Park Wildflowers - Viewing Wildflowers From Your Car
The
best way to experience the Smokies wildflowers is to take a hike
or stroll down one of the Parks many clearly marked quiet walkways.
However, several park roads also provide good wildflower viewing from
your vehicle. The following are some of the best park roads for viewing
wildflowers.
Laurel Creek Road - This paved, winding
route follows scenic Laurel Creek for seven miles
from the Townsend "Y"
(near the Townsend entrance to the park) to Cades Cove. Plants in
bloom include fringed phacelia, columbine, blood-root, fire pink, Fraser
sedge, yellow trillium, and many other species. Early April May
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail (opens April 1) - From Gatlinburg,
TN, turn off the parkway at stoplight #8 and follow Airport Road into
the park. Roaring Fork is a paved, but narrow, one-way loop road. No
motorhomes or trailers. Wildflowers include spring-beauty, yellow trillium,
hepatica, large-flowered trillium, and violets. Early April May
Clingmans Dome Road (opens April 1) - This seven-mile
paved road runs from Newfound Gap to near the summit of Clingmans
Dome. Plants in bloom include serviceberry, fire cherry, silverbell, witch-hobble,
fringed phacelia, bluets, and spring-beauty. Mid- to Late May.