cohosh (BP), Doll Eyes*, Golden Ragwort, Hooked Buttercup (APB), Little Brown Jugs (BP), Long Spurred Violet (AG), Painted Trillium*, Squaw Root (ES), Star Chickweed*, Sweet Shrub*, Toothwort (BP), Wild Geranium*, Wild Ginger (BP), Yellow Mandarin*.

APRIL 17
DEEP CREEK TRAIL (B TO INDIAN CREEK JUNCTION): MANY BLOOMS—Rue Anemone (APB), Robin’s Plantain (various stages), Lyreleaf Sage (APB), Smooth Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Star Chickweed (APB), Bishop’s Cap (APB), Wild Geranium (APB), Blue Phlox (APB).  SOME BLOOMS—Dwarf Crested Iris (various stages), Wild Strawberry (JSB), Nodding Trillium (APB), Hairy Buttercup (APB), Common Blue Violet (various stages), Sweet White Violet (various stages), Foam Flower (various stages), Red Wakerobin (JSB), Little Brown Jug (APB), Sweet White Trillium (APB), Doghobble (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Solomon’s Plume (ES), Yellow Mandarin (JSB), Halberd-Leaved Violet (AG).  NOTES—There are a lot of large patches of Iris, especially along the creek side of the trail.

APRIL 16
LITTLE RIVER TRAIL (B TO CUCUMBER GAP TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Bishop Caps (various stages), Foam Flower (various stages), Solomon’s Sea*, Sweet White Violets*, Trillium Erect*, Yellow Trillium*.  SOME BLOOMS—Creamy Yellow Violets*, Large Flowered Trillium (BP), Rue Anemone*, Squaw Root (JSB), Star Chickweed*, Toothwort (BP), Wild Ginger*, Yellow Mandarin (JSB).   FEW BLOOMS—Canadian Violet*, Common Blue Violets*, False Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Frazier Sedge (BP), Golden Ragwort*, Large Flowered Bellwort (JSB), Meadow Parsnip (JSB), Wild Geranium*, Wild Phlox (JSB).

CUCUMBER GAP TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—False Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Trillium Erect*, Wood Anemone (various stages), Yellow Trillium*.  SOME BLOOMS—Bishop Caps (BP), Blue Cohosh (JSB), Foam Flower*, Frazier Sedge (various stages), Large Flowered Trillium (BP), Rue Anemone*, Solomon’s Seal*, Sweet White Violets*, Toothwort (BP), Wild Phlox*, Yellow Mandarin (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet*, Common Cinquefoil (JSB), Creamy Yellow Violet*, Long Spurred Violet (BP), Painted Trillium*, Trout Lily*, Wild Geranium*

BRADLEY FORK TRAIL (B TO CHASTEEN CREEK JUNCTION):  MANY BLOOMS—Wild Phlox (APB), Smooth Phlox (APB), Large White Trillium (BP), Sweet White Trillium (BP), Wild Geranium (APB).  SOME BLOOMS—Fringed Phacelia (BP), Foam Flower (APB), Star Chickweed (VS), Buttercup (BP), Wood Anemone (APB), Rue Anemone (BP), Robin’s Plantain, Prostrate Bluets (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Smooth Solomon’s Seal (JSB).  NOTES—The Wild and Smooth Phlox along the trail is plentiful and scenic. There are many large patches along both sides of the trail.

CHASTEEN CREEK TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Wild Phlox (APB), Large Flowered Bellwort (APB), Large White Trillium (VS), Sweet White Trillium (VS), Bishops Cap (APB), Wild Geranium (APB), Robin’s Plantain (APB).  SOME BLOOMS—Jack in the Pulpit (JSB), Wild Strawberry (JSB), Frasers Sedge (APB), Golden Alexander (JSB), Blue Cohosh (JSB), Toothwort (BP), Yellow Mandarin (JSB), Bear Corn (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Hepatica (AG), Wild Oats (ES), Smooth Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Seersucker Sedge (ES)

APRIL 14
CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL: MANY BLOOMS—Bishop Caps (BP), Common Cinquefoil*, False Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Long Spurred Violet (BP), Purple Phacelia*, Rue Anemone*, Solomon’s Seal*, Solomon’s Seal Grande (ABP), Star Chickweed*, Stone Crop*, Trillium Erect*, Yellow Trillium*.  SOME BLOOMS—Crested Dwarf Iris (various stages), Dogwood (various stages), Fire Pink*, Foam Flower (various stages), Meadow Parsnip (various stages), Plantain Leaf Pussytoe (AG), Toothwort (various stages), Wild Oats (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Bird Foot Violet*, Carolina Wood Vetch*, Catesby Trillium, Common Blue Violet*, Dog Hobble (JSB), Early Saxifrage, Halberd Leaf Violet*, Hepatica, Hooked Buttercup (JSB), Lousewort, Squaw Root, Sweet White Violet*, Umbrella Magnolia, Yellow Mandarin (various stages).

APRIL 7
OLD SUGARLANDS TRAIL (B TO BULL HEAD TRAIL JUNCTION): MANY BLOOMS—Dogwood*, Dog Hobble (JSB), Long Spurred Violet*, Pennywort (APB), Robins Plantain (BP), Star Chickweed*, Yellow Trillium*. SOME BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet*, Common Cinquefoil (JSB), Crested Dwarf Iris*, Meadow Parsnip (JSB), Rue Anemone*, Sweet White Violet*, Toothwort (BP), Wild Geranium (JSB), Wild Strawberry*.  FEW BLOOMS—Bird Foot Violet*, Bishop Caps (APB), Buttercup, Golden Ragwort*, Halberd Leaf Violet (JSB), Large Flowered Trillium*, Little Brown Jugs*, Lyre Leaf Sage (JSB), Seersucker Sedge (BP), Solomon’s Seal (JSB), Stone Crop (JSB), Sweet Shrub (JSB), Sweet Pinesap, Trailing Arbutus (BP), Trillium Erect*, Wild Oats*, Wild Phlox (JSB), Wood Anemone.  NOTES—The first mile of the trail is saturated much of the way with Yellow Trillium at peak bloom. A real treat to observe. Appears that the quality of these blooms may have been affected by the rainfall.

APRIL 4
HUSKEY GAP TRAIL (441 TO HUSKEY GAP): MANY BLOOMS—Early Meadow Rue (various stages), Halberd Leaf Violet*, Large Flowered Bellwort*, Large Flowered Trillium*, Rue Anemone*, Spring Beauty*, Squirrel Corn*, Star Chickweed*, Sweet White Trillium*, Trillium Erect*, Yellow Trillium*.  SOME BLOOMS—Bloodroot*, Canadian Violet*, Common Blue Violet*, Dutchmen’s Breeches*, Hepatica*, Wild Ginger (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Bishop Caps (JSB), Blue Cohosh (JSB), Creamy Yellow Violet*, Crested Dwarf Iris (JSB), Purple Phacelia (JSB), Seersucker Sedge*, Sweet White Violet*, Toothwort (BP), Trailing Arbutus*, Wild Geranium, Wood Anemone*, Yellow Mandarin (JSB).  NOTES—Midway up the trail, there are various white Trilliums scattered 50 to 100-feet below and above the trail. About 1.5 miles up the trail there is a huge tree down. The embankment both below and above the trail is very steep—do not recommend trying to bypass it though is possible to crawl under the tree.

APRIL 2
ABRAMS FALLS TRAIL (B TO FALLS): MANY BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet*, Halberd Leaf Violet*, Plantain Leaf Pussytoes (various stages), Solitary Pussytoes (various stages), Star Chickweed*, Sweet White Violet*, Trailing Arbutus*.  SOME BLOOMS—Spring Beauty*.  FEW BLOOMS—Bleeding Heart*, Carolina Wood (JSB), Catesby Trillium (various stages), Little Brown Jugs (APB), Prostate Bluets*, Robins Plantain (JSB), Rue Anemone*.

MARCH 28
WEST PRONG TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Blood Root*, Halberd Leaf Violet*, Hepatica*, Long Spurred Violet*, Plantain Leaf Pussytoes (BP), Rue Anemone*, Seersucker Sedge (various stages), Spring Beauty*.  SOME BLOOMS—Blue Cohosh (JSB), Sweet White Violet*, Trailing Arbutus (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet*, Common Cinquefoil*, Dutchmen’s Breeches (JSB), Star Chickweed*, Toothwort (JSB), Yellow Trillium (JSB).  NOTES—The first 1.2-mile section of the trail has massive numbers of blooming flowers on the embankments above the trail and below the trail. Much better viewing in full sun. When the Yellow Trillium are at peak bloom, there should be a massive display—both above and below the trail— along the first 1.2 mile of the trail. In full sun the Blood Root are striking. Some of the blooms are beginning to fall off, so get to the trail soon to see them at peak bloom.

MARCH 24
CURRY MOUNTAIN TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Halberd Leaf Violet (various stages), Trailing Arbutus (various stages), Yellow Trillium (various stages).  SOME BLOOMS—Plantain Leaf Pussytoe (various stages).  FEW BLOOMS—Rue Anemone (JSB), Star Chickweed (JSB).

MARCH 21
NORRIS RIVERBLUFF TRAIL: MANY BLOOMS—Bloodroot (various stages), Spring Beauty (various stages), Toothwort (various stages).  SOME BLOOMS—Dutchmen’s Breeches (various stages), Rue Anemone (JSB), Seersucker Sedge*, Trout Lily (ES), Wild Phlox (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet (various stages), Hepatica (JSB).

MARCH 17
PORTER CREEK TRAIL (B TO FALLS): MANY BLOOMS—Halberd Leaf Violet (various stages), Hepatica (various stages), Seersucker Sedge (in bloom), Spring Beauty, White Fringed Phacelia (JSB).  SOME BLOOMS—Blood Root (ES).  FEW BLOOMS—Bishop Cap (ES), Dutchmen’s Breeches (JSB), Long Spurred Violet (ES), Rue Anemone (ES), Star Chickweed (ES), Sweet White Violet.  NOTES—Blooms appear to be a little late this year, in two weeks will likely be outstanding.

FERN FALLS: Fern falls, which gets its name from the abundant ferns growing in the area, is 45-feet-tall and is especially beautiful after the recent rainfall. It is reported that there are over 65 species of ferns and fern allies growing in the park. Fern Falls is located 1.8 miles up the Porter Creek Trail in the Greenbrier section of the park.  The Porter Creek trail starts four miles from US 321, about a mile from the Gatlinburg City limits on the right side coming from Gatlinburg toward Cosby.

MARCH 10
TURKEY PEN TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS— Halberd Leaf Violet (various stages), Plantain Leaf Pussytoe.  SOME BLOOMS— Long Spurred Violet, Trailing Arbutus (various stages).  FEW BLOOMS—Common Blue Violet, Common Cinquefoil, Hepatica, Rue Anemone.  NOTES—Plantain Leaf Pussytoe should be in full bloom with a few warm days.

MARCH 7
LUMBER RIDGE TRAIL (B TO TOP OF RIDGE): Two instances of Long Spurred Violet. Many budded Plantain Leaf Pussytoe—with the warm weather later this week they will likely be in full bloom by next weekend.

MARCH 3
CUCUMBER GAP TRAIL: More than three dozen Hepatica are in full, or almost full bloom along from the first half mile of the trail from Jakes Creek. One of the blooms was a beautiful lavender color.

FEBRUARY 26
LEAD COVE TRAIL (B-E): There are two blooming and eight budded—to where you can see the color of the bloom—instances of Hepatica a little over a mile up the trail on the right.

FEBRUARY 14
HUSKEY GAP TRAIL (US 441 TO ONE AND A HALF MILES UP THE TRAIL): Discovered one budded and three blooming rue anemone. Was unable to go further up the trail due to a large tree (38-inches thick) that had fallen across the trail with steep embankments both below and above the trail.

CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL (ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE UP THE TRAIL): There were a few blooming seersucker sedge and seven blooms of star chickweed.

FEBRUARY 10
PORTER CREEK TRAIL (B TO FERN FALLS): One star chickweed was found in bloom. Approximately one hundred feet beyond the long foot log bridge there were around a dozen white fringed phacelia blooming—all but one were on the right side of the trail.

MAY 19
RICH MOUNTAIN TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Flame Azalea*, Galax*, Hawkweed*, Indian Pink*, Mountain Laurel*, Spiderwort*, Star Grass*.  SOME BLOOMS—Beard Tongue*, Blackberry (various stages), Four Leaf Milkweed*, Large Bluet*.  FEW BLOOMS—Bar Cucumber*, False Solomon’s Seal*, Hispid Buttercup*, Indian Cucumber Root (BP), Maple Leaf Viburnum*, Meadow Parsnip (BP), Partridge Berry*, Pipsissewa (JSB), Sweet Shrub (BP), Sweet White Violet*, Wild Geranium (BP), Yellow Wood Sorrell (APB).  NOTES—This trail has outstanding displays of Indian Pinks, Flame Azaleas, Mountain Laurel, Four Leaf Milkweed, and Spiderwort blooms. I do not recall finding the Indian Pinks on any other trail on the Tennessee side of the park. One would not need to go more than a half-mile up the trail to see the Indian Pinks, Spiderworts and Four Leaf Milkweed.

MAY 14
CHESTNUT BRANCH TRAIL (B-E): MANY BLOOMS—Galax (JSB), Partridge Berry*.  SOME BLOOMS—Dog Hobble (BP), Indian Cucumber Root*, Mountain Laurel (APB).  FEW BLOOMS—Bar Cucumber*, Blackberry (BP), Clinton Lily*, Hawkweed (BP), Large Bluet*, Squaw Root (AG), Stone Crop (BP), Wild Geranium (BP).

APPALACHIAN TRAIL (DAVENPORT GAP TO CHESTNUT BRANCH TRAIL JUNCTION): MANY BLOOMS— Clinton Lily*.  SOME BLOOMS—Mountain Laurel (APB), Nodding Trillium (AG).  FEW BLOOMS—Bar Cucumber (BP), Canadian Violet (BP), False Solomon’s Seal*, Indian Cucumber Root*, Meadow Parsnip (BP), Rue Anemone*, Solomon’s Seal*, Star Grass*, Wild Geranium (BP), Yellow Trillium (AG).

STATE ROUTE #32 (FROM DAVENPORT GAP TO BIG CREEK): MANY BLOOMS—Blue Eye Grass*, Daisy Fleabane (BP), Hispid Buttercup.  SOME BLOOMS—Blackberry (BP), Maple Leaf Viburnum*, Mountain Laurel*, White Clover*.  FEW BLOOMS—Bar Cucumber (BP), Beard Tongue (BP), Crimson Clover*, Dog Hobble (BP), Galax (JSB), Golden Ragwort (BP), Hawkweed (BP), Japanese Honeysuckle*, Lyre Leaf Sage (BP), Ox Eye Daisy*, Red Clover*.

MAY 9
LOWER MT. CAMMERER TRAIL (B TO CAMPSITE #35):  MANY BLOOMS—Canadian Violet*, Galax (JSB).  SOME BLOOMS—False Solomon’s Seal (AG), Mountain Laurel (JSB).  FEW BLOOMS—Bar Cucumber (JSB), Bishop Caps (BP), Clinton Lily*, Foam Flower (BP), Large Bluet (APB), Meadow Parsnip (BP), Nodding Trillium (BP), Star Grass*, Sweet White Trillium (various stages), Vasey Trillium (BP), Wild Geranium, Yellow Trillium (BP).

MAY 5
ROUND TOP TRAIL (B FOR 2 & A HALF HOURS UP THE TRAIL): MANY BLOOMS—Galax (JSB), Hawkweed (various stages), Large Bluet (JSB), Mountain Laurel*, Star Grass*, Wild Geranium (BP).  SOME BLOOMS—Blackberry (APB), Common Cinquefoil*, Flame Azalea*, Four Leaf Milkweed (APB).  FEW BLOOMS—Bowman’s Root (APB), Common Blue Violet*, Crested Dwarf Iris (BP), False Solomon’s Seal (APB), Fire Pink*, Maple Leaf Viburnum (JSB), Meadow Parsnip*, Partridge Berry, Rue Anemone*, Vasey Trillium*, Wild Oats (BP), Yellow Trillium (BP).  NOTES—The best display of the Mountain Laurel starts about 1.25 miles up the trail. It is breathtakingly beautiful and well worth the effort to see it. There are eight trees down on the trail, a couple of which are challenging to go over or under.