There are many places in North Carolina to explore and appreciate the many splendors of springtime, but few are quite as magical as a little-known spot in the Linville Gorge known as Daffodil Flats. The small valley on the floor of the Linville Gorge is filled, year after year, with a bright yellow carpet made of thousands and thousands of blooming daffodils – and the scene is nothing short of enchanting. This epic hike is of course available throughout the year but you will only have a short window in the spring to see these flowers, but how did they get there in the middle of such vast wilderness? Lean in closer my friends as we tell you the mystery of this ghost garden in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In addition to the majestic sight of such a large field of daffodils, the real magic is they have no garden keeper tending to them.
kim gibson/ AllTrails
If you have visited before you will see just how remote this area is. The Linville Gorge is famous for the Linville Falls area and it is a beautiful sight we have explored before but it's not the only natural wonder hiding within these vast and stunning mountains. So how did this perfect little garden get here and why is it planted in such a hard-to-reach place?
No one really knows for sure the history of Daffodil Flats North Carolina, but like many local places, there are legends. The story has it that many, many years ago there was a homestead at the bottom of the gorge and the woman living here planted the daffodil garden.
Paul Brown/ AllTrails
But the house is no longer here. So we could only speculate that given the location, over time it was taken by a great flood — and the woman's prized Daffodil garden? It was abandoned.
Christian Martin/ AllTrails

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Now, the only thing that remains is this beautiful ghost garden that miraculously blooms year after year as if waiting for its equally lovely human to return so she can smile for a few weeks each spring at the massive garden of daffodils.
John Monteith/ AllTrails
It is a romantic and lovely place to see these daffodils in North Carolina. The garden has been left for travelers to traverse the area and stumble upon its hidden beauty. The trail is very busy while the flowers are blooming so plan ahead and wait patiently to get your pictures because there is plenty of space for everyone. It is one springtime trail you won't want to miss.
Randall Cline/ AllTrails
Getting to the ghost garden known as Daffodil Flats is no easy task. It sits at the very bottom of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area and is a hike that should be attempted by only seasoned hikers with experience on rugged, steep terrain.
Bill Farley/ AllTrails
The best way to navigate this intense hike is to download the Daffodil Flats Trail map on AllTrails and follow along as you hike. The journey will take you an impressive 5.6 miles with over 1,700 feet of elevation gain. This is considered one of the more strenuous shorter hikes in the area so make sure you come prepared. That being said this is such a beautiful section of our state and one of the best places to view wildflowers in North Carolina.

Daffodil Flats blooms each year for only a few weeks in the month of March. The trail to reach the flats is a strenuous six-mile round-trip hike. This is one of those springtime hikes you will not want to miss so make sure you have your AllTrails+ map handy and get ready for an amazing trail in the heart of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area. Have you ever seen this amazing daffodil ghost garden in person?

For more on Daffodil Flats, including exactly how to get there by way of hiking, watch the lovely video below from YouTube user HDCarolina:

To visit another unique garden in the Tar Heel State, head east to visit a wonderful Butterfly Garden in the Outer Banks.

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Daffodil Flats, Nebo, NC 28761, USA