Spring in Tennessee turns the trails into something extraordinary. Between April and early June, waterfalls run at full volume, wildflowers carpet the forest floor in every direction, and the canopy overhead glows that fresh, almost neon green you only see for a few weeks each year.
Whether you want a quick scenic payoff or an all-day adventure through gorges and old-growth forest, these ten hikes capture the best of what Tennessee has to offer when the weather finally warms up.
1. Porters Creek Trail (Gatlinburg)
Porters Creek Trail earns its reputation as one of the finest wildflower hikes in the entire Smokies. From late March through April, the forest floor here explodes with trillium, violets, and dozens of other blooms that draw people from all over the region.
The trail follows a beautiful mountain creek through what feels like untouched woodland. Massive old trees tower overhead, and the sound of rushing water keeps you company the whole way. You’ll pass a few historic structures—remnants of the families who once lived in these mountains—which add a quiet sense of history to the experience…