Looking for beautiful blossoms this spring? Tennessee is home to 100+ wildflower species, making the discovery of these seasonal florals in Chattanooga easy sweet pea-sy.
Grab your pals — and your allergy meds — here are three local spots to see spring wildflowers.
🌼 Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, 400 Garden Rd.
Reflection Riding’s property spans over 300 miles, where members are allowed to visit sunrise to sunset every day of the year + guests can reserve a self-guided, donation-based visitors’ pass to visit Tuesdays-Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Hike the 10 miles worth of trails that connect to National Park land + that lead to the top of Lookout Mountain to see all kinds of Tennessee wildflowers in bloom.
The center also offers guided tours of the spring blooms on its property. Sign up for the upcoming Bountiful Blooms, Wildflower Walk, and Plants of the Cherokee events to connect with nature + see all the native flowers.
🌼 TVA properties, Various trails
The Tennessee Valley Authority recommends wildflower viewing by hiking six of its small wild areas — pockets of protected land that are home to natural resources — to “delight your inner flower child.”
Little Cedar Mountain Small Wild Area is the closest of the six to Chattanooga. Located on the Nickajack Reservoir, you can hike this four-mile loop trail that is moderate in difficulty to see a wide variety of wildflowers such as trout lilies, purple phacelia, and trilliums.
🌼 Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Rd.
Audubon Acres Nature Sanctuary is made up of 130 acres that contain a rich diversity of plant and animal life. There are five miles of hiking + walking trails that are lined with blooming wildflowers in the spring and summer.
Admission into the sanctuary is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors + students with an I.D., $3 for children ages 5-12, and free for children under 5.
The sanctuary is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. + Sunday from 1-5 p.m.