Wildflowers Blooming in the Great Smoky Mountains, 4/8/24

(This report is a reprint from VIP, Mr. Tom H., on 4/8/24, with a photo added for effect)

WILDFLOWER REPORT – CHESTNUT TOP TRAIL (FIRST 3/10 MILE) – 8 APRIL 2024

Bishop Caps – Many – Mostly at peak bloom.

Common Blue Violet – Few – Approaching peak bloom.

Crested Dwarf Iris – Some – About half at peak bloom and half past peak bloom.

Dogwood – Some – Appear to be at peak bloom.

False Solomon’s Seal – Many – Just starting to bloom (probably a week from being at peak bloom depending on the weather).

Fire Pinks – Some – Almost at peak bloom (be sure to look about 12 feet above trail on the left about 2/10 of a mile up the trail).  Nice!

Foam Flower – Few – Past peak bloom.

Hepatica – (1)

Long Spurred Violets – Many – Mostly past peak bloom.

Meadow Parsnip – Some – Approaching peak bloom.

Purple Phacelia – Many – Most at peak bloom (very beautiful).

Rue Anemone – Some – At peak bloom.

Solomon’s Seal – Many – Approaching peak bloom.

Solomon’s Seal Grande – Some – Just starting to bloom.

Spring Beauty – Some – At peak bloom or just beyond peak bloom.

Star Chickweed – Many ++ - AT peak bloom (Especially pretty clumps of these flowers).

Stone Crop – Many – In the early blooming stage.

Sweet White Trillium – Many – Mostly at peak bloom.

Toothwort – Few – Past peak bloom.

Yellow Mandarin – Few – Just starting to bloom

Yellow Trillium – Many – At peak bloom (few budded).

LAUREL CREEK ROAD

Dogwood

Purple Phacelia (first 2/10 of mile from the Wye on the left).

Red Bud

Sweet White Trillium

Yellow Trillium

LITTLE RIVER ROAD (FROM TOWNSEND WYE TO METCALF BOTTOMS

Dogwood

Purple Phacelia

Sweet White Trillium

Wild Columbine

Yellow Trillium

 

Great Smoky Mountains NP Roads Closed

 This just in......Multiple park roads closed due to downed trees. Read more for details. 

GATLINBURG, Tenn.—Most roads in Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed following a high wind event that occurred overnight. Trees are down across roads and trails. Crews are assessing conditions, clearing trees and will open roads when it is safe to do so. 

The following roads are closed as of 12 p.m.:

Gatlinburg Bypass 

Newfound Gap Road (US 441) between Gatlinburg, TN and Cherokee, NC 

Little River Road 

Laurel Creek Road 

Cherokee Orchard Road at the park boundary 

Greenbrier Road at the ranger station 

Tremont Road 

Foothills Parkway new section 

Foothills Parkway between Look Rock and US 129 

Wears Gap Road 

A National Weather Service wind advisory and high wind warning remain in effect until 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 26. Wind gusts peaked at 85 mph in the park between 2 and 3 a.m. 

The Sugarlands and Oconaluftee visitor centers are open. Visitors coming to the park today are encouraged to stop in a visitor center for updates on current conditions. Updates will be posted on the park’s website.

Cane Creek Trail & Campsite #2, in Nov., 2023

This was a really pleasant night out in the woods.  This was David L's first night of "backpacking". Now Dave's done a bunch of long, and short, day hikes. And stayed at established "car campgrounds" but this was the first time he carried a BP with the intention of spending a night in the woods. 

The relative ease and distance on this route make for a good first night out for anyone new to the backcountry adventure.  The conditions were mild with moderate temps and no rain.

Though water was still plentiful from the creek near the campsite. 

Maybe in the next few weeks we can get out for another backcountry excursion a little farther in distance and with a little more "terrain".

Cozy Cosby

 

Spent a couple of nites at the Cosby Campground.   Very nice "Nature Trail" accessible by just about anyone and a fairly easy Hen Wallow Falls hike.   Beautiful part of the park.  Can't wait to get back.

Haleakalā National Park

 Wow!!! This awesome NP is located on the island of Maui. Myself and "The Mysterious one", were given the opportunity by powers outside our own, to visit this beautiful Island and this park back in early April 2023.

A majority of the park is made up of the dormant volcano, Haleakalā, but the southeast flank of the mountain extends to the Kīpahulu coast and into tropical rainforest and waterfalls. (I provided a link to the park website below)

Bring your water and sunscreen, and a wide brimmed hat would help with the sun as well. 

The trail we chose was just below the summit of Haleakalā, at 10,023 ft., and was called Keonehe‘ehe‘e (Sliding Sands). This trailhead is in the Haleakalā Visitor Center parking lot near the road. Once away from the parking area the trail begins a continuous descent into the crater of this volcano.   

The beautiful colors and shapes of ancient lava flows were surreal. We saw plants endemic to this park (silverswords {'ahinahina}), which we were told are making a comeback from near extinction. (Endemic plants are special because they are found in only one location on the planet, and nowhere else.)

We hiked down approximately 1.5 miles, maybe 2, and back out. This NP has backcountry sites and some other awesome looking trails I'd love to trek someday. Check out the website and I hope you're able to experience the privilege of this park someday!

Plan Your Visit - Haleakalā National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Abrams Creek and Little Bottoms Trail

 The weather forecast freed up Saturday and a campsite opened up.   I took advantage.  Grabbed my stuff and made a quick one day visit.   Completely changed my attitude. What a gift the park is.

GSMNP and the new "Park it Forward" program begins March 1st

(Editors note: As a point of comparison, the daily cost to enter Yellowstone NP, and The Grand Canyon NP, is $35)

On March 1, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will launch the ‘Park it Forward’ program which requires visitors to buy and display a valid parking tag for any vehicle parking for more than 15 minutes.  

The $40 annual parking tags are available for purchase online through Great Smoky Mountains Association. The $5 daily and $15 weekly parking tags are available for purchase at recreation.gov and by credit card at automated fee machines available year-round, 24 hours a day at several locations in the park. All parking tag types are also available for purchase at several store locations.   

Park users will directly contribute to protecting the park when they buy a parking tag. All revenue generated through the Park it Forward program will remain in the park to support operational costs for managing and improving visitor services such as trail maintenance, custodial services, and trash removal. The program will also support more resource education programs, emergency responders, and law enforcement staff across the park.   

Parking tags cannot be transferred between vehicles and must include the license plate number matching the vehicle in which it is displayed. 

Parking will continue to be available on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the park. Visitors should plan ahead when visiting busy locations like Laurel Falls Trail or Clingmans Dome by considering visiting during off-peak hours, mid-week, and during the cooler months to increase the chances of securing a parking spot. With more than 800 miles of trails and nearly 400 miles of scenic roadways, there are ample opportunities for recreation across the park each day.