“A team of volunteers on site will provide wildflower viewing information and collect monitoring data. Park managers have monitored sensitive wildflower species in the Whiteoak Sink area since 2016. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is world famous for its wildflower diversity and has more kinds of flowering plants than any other North American national park.”

Peak wildflower season in the park generally runs from late March to early May. The 76th edition of the annual Smokies Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is set for April 22-25.

Whiteoak sink is also known for its bat caves, all of which are gated. Entry is strictly prohibited to prevent disturbances to the bat colonies, many members of which are stricken with white-nose syndrome.

As for what may be the most popular denizen of the sink, which is off Schoolhouse Gap near the Townsend entrance to the national park, wildflowers include trillium, orchid, phlox and lady slippers. The wildflowers of the Smokies are affected by more than your feet. Poaching and air pollution are also taking a toll, and the park’s most threatened (and most ecologically important) wildflowers include brown-eyed susan, coneflower and milkweed.

There are, of course, innumerable options for wildflower appreciation in the Smokies on both the Tennessee and North Carolina sides. Again, per the park, here are some options:

• Oconaluftee River Trail: The Oconaluftee River Trail is an easy, three mile roundtrip, riverside walk begins at Oconaluftee Visitor Center located two miles north of Cherokee, NC on US-441.
• Deep Creek Trail: The Deep Creek waterfalls loop begins at the end of Deep Creek Road, 1⁄2 mile beyond the Deep Creek Campground turnoff. The Deep Creek area is located north of Bryson City.
• Gregory Ridge Trail: The first two miles of the Gregory Ridge Trail offer good wildflower viewing. To get there, take Cades Cove Loop Road just past the Cable Mill area. Turn onto Forge Creek Road and follow it to the end.
• Kanati Fork Trail: The Kanati Fork Trail climbs for three miles to intersect with the Thomas Divide Trail on Thomas Ridge. You don't need to hike the whole way to see good wildflowers. The first mile or two have the best displays, especially in early spring. The Kanati Fork Trail begins about 1⁄8 mile north of the Kephart Prong footbridge on the Newfound Gap Road (US-441), eight miles north of Oconaluftee Visitor Center.
• Schoolhouse Gap Trail: The Schoolhouse Gap Trail that gently climbs 2.2 miles from Laurel Creek Road to School House Gap. This route includes a wide array of spring and summer flowers, including some unusual species. The trailhead is 3.9 miles west of the Townsend "Y" on the road to Cades Cove. Be aware that this trail sees large crowds in the spring.