Park & Pilgrimage Information
Important Details About the 2012 Pilgrimage
The 62nd Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is a five day event offering 134 professionally guided walks and indoor presentations which explore the region’s rich wildflowers, fauna, ecology, cultural and natural history.
Most programs are conducted on the trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, while indoor offerings are held in Mills Conference Center and Sugarlands Training Room in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. All programs will be held rain or shine.
The brochure provides descriptions of all pilgrimage programs which are listed by date and time. Each description includes starting points (capital letters in parentheses are keyed to map on pages 25-26), walking distances, hiking difficulties, and registration limits. Driving time (DT) is from Mills Conference Center in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to the meeting site. Popular programs are repeated at different times and days and are referenced under “similar programs.” There’s also an alphabetical index of all program topics and destinations on page 19 of the brochure. Programs meeting at trailheads or other sites in the park require participants to arrange their own transportation.
Vans are provided where trailhead parking is limited. Participants are strongly encouraged to use the free van service.
Overview of the Event
The event begins with a kickoff luncheon on Wednesday at W. L. Mills Conference Center followed by the first of 134 educational programs that begin that afternoon and continue daily through Sunday morning. National Park Service staff and professional and amateur naturalists will lead the outdoor events.
© 2011 Gatlinburg Department of Tourism