Difficult Daffodil Flats Trail Peak Bloom with a Baby Linville Gorge Wilderness Hiking February 2023

I would say this is the hardest hike I’ve done in Western North Carolina.

And we did it with a baby; which I WOULD NOT recommend.

Alltrails lists it at 5.3 miles but it was more like 6. We followed MST to Pinnacle to Leadmine to Linville River to Daffodil Flats. [Might try Pinchin trail next time if we ever decide to go again.]

The weather was perfect. The daffodils were beautiful. The views were amazing. [You’ll get some great eye-fulls of the gorge, Shortoff Mountain and Linville River.]

The trail was intense. Steep, narrow, muddy, wet, rocky… Not to mention, you’re basically going straight back down into and straight back up out of the gorge; about 1700’ each way. There was also a rather large tree that fell down across the trail towards the beginning of the trail.

Descriptions of that last mile or so back up that we heard or read include:
“It's a beast.”
“Don’t be a hero.”
“Purgatory.”
LOL

You know it’s a hard hike when even your dog wants to give up.

We were here in mid February. I thought the clock was ticking on the daffodil bloom but apparently these flowers can bloom for anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months starting in late Winter/early Spring. And no, they are not native to North Carolina.

Daffodils originated in the Mediterranean and it is thought that the ones here were planted as part of a Homestead over 100 years ago. There are no other traces of this homestead today, likely wiped out by a flood at some point because its pretty close to the river. I’ve also heard it called a Ghost Garden since the flowers continue to bloom every year on their own.

Oh and as if trudging back up the trail wasn’t enough, Baby had a blowout right before we got back to the Pinnacle. So that was fun trying to Leave No Trace of a poop explosion on the side of a trail with a 20% - 40% grade/incline.

Somehow made it to the flats and back (granted it took us over 6 hours). So I feel like we can do anything. But we won’t choose to do this hike again any time soon.

My best advice for this trail is to get there early, take plenty of water and snacks and trekking poles and allow more time than you think you need to hike.