smoky mountains

Everything You Need to Know about the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Event in Gatlinburg TN

Wildflowers in the sun
March 2, 2017

The start of the spring season not only means longer days and warmer weather, but the arrival of the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage event! This highly anticipated annual event, now in its 67th year, celebrates the spring flowering season with a variety of wonderful programs. Here is everything you need to know about the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage event in Gatlinburg TN:

Dates, Times and Location

The 67 Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage Event is held from April 11-15, 2017, at various trails throughout Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, several indoor programs are held at Sugarlands Training Room within the park and at Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg. Each program has time slots noted on the official schedule, and there are morning, afternoon and evening programs available.

Costs and Registrationblack bear in a field of wild flowers

All programs are covered by the registration fee, which is as follows:

Adults: $50 for one day; $75 for two or more days
Students with ID:$15 for one or more days
Children Under 12: Free when accompanied by registered adult

Registration is available on-site at the Mills Conference Center from April 11-15, 2017. The registration hours are Tuesday from 5 PM to 9 PM, Wednesday to Friday from 7 AM to 7:30 PM, and Saturday from 7 AM to 12 PM. As an alternative, you can register in advance online. Participants can sign up for specific programs during both on-site and online registrations.

What to Expect

The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage event in Gatlinburg TN offers 148 programs over four days during the peak of the wildflower season in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These programs included professionally guided walks and indoor discussions that explore the area’s rich natural and cultural resources. In addition to a wide variety of wildflower walks, sample programs include bird photography, nature journaling and wildflower sketching. Sign up for an evening program to join the Night Owl Prowl or the Bugs at Light, where you can see nocturnal insects with a black light. With so many fantastic programs, there is something for everyone to enjoy! Many programs begin at trailheads and other park sites where participants should arrange their own transportation, but free van service is available to those trailheads where parking is limited.

Where to Stayspring flowers at a Gatlinburg cabin

If you are looking for the perfect play to stay while attending the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage, look no further than Alpine Chalet Rentals! We are just minutes from all the program locations for this incredible event and we have a great selection of cabins in Gatlinburg ranging from 1 bedroom to more than 11 bedrooms. While staying with us, enjoy amenities such as private hot tubs, full kitchens, game rooms and more! Our cabins also offer gorgeous scenic views that make you feel completely relaxed in the serenity of the Smoky Mountains.

Check out all of our cabin rentals and stay with Alpine Chalet Rentals to enjoy the best cabins in the Great Smoky Mountains. We hope to see you this spring for the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage event in Gatlinburg TN!