Greenbrier

Highlights: wildflowers, picnic areas, walking trails, fishing

In spring, the Greenbrier area of the park is renowned for its wildflowers. The drive to the Ramsey Cascades trailhead provides good wildflower viewing from your car, while the Porters Creek Trail makes a good wildflower walk.

To hike Porters Creek, follow the signs to the trailhead of the same name. Good displays of wildflowers can be seen along the first 1.5 miles of trail. Wildflower displays generally start in March and peak in mid to late April.

Ramsey Cascades is another popular trail in the area with good wildflower viewing opportunities. From the trailhead, it’s 4.0 miles to the cascades, which are the tallest in the Smokies.

Six miles of mostly gravel road follow the river and its tributaries into the upper Greenbrier area. Bicycling is permitted on Greenbrier roads but is prohibited on all trails.

The Greenbrier Picnic Area is open year round.

Trout fishing is open year round. Anglers need either a Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license.

To get to the Greenbrier entrance to the park, take US-321 six miles east of Gatlinburg.