PILGRIMAGE
24-28 APRIL 2018

SPRING WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE

IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
ABOUT THE PILGRIMAGE
The Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage is a 68-year old annual event in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park featuring professionally-guided walks to explore the region's rich natural and cultural resources. More than 700 pilgrims from more than 30 states and several countries joined us in 2017. Our programs included fungi, ferns, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, medicinal plants, insects (terrestrial and aquatic), salamanders and snakes, birds, mammals (bats to bears), birds, journaling, art and photography, and park history.

Please note, we will always communicate to you through this website or via your email provided during the registration process.​

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND DATES
Inclement Weather Policy: Please note that we have never cancelled, nor will we cancel events, based on weather (unless we are faced with extreme weather events, like tornados).  The leaders will always be at their respective meeting places and they will communicate and make decisions with you at meeting places regarding modifying the time (e.g., delaying an hour or so), distance, or even location of their events (e.g., from a ridge to lower elevations to avoid lightening).  Due to the nature of the Wildflower Pilgrimage, we cannot reschedule and events missed because of weather.

SOLD OUT. We had a massive registration turnout this year and do not have any more capacity for 2018.  There will be NO onsite registration.  We will look creatively into ways to expand our event for 2019, but for 2018 we simply cannot accept any more registrations.  Please mark your calendars to begin checking our website and FaceBook pages in February 2019 so you might register early next year and secure your spot in this great event!  To make this point, we crossed 50% capacity by the end of the first weekend following registration!
We hope to see you on the trails,

Joey Shaw, Ken McFarland, and Pat Cox

24-28 April 2018 - Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage
April 3, 2013 - T-shirt online store closed.  T-shirts will not be available onsite.

1 March 2018, 10AM Eastern Time - Pilgrim/attendee registration opened.
16 February 2018 - Release of 2018 Official Brochure
6 February 2018 - Release of 2018 Program of Events
15 January 2018 - Leader/Expert registration opens

Registration Assistance
MAKE CHANGES TO EXISTING ITINERARY
Tips for making changes to your EXISTING itinerary
REGISTRATION TIPS - Read Before Registering!
2018 OFFICIAL BROCHURE
2018 SPREADSHEET OF EVENTS
2018 INDEX OF PROGRAM BY TOPICS & LOCATIONS

​PRICES
Adults $50 for one day and $75 for two or more days. Students $15 for one or more days with verification at on-site registration. Children 15 and under free when accompanied by registered adult.

​

​QUESTIONS? 
​
Contact Joey Shaw,

Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Picture
Picture


​LODGING PARTNERS

Black Bear Inn & Suites
​800-933-0777
Website

​Rates: 
​from $109

Group Code:  22938
​
The Edgewater at the Aquarium
​800-423-9582
Website

​Rates: 
​from $99.99

Group Code:  Call  - Wildflower Pilgrimage
The Greystone Lodge on the River
​800-451-9202
Website
​Rates: 
​from $90

Group Code:  WILD02
Hampton Inn Parkway
​865-436-4878
Website
​Rates: 
​from $129

Group Code:  
Book Online
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Gatlinburg
​865-436-0048
Website
​Rates: from $159
Group Code:  
Book Online
Parkview Hotel
865-436-5043

Website
​
Rates: from $99
Group Code: Call-Wildflower Pilgrimage

Zoder's Inn & Suites
865-850-7655 
Website
​Rates: from $70
Group Code: 
Call Erica - Wildflower 
Pilgrimage
Hotel group room blocks are based on availability and rate is subject to change at anytime.  Rates applicable to current tax, individual hotel cancellation policy and additional fees may apply.

EVENT PARTNERS

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Association of Southeastern Biologists (ASB)

Joey Shaw
ASB Past-President
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Zack Murrell
ASB Past-President
Appalachian State University

Ashley Morris
ASB President
​Middle Tennessee State University

Ed Lickey
ASB Treasurer
Bridgewater College

Emily Gillespie
ASB Member-at-Large
Marshall University

Shannon Gordon
Meeting Planner
National Park service
​

​Stephanie Sutton
North District Resource Education Supervisor

Lisa Nagurny
​North District Resource Education Ranger

​Arrowmont


Bill May
​Executive Director


Great Smoky Mountains Association

Lisa Duff
Marketing and Membership Director

Karen Key
​Publications Specialist

​University of Tennessee Knoxville

Ken McFarland
​Department of Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology

Pat Cox
University of Tennessee Herbarium - TENN

ANNUAL SPRING WILDFLOWER PILGRIMAGE
​
24-28 APRIL 2018 / GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK


✕