Wildflower Watch Day Hike

Thank you for your interest in the Wildflower Watch Day Hike, but the hike is full. Please contact Catie Morris at outings@mountaintrue.org or 828-258-8737 ext 201 if you would like to be put on the waiting list. If spots open up, you’ll be contacted via email.

About the hike:

Join us for a lovely 5.5-mile hike along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail at Rattlesnake Lodge. Our Public Lands Ecologist, Bob Gale will lead this hike and share with us his extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna of the region. This trail boasts more than thirty varieties of flowers, including dwarf larkspur, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and blue cohosh to name a few. This time of year is prime for spotting these wildflowers, as well as seeing, or hearing, a number of warblers, vireos, and other birds that have returned from their winter in Central and South America. This hike will take us past the ruins of Rattlesnake lodge: a summer home built in 1903 for Dr. Chase P. Ambler. The hike is moderate, and we will take frequent stops to investigate any birds, wildflowers or other items of interest that we find along the way!

We will meet at the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center at Milepost 384 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Note that this is NOT the same place as the Folk Arts Center. Please plan to arrive no later than 9:00 am.  We will talk a little about the hike and the area and then carpool to the MTS trailhead at Bull Gap, 9 miles away.  The hike is in and back, so we will carpool back to the Visitor Center at the end of the day from the trailhead.

What to bring:

• Lunch/snacks and water

• Hiking boots and other appropriate clothing (rain gear if needed)

• Sunscreen!

• Camera

• Please, no pets on the hike