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March 2020
Old Stone Fort State Park, Coffee County
Bonnaroo is not the first party to be held in Manchester. Some 2000 years ago Native Americans held ceremonial events in the 50-acre enclosure inside what is now the State Park. The enclosure is bounded by the Duck River on one side and the Little Duck River on the other, as both rivers cut their way down through the Highland Rim to the Central Basin, forming waterfall steps along the way. The far end of the enclosure is bounded by…
Find out more »Spring Wildflowers at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Memphis
Leave the urban environment behind and explore the wooded ravines of this large state park for spring wildflowers. We will concentrate our time hiking along the horse trail where we should see all three varieties of Viola sororia: var. sororia (common blue violet), var. albiflorus (white wood violet), and var. priceana (Confederate violet) among other common spring ephemerals. If time allows, we may go to another paved walking/biking trail that has a large population of the uncommon ocean blue phacelia…
Find out more »April 2020
TNPS Annual Conference at Red Boiling Springs
We will hike several trails. See the Conference page for details.
Find out more »Frozen Head Wildflower Walk
This is a joint outing for the 53rd Frozen Head Wildflower Pilgrimage with TNPS and TCWP. We will have an excellent opportunity to see spring wildflowers. The first mile is ideal for those with rather limited hiking capabilities; the trail is wide and flat. It is a loop with quick return to the parking area (Interpretive Trial). For those continuing the next 2 miles are steeper and rougher but still moderate (Judge Branch and S. Old Mac Trails). Difficulty: Option…
Find out more »Rock Island State Park, Warren/White Counties
Rock Island State Park is located in the Eastern Highland Rim on the Caney Fork River in Middle Tennessee. The town of Rock Island was a thriving community in pioneer days and a major stop on the Kentucky to Alabama road. The Great Falls Cotton Mill operated there from 1892 to 1902 and the main building is still standing high above the river. The hike will begin at the overlook of Twin Falls. We will then follow alongside the river…
Find out more »Trails and Trilliums
The Trails & Trilliums festival attracts hundreds of hikers, wildflower enthusiasts and families who come to the Cumberland Plateau during peak wildflower season. This 3-day festival raises funds to support the initiatives of the Friends of South Cumberland (FSC), working in support of South Cumberland State Park. https://www.trailsandtrilliums.org/ Where: Dubose Conference Center in Monteagle, Tennessee
Find out more »Stinging Fork Falls to Piney River
We will caravan from the Exxon to the Lower Piney River Trailhead to start a shuttle leaving some cars there. We will then carpool to the Stinging Fork Falls Trailhead. From there we hike back to the Piney River Trailhead. This section of the Cumberland Trail was completed in fall 2018. What spring flowers we will see is hard to predict. The route is definitely scenic. Alternatives: People are welcome to head back early to the Stinging Fork Falls Trailhead.…
Find out more »Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is an annual event in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park featuring professionally-guided walks to explore the region’s rich natural and cultural resources. Programs included fungi, ferns, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, medicinal plants, and more. Directions and details: www.wildflowerpilgrimage.org. Where: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN
Find out more »May 2020
Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival
Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Festival is an annual event held at Cedars of Lebanon State Park at the Cedar Forest Lodge (from the main entrance take the fork in the road to the right to the first building on the right). Lectures, hikes, roundtable discussions and more. Details and directions: www.mtsu. edu/glade-center. Where: Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Find out more »Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness, Sparta
We will explore the Chestnut Mountain and Polly Branch Trails where we hope to see large stands of pink lady’s slipper (Cypripedium acaule) and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), and if we’re lucky, we might be able to catch the end of the bloom season for other spring ephemerals such as dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolium). A few woody perennials may be in bloom, too, including Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia macrophylla) and nine-bark (Physocarpus opulifolius). Difficulty: ~4 miles with some steep sections Contact/Leader:…
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