North Carolina is an incredible state when it comes to nature. There’s much to see and do here, and the area is carved and shaped by the Appalachian Mountains, which geologists assert are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world. This unique landscape lends us one of the longest wildflower seasons in the entire nation, spanning from March through October. The best places to see wildflowers in North Carolina are rich in history and beauty alike, and your very own backyard just may compare to their majesty. What do you think?

1. Lake Lure

Lake Lure, NC, USA
Corey Butler/Flickr
Tucked away in Rutherford County is a beautiful town with just barely over 1,000 residents. This community is ranked among the finest lake towns in the nation, and boy, is it beautiful. It has been featured in a number of films, including Dirty Dancing. You'll love the North Carolina wildflower fields you'll see around Lake Lure.

2. Tramway

Tramway, NC 27330, USA
Donald Lee Pardue/Flickr
Once upon a time, the landscape of Tramway was so rough that wagons had a hard time traversing it. That's why trams were used to transport lumber to the local sawmill, according to local lore. This landscape in Lee County is part of Sanford, the county seat and one of the nation's top brick producers.

3. Mountain Farm Museum in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Olin Gilbert/Flickr
Mountain Farm Museum, Cherokee, NC 28719, USA
Anthony George/Flickr
Moving on from quaint small towns and open landscapes, the next destination on our list is one that's positively massive. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park spills over the border into Tennessee, and locals love exploring its landscape of more than half a million acres. From the Mountain Farm Museum area, you can not only view historic buildings, but you can access breathtaking hiking trails.

4. Catawba Falls Trail in Pisgah National Forest

Sayf Albayati/AllTrails
Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina 28714, USA
Bill Watson/AllTrails
Pisgah National Forest is nearly as big as the national park formerly mentioned, and it's every bit as beautiful... but in a different way. Since 1916, this landscape has enchanted visitors. It encompasses natural waterworks, oodles of trails, and even a few thousand acres that were formerly part of the Biltmore Estate. This historic site is overflowing with interesting landmarks!

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5. Grassy Ridge Bald in Pisgah National Forest

Julia Ross/AllTrails
Also in Pisgah National Forest, Grassy Ridge Bald is a totally different experience that the Catawba Falls Trail. This mountain's summit weighs in at 6,184 feet, and from here streams feed the North Toe River. This area is renowned for its grassy meadows and breathtaking spring and summer wildflowers.

6. Kephart Prong Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Kephart Prong Trail Trailhead, US-441, Bryson City, NC 28713, USA
Bob Langlois/AllTrails
This magnificent path through the in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park isn't for the faint of heart -- it's 25.1 miles long! As you approach Charlies Bunion, however, every moment of this hike will pay off.

7. Crabtree Falls Trail Loop in Blue Ridge Parkway

Jessica Green/AllTrails
Crabtree Falls, North Carolina 28777, USA
Lindsey Jackson/AllTrails
Blue Ridge Parkway hails itself as the loveliest drive in the nation, and to be quite frank... it's 100 percent legitimate. This pretty landscape stretches from Virginia to North Carolina, traversing a number of incredible Appalachian habitats along its 469 miles of roadway.

8. Whigg Meadow in Cherokee National Forest

Benton MacKaye Trail, Tellico Plains, TN 37385, USA
Larry Van Dyke/AllTrails
With over 650,000 acres, it should come as no surprise that Cherokee National Forest adjoins land in North Carolina, Virginia, and even Georgia. Though the forest sits in only one county of North Carolina, it is well worth visiting. Here you'll find all sorts of indescribable beauty, and you might even spot a few spring flowers in North Carolina along the way.

9. Art Loeb Trail in Shining Rock Wilderness Area

Brandon Kline/AllTrails
Brevard Township, NC, USA
Julia Ross/AllTrails
Way back in the 1960s, Shining Rock Wilderness Area was designated a federally designated wilderness area. This means that it is kept in as natural a state as possible, and visitors are encouraged to leave nothing but footprints. This area is so named for an abundance of white quartz, which naturally shines when exposed to the light.

These are just a few of the best places to see wildflowers in North Carolina. You’ll also spot endless seas of majesty in other local and national parks, and even along the sides of our roads. There’s much to love about this pretty state — which of these places do you adore most? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Once you’ve decided on your next outdoor adventure to enjoy wildflower fields in North Carolina, be sure to check out AllTrails+. There you can gather additional information and detailed maps from fellow hikers, so you can feel well-informed when you hit the trail.

Can’t get enough of springtime beauty? You have to check out Daffodil Flats in the Linville Gorge.

Thousands Of Daffodils Fill A Ghost Garden At The End Of This Spring Hike In North Carolina

 

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More to Explore

Spring In North Carolina

Katie Feldkamp | March 18, 2024

Where are some places to take a spring hike in North Carolina?

You don’t have to be an expert trailblazer to enjoy a good hike. There are numerous easy hikes in North Carolina for people to enjoy, and the following are just a few trails that also happen to be beautiful in the springtime:

  • Triple Falls Trail near Cedar Mountain in Dupont State Forest
  • Max Patch Trail near Hot Springs in the Pisgah National Forest
  • Deep Creek Loop Trail near Bryson City
  • Craggy Pinnacle Trail near Barnardsville in the Blue Ridge Parkway

For more information on these and several other trails, check out this article on easy spring hikes in North Carolina.

What are some of the best things to do in spring in North Carolina?

As the days get longer, the air gets a little warmer, and the grass a little greener, people begin to get eager to be outside more. To that point, the Tar Heel State has a wonderful selection of things for people to enjoy in the spring. Any of the following are wonderful springtime activities in North Carolina:

  • Enjoy spring flowers in North Carolina at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham
  • Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville is full of vivid blooms
  • Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head has sand and wildflowers to enjoy
  • Have a picnic at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington

For more information on these and several other suggestions, check out this article on things to do in spring in North Carolina.

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