Spring is in bloom for annual Wildflower Saturday at DeSoto State Park

FORT PAYNE — It’s a time to go wild or, rather, wildflower this weekend at DeSoto State Park atop Lookout Mountain in Fort Payne.

It’s Wildflower Saturday – always the first Saturday of May – and a time to catch springtime in full bloom with wildflowers & trees blooming around every corner.

The DeSoto State Park staff and guest speakers are hosting a weekend of learning about the many species of blooming plants found on Lookout Mountain. Choose to stay the whole weekend, or just come for the day to enjoy the hikes and programs.

The weekend starts off Friday night with a welcome social and guest speaker program. On Saturday, a day full of hikes awaits visitors and the weekend is topped by a guest speaker Saturday night.

Saturday’s activities include:

• 7 a.m. – DeSoto’s Mountain Inn Restaurant begins serving breakfast buffet
• 9 a.m. – Hikes start at DeSoto’s Country Store (3 hikes heading out)
• 11:30 a.m. – DeSoto’s Mountain Inn Restaurant begins serving lunch
• 1 p.m.  -Hikes start at DeSoto’s Country Store (3 hikes heading out)
• 3 p.m. – Hikes start at DeSoto’s Country Store (3 hikes heading out)
• 5 p.m. – DeSoto’s Mountain Inn Restaurant begins serving dinner buffet
• 7 p.m. – Presentation at CCC Pavilion in Picnic Area (Nature’s Palette: Wildflowers of Alabama)

The weekend’s events are free and open to everyone. No pre-registration required but park officials reequest that groups over 10 RSVP.

DeSoto’s trails can vary from fairly flat terrain to slightly steep inclines & rocky ground. Each hike is marked for its difficulty level. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear & bring along water & snacks along on the hikes.

Throughout the course of the day, visitors can choose among three hikes – Azalea Cascade Hike, Rhododendron Trail Hike, and Little River Hike – each with different leaders.

Trail maps and wildflower checklists can be found at the lodge, country store and Nature Center.