Wildflower Weekend

 

A young girl gets up close to examine a wildflower.

NPS photo/Dave Bieri

All programs are FREE unless noted. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring water and wear sturdy walking shoes for guided walks. Snacks, binoculars, a hand lens, field guides, a favorite smart device pre-loaded with nature apps, and a camera are also useful.

 

April 11 - 13, 2025

Event Schedule:

Wildflower Weekend will be held on the weekend of April 11-13, 2025. The Hike Into Spring feature event will take place on Saturday April 12, 2025.

 

Art Exhibits
Date and Time	Nature Inspired Art Exhibits	Location
April 6 – May 11 Open daily 9:00 am – 7:00 pm	EXHIBIT: Youth Arts in the Park (YAP) 2025 Appalachian Spring Wildflower Art Contest Exhibit. See original wildflower and wildlife art exhibit created by K – 12 grade students of Fayette, Monroe, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers Counties in the theater lobby of the Hulett C. Smith Theater. Best in Show artists will be on exhibit and for public sale as part of the spring adult gallery exhibition, Impressions of Spring, April 18 – May 24. #NRGYAP	Main YAP exhibit: Tamarack Marketplace ™ in Beckley, lobby of the Hulett C. Smith Theater Spring gallery exhibition – including Best in Show YAP artists: Tamarack Marketplace ™ in Beckley, David L. Dickirson Fine Art Gallery
Online exhibit opens April 7	EXHIBIT online: Youth Arts in the Park 2024 Appalachian Spring Wildflower Art Contest Exhibit. See wildflower and wildlife art exhibit online created by K – 12 grade students of Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers Counties at www.nps.gov/neri/youth-arts-in-the-parks.htm All past Youth Arts in the Parks exhibit art is also available for viewing at this site. #NRGYAP	Online at Youth Arts in the Parks
Wildflower Weekend Programs
Date and Time	Program Title and Description	Location
April 10, Thursday, 8:00 – 9:30 pm	Salamander Stroll: est. 0.2 mile walk with uneven, rocky terrain. Search for a glimpse of salamanders and other creatures of the night after dark, species that prefer the rock walls and crevices of the New River Gorge. Bring a flashlight. Be prepared for rocky, steep terrain on the short walk. Meet at the Bridge Buttress parking area below the New River Gorge Bridge on Fayette Station Road.	New River Gorge NP&P – Bridge Buttress climbing area on Fayette Station Road, Lansing
April 11, Friday, 9:00 – 11:00 am	Spring Birds and Blooms of Stone Cliff: up to 3 miles on mostly easy trail. Stoll near the New River to find favorites of the season, the sights and sounds of migrating birds and favorite wildflowers on this leisurely walk. Wear hiking boots and water. Bring binoculars or some will be available. Meet at the Stone Cliff Trailhead parking area.	Stone Cliff trailhead, 1.5 miles from Thurmond
April 11, Friday, 2:30 – 3:15 pm	Wildflower Folklore Tales: Hear tales of folklore and plant uses of some of your favorite spring wildflowers in this short talk at Canyon Rim Visitor Center.	Canyon Rim Visitor Center in Lansing
April 11, Friday, 5:30 – 7:00 pm	WV Master Naturalist certification class: Wildflowers (part 1 of 2).: Learn about wildflowers in this WV MN core certification course – classroom session. This talk is part one of a two-part class. The Hike Into Spring! program the following day starting at Grandview Shelter #4 will serve as the field portion of this course (see description below).	Canyon Rim Visitor Center in Lansing
April 12, Saturday 9:30 am – 2:00 pm	Hike Into Spring! 2.5 miles. The big bloom hike is back! Join rangers and naturalists on a leisurely hike from Grandview top down to the New River, finding wildflowers and other natural wonders along the way. Over 60 blooming wildflower species are usually seen on this hike. Be prepared for some steep terrain as we travel down an old dirt road, the Little Laurel Trail. A free return shuttle will be provided back to the top of the gorge. Wear hiking boots. Bring water, snack, and favorite nature ID tools. (WV Master Naturalist certification class: Wildflowers Part 2 of 2) RESERVATIONS requested for shuttle bus by April 9; email [e-mail] with name, number in your party, and phone number.	Grandview Shelter # 4, Grandview
April 13, Sunday 12:30 – 1:30 pm	Midday Birders Stroll: 1.0 mile. Explore the forest and water’s edge along New River and Glade Creek in search of the birds that spend time in this riparian area. Wear hiking boots. Bring binoculars or some will be available. Plus bring a sack lunch for a nature friends’ picnic after this program, leading to the afternoon programs starting at this same place (see descriptions below)	Glade Creek Trailhead at the end of Glade Creek Road near Glade Creek Campground, 6 miles from Prince
April 13, Sunday 2:30 – 4:30 pm	Bluebells and Blooms: Arts in Nature 1.0 mile. Take a different sensory look at nature, letting it inspire your creativity through the sights and sounds found around Glade Creek at the peak of the spring season. Peace can be found where nature abounds, so join Poet Paula Lepp and Ranger Jodi French-Burr to guide us closer to such serenity. We’ll explore the area on a level but off-trail walk in search of true community connections and inspiration at Hamlet’s large bluebell patch and along the babbling waters of Glade Creek. Hear poems and learn how writing poetry and nature journaling can help us explore our connections to such places. After the walk, there will be a short poetry/journaling mini workshop with opportunities to further your own creativity by writing/journaling, or if you wish, to simply be nourished by the time shared with others in nature. Wear hiking boots and bring water. Bring journaling and writing tools or some will be available.	Glade Creek Trailhead at the end of Glade Creek Road near Glade Creek Campground, 6 miles from Prince
April 13, Sunday 4:45 – 6:00 pm	Big Trees Bonus Walk: 1.5 miles. Explore the forest at the river’s edge on this level but off-tail hike around the historic logging town site of Hamlet. See how nature has recovered in this area, plus see some of the largest sycamore and elm trees in the gorge. Wear hiking boots and bring water.	Glade Creek Trailhead at the end of Glade Creek Road near Glade Creek Campground, 6 miles from Prince