This Southern Destination Known As 'Wildflower National Park' Can Rival California's Superbloom

A superbloom is one of nature's most dazzling spectacles, drawing travelers from near and far to witness breathtaking landscapes as their flora erupts in a painter's palette of gold, purple, and fiery orange. These seasonal displays are stunning when you travel to some of the best places to see California's wildflowers, but you don't have to go to the West Coast to witness a floral spectacle of this scale. In the misty peaks of the Appalachian Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee offers its own superbloom, earning it the nickname "Wildflower National Park." Home to over 1,500 different species of wildflowers, it boasts the highest variety of blooming plants of any U.S. national park.

It's no surprise, then, that the Great Smoky Mountains is also the most-visited national park in the country, welcoming over 13 million visitors annually. But despite its popularity, you won't feel overwhelmed by crowds — the park sprawls over 520,000 acres (over half the size of Rhode Island), offering plenty of space to explore. And the park's wildflowers are just the beginning; towering ridgelines, waterfalls, and a rich ecosystem of wildlife and ancient trees make this one of the most breathtaking parks on the East Coast. Whether you set out on a scenic hike or settle in at one of its 11 picnic areas, stopping to smell the flowers in the Smokies is not just encouraged but inevitable.

Starting as early as February, the first blooms of spring ephemerals — delicate flowers that bloom briefly before the trees leaf out and block the sunlight — begin to dot the forest floor. These include trillium (white, pink, or deep red blooms with three distinct petals), lady's slipper orchids (striking pink or yellow flowers resembling a slipper), and bleeding hearts (heart-shaped pink blossoms that dangle from arching stems). From May through July, the mountains explode with rhododendrons, mountain laurels, and flame azaleas, all of which brighten up the trails with shades of white, pink, and vivid orange-red. August through September brings black-eyed Susans, turtleheads, and evening primroses, while fall is when you'll find goldenrods and asters. As the season transitions into winter, witch hazel is the park's last bloomer, appearing in October and lasting through January.

For the ultimate superbloom experience, plan your trip for mid-to-late April. This is when ephemerals reach their peak, mingling with the first summer blooms while the trees remain bare, letting in ample sunlight. April is also when the park hosts the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, a multi-day festival held late in the month with guided walks, expert talks, and exhibits dedicated to the park's rich plant life. Highlights include an exotic plant trail walk and a session on "herblore," where visitors learn about the medicinal and cultural uses of various native plants. Plus, many hotels in the area offer discounted lodging for festival attendees, making it a great time to save on your visit.

There are a handful of recommended trails to hike for optimal wildflower viewing. Chestnut Top Trail is one of the best spots for early spring wildflowers, showcasing white trillium, violets, and hepaticas along its 4.3-mile stretch. It starts near Townsend Wye, a unique, local-favored swimming hole, so you may want to bring a swimsuit.

For a shorter, easier walk, the Deep Creek Trail is a two-mile round-trip hike that takes you past two waterfalls while surrounding you with trilliums, crested dwarf irises, and bluets. Higher up, you'll encounter dense thickets of rhododendrons and mountain laurels. By June, the Gregory Ridge Trail leads to one of the park's most famous wildflower displays: the flame azaleas of Gregory Bald. Gregory Bald's flame azaleas are so renowned that the British Museum of Natural History has collected samples of them. The 11-mile round-trip hike is more strenuous than others, but the payoff is spectacular.

For a more leisurely wildflower experience, Cades Cove is the place to be. A valley just south of Townsend, Tennessee, it transforms into a sea of yellow black-eyed Susans during the summer months. The 11-mile loop road around Cades Cove makes it easy to enjoy from your car, but there are also fantastic hiking trails in the valley, including the Chestnut Top Trail. Cades Cove also has a picnic area and a campground. To get to Cades Cove, fly into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is about a 30-minute drive from Townsend. From Townsend, it's a 20-minute drive to where the scenic loop of Cades Cove begins.