EA: In the Field - Tennessee

Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains NP

Finding Solitude in the Most Popular Park -- Bill Taylor
[Excerpted from Outdoor Photography, April 2004]

"If you are looking for a place of solitude with a plethora of wildflowers on next visit to the Smokies, consider the following locations."

Cove Hardwood Nature Trail
"Located behind the amphitheater area in the chimney's Picnic Area on Highway 441, this is an extremely productive trail for wildflowers. Early April finds phacelia, spring beauties, rue anemone and violets in profusion along the trail. Later, these give way to large-flowered trillium, yellow trillium, and jack-in-the-pulpit. Look to the left along the hillside as you enter the trail to find the delicate yellow mandarin, a member of the lily family."

Best before 9 a.m. -- indirect sun and less wind.

Greenbrier
"Turn into Greenbrier off US 321 just before the bridge across the Little Pigeon River. This road follows along the river and offers many vantage points for stream photography, some with blooming dogwoods. The best wildflowers and at the end of the road up Porter's Flat Trail, where you will find a most diverse collection of wildflowers in the spring -- violets, jack-in-the-pulpit, painted trillium, bishop's cap, foamflower, spring beauty." "On you way out, turn right a cross the bridge toward Ramsey's Cascade and park anywhere along the road -- dwarf crested iris, little born jug and wild ginger."

Roaring Fork
"Take the Airport Road at traffic signal number eight along US 441, which runs through Gatlinburg. Follow the signs for Cherokee Orchard Rd and the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. The first place to explore for wildflowers is the Ogle Cabin area, which is actually before the start of the Motor Trail. Walk the trail that runs behind the cabin and for the next half-mile you'll come across a variety of flowers, including violets, jack-in-the-pulpit, sweet shrub, prostrate bluets, Vasey's and Catesby's trillium, and possible lady's slipper. Roaring Fork Motor trail starts at mile 3.4 and offers similar flowers in a slightly different setting."

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