I hiked Roundtop Trail this past weekend to where the trial reaches it highest point on Roundtop Mt. It is one of the least used trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park because of the lack of parking at the trailhead and lack of bridge over the Little River.

This is a good trail to find wildflowers of all kinds during the spring and through the summer and most are now past peak bloom but the foliage is turning and this is a beautiful hike so head on up for yourself.

  • Black-eyed Susan – few: Well past peak bloom (at the trailhead next to Wear Gap Road).
  • Coreopsis – few: Past peak bloom.
  • Curtis aster – some: Mostly at peak bloom (several other species of blue/purple/lavender asters).
  • Erect goldenrod – many: Most past peak bloom – some at peak bloom – also other varieties of goldenrod.
  • Great lobelia – few: At peak bloom.
  • Low hop trefoil – few: Past peak bloom (very small – first half-mile up trail).
  • Mountain gentian – (1): At peak bloom.
  • White top aster – some: Past peak bloom.

 Foliage report:

  • Blackberry: Some are displaying red leaves on the first half-mile of this trail.
  • Blueberry: Some are changing to their fall wardrobe. Mostly on the first half-mile of the trail.
  • Red maple: Few have red leaves.
  • Red oak: Few are changing their leaves color.
  • Scarlet oak: Saw a few with changing colors.
  • Sourwood: Many have brilliant red foliage. Some have orange foliage. A few have colors in between red/orange.

Photos shown came from file folder (not made today).

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