I travelled to Lower Cammerer Trail in the Smokies. This 14 mile out-and-back trail is near Cosby, Tennessee. It is considered a challenging route and takes an average of six hours to complete. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. You’ll need to leave pups at home, because dogs aren’t allowed on this trail.

  • The wildflowers are past peak bloom.
  • Golden rod (1): Past peak bloom.
  • Purple asters – some: Some past peak bloom – others at peak bloom.
  • White Snake Root (1): Past peak bloom.
  • White Top Aster – few: Mostly past peak bloom.

The foliage is about gone with 60% of the colorful foliage fallen. Most of the remaining colorful foliage is yellow. There are some reds and some oranges.

  • The sugar maples and tulip poplars still have nice colorful foliage.
  • Some beech, mountain maple and green brier foliage have faded yellow foliage. Many colorful fallen tulip popular leaves are on the floor of the forest and trail. Just east of Sutton Ridge for about a mile, the foliage is very beautiful.

It is a treat to see the foliage about .75 of a mile beyond Sutton Ridge going east.

There is a heavy duff cover on floor of trail hiding many roots and rocks so caution is in order.

Photos shown are from files (not made today).

Tom Harrington is a regular hiker who reports on wildflowers in the Smokies.