Trout Lilies Reign at Wolf Creek Preserve
It's trout lily season in the Red Hills of Georgia, time to plan a pilgrimage to a low-key botanical site with an extremely limited season.
A descent down the folded hills towards the creek basin winds amid splashes of trillium until the forest floor shifts, carpeted in the mottled leaves and buttery blossoms of trout lilies downslope to the creek, extending like a ribbon above it.
A distinctly unique botanical preserve open only during peak bloom, usually starting in February, this Appalachian cove sits north of Florida in Cairo, Georgia, but was discovered, preserved, and continues to be cared for by a cadre of volunteers from Tallahassee.
The wildflower is common in the Appalachians but relatively rare this far south. Protected by Grady County, this 140-acre Georgia locality presents an amazing number of plants in a very concentrated area along a tributary of the Ochlockonee River.
A "pop up" trail system with interpretation of habitats is set up each season by volunteers from the Florida Native Plant Society Magnolia Chapter. Trails are signposted and flagged, meandering off in two directions beyond the main loop to enable a couple hours of hiking on sometimes steep terrain.
Walk slowly to revel in the largest known concentration of trout lilies this deep in the Southeast. It's not just trout lilies, however: expect a profusion of trillium and other Appalachian wildflowers along the footpaths.
The preserve is less than an hour due north of Tallahassee, west of Cairo, GA along U.S. 84. Check their website in advance to ensure they are open when you plan to arrive. Most recent updates are shared on their Facebook page. Their 2026 season begins Friday, February 13.
For the best light to see the lilies in bloom, they open to visitors at 1 PM. Their season is very limited, and the preserve is staffed by volunteers. No pets permitted.
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