Kanati Fork Trail

Over the course of the first half-mile or so, the Kanati Fork Trail traverses roughly 50 feet above the Kanati Fork Creek. During the summer months, while the leaves are on the trees, hikers will only be able to catch a few glimpses of the stream as the trail climbs the ridge. However, during the winter months, the stream will appear as a white ribbon cutting a path through the valley bottom.

Both the creek and the trail are named after the mythical Cherokee hunter, Kanati. Legend has it that Kanati, also known as "First Man," did all the hunting for his family, as well as for the entire village. Legend also says that his wife, Selu, gave the Cherokee People the gift of corn, which would become their principal crop.

During the early portions of the hike you'll likely notice a lot of rhododendron growing adjacent to the trail, and in the valley below. As the trail meanders upward hikers will cross several small creeks as they pass under the canopy of large eastern hemlocks and yellow poplars. Although the trail climbs steadily, you really won't notice the elevation gain if you're goal is spotting wildflowers.

Two nights prior to our most recent hike on this trail a powerful storm ripped through the Great Smoky Mountains. Marble-sized hail dumped during the storm damaged flowers and foliage in the surrounding area. Despite the destruction we still saw a wide variety of wildflowers, including Canadian violets, Vasey's trillium, painted trillium, Northern white violets, wake robin, brook lettuce and false Solomon's seal.

Late April is usually the best time to hike the Kanati Fork Trail if you're looking for wildflowers. However, you can expect to see early yellow violets as early as March. By April you'll begin to see cut-leaved toothwort, dwarf cinquefoil, large-flowered bellwort and white baneberry.

Late summer/early fall hikers can also expect to see wildflowers along the trail, including varieties such as beaked dodder, bee balm and Turk's cap lily.

We ended this hike after walking only two miles. Hikers will have the option of continuing for another mile to reach the Thomas Ridge Trail junction; however, most of the wildflowers will be within the first two miles of the trailhead.