Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

About the Authors Liz Etnier Mike Etnier Spring Wildflower Hikes in the Smokies Gregory Bald Roundtop Schoolhouse Gap Chestnut Top Defeat Ridge Return to Hiking in the Smokies

Recent Hikes Porters Creek – April 16, 2008 Porters Creek is considered by many to be the best trail in the Smoky Mountains for number of wildflower species seen and for its huge displays of fringed phacelia. Porters Creek is found at the end of the Greenbrier Road off Highway 321 between Gatlinburg and Cosby. The trail is 3.6 miles long, ending at Campsite 31. Many choose only to hike to Fern Falls which is about 1.8 miles from the trailhead, and indeed, the most magnificent displays of wildflowers are in this first section. On this day, we were not disappointed in the variety of wildflowers we saw blooming. As we tried to recollect, we counted 42 species that we had seen. The fringed phacelia, however, had either already peaked or had been nipped by frost, as the hillsides normally covered with flowers had few plants blooming. One could look at the flowering stalks and see that most of the buds were gone. You can check out the photographs from this hike by clicking on the link to my blog, and then clicking on "photos." The hillsides were covered with blooming Trillium luteum, T. grandiflorum, T. erectum, wild geranium, Bishop's cap, and foamflower. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, and the lighting this day was wonderful for taking photographs.