Name that flower!

I am a perennial wildflower that typically blooms in April in GSMNP.

I have a range that spans from Canada to Georgia.

I have 3 big white petals that may turn pink with age.

Despite my appealing look, my flower is odorless.

Stay 50 yards away from wildlife. Follow the speed limit to avoid killing wildlife. Respect their distance. If you wish to take a photo remain inside your car and do not block traffic.

NPS Photo Image description: Two black bears, a sow and her cub, in a tree.

One of the 1st trees to flower in GSMNP is the Eastern Redbud. This species is one of the first food sources for many types of wildlife in the spring. Keep an eye out for its bright, purple-colored flowers; you can’t miss it.

When visiting the park please be mindful of the traffic congestion and consider arriving before 9 am or after 3 pm. Please remember to only park in designated spaces, consider a shuttle, have alternate park destinations in mind, and be patient during this popular time.

As flowers bloom in GSMNP, please remember to let them thrive! Leaving flowers be and parking in designated pull-offs/parking spots instead of on the grass is a great way to help our ecosystems flourish and protect our wonderful wildflowers.

Photo Credits: Kenzie Connor

Trilliums are blooming across Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Can you spot their unique speckled leaves? This genus is defined by its multiples of three- from the leaves and petals to the pistils and stamens. #SpringHasSprung

Photo Credit: Warren Bielenberg

Current road closures as of 8:30 AM:

US 441/Newfound Gap Road
Cherokee Orchard Road at the Park boundary
Tremont Road
Greenbrier Road at the Ranger Station
Little River Road
Laurel Creek Road
Gatlinburg Bypass

Looking to get away from the crowds? Check out Big Creek, an area of the park near Cosby. Walk the first two miles of Big Creek Trail to reach Mouse Creek Falls, pictured above. The campground and picnic area open on March 29, but the trails are available year-round!

Did you know that wild turkeys can have different color phases?
The smoke color phase, also called leucism, can be found in wild turkeys in the park. Leucism is the partial loss of pigment in an animal, causing it to appear whiter.

Photo Credit: Kenzie Connor

Phenology, the study of the seasonal changes in the life cycles of trees and plants, is one way to determine when spring has arrived at the park! Collected over time, observations about cyclical changes give us a great look at long-term trends.

#HappyFirstDayofSpring

The Red Burrowing Crayfish (Cambarus carolinus) is 1/11 species of crayfish the lives in GRSM. This crayfish lives its life beneath a small tower of mud called a castle, where it keeps a small pocket of water to be able to live on the land where many other crayfish cannot.

Signs of Spring, celebrating National American Sign Language Day, is back in Cades Cove on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. This year's event will have an all-new theme? Can you guess what is it from the photo?

Butterfly or Moth? Here are some clues:

🦋 A butterfly hold its wings together above its body. A moth holds its wings in a tent-like fashion over its body

🐛Butterflies have thin antennae with club-like tips. Moths can have feathery, comb-like antennae

📸Warren Bielenberg

Commonly known as the question mark, Polygonia interrogationis gets its name from the distinctive silver mark on the underside of its hindwings. NPS photo: A butterfly with orange and black spotted wings; irregular shaped with jagged edges and a short tail.

Spring is coming! It’s time to highlight a special critter.

The Spring Salamander is 1/31 salamander species in the park and can grow up to 7 in. long. If you see a salamander, remember not to touch. Substances on our hands are harmful to salamanders.

As early as January, wood frogs start their breeding cycle. Up to 200 males could contribute to the same mating call cacophony, sometimes going all day and night. Sorry, but that means there is no good excuse for your situationship to not text you back.
Photo by Paul Driessche

Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem in GRSM. They help to control the rodent populations and provide a food source for birds of prey. Keep your distance but also remember that they are part of the reason why the Smokies are so beautiful.

Photo: Warren Bielenberg

Woah, is that a lizard?

🦎 No, silly goose it’s a salamander. The green salamander population was last seen in the Great Smoky Mountains in 1929, at the base of Mount LeConte. Let's appreciate and protect these green gems!

Photo Credit: Todd Pierson

Many visitors’ first stop in the park is at the Sugarlands Visitor Center in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Go out and explore the hikes that are just a short walk away! Fighting Creek Nature Trail, Gatlinburg Trail, Cove Mountain, and Old Sugarlands Trail offer something for everyone!

Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in GRSM. Water splashes from 100 feet onto rocks and collects in small pools below. Much of this strenuous, eight mile trail follows rushing streams and rivers.

What is your favorite waterfall hike in the park?

Photo: Jackson Tharp