Relict oak, Sweetwater Creek State Park

Join Kathryn Kolb for a hike at Sweetwater Creek State Park, where an unusually wide variety of native tree species can be found, from horse sugar and horbeams in the floodplains, to chestnut oak and blueberry on the ridges. We’ll take the road less travelled, doing the back loop, yellow trail, about 3 miles total, which includes a few respectable hills. Changes in topography express interesting changes in trees and plants here, including species not commonly found in the Piedmont. And the stories of individual trees can often be read in their forms, including older “relict” trees, and trees that have survived all sorts of challenges, including being timbered earlier in the 20th century. The forest in many areas is older than it may appear at first glance. We’ll take a leisurely walk and stop to observe many interesting details that help us “read” the forest in a variety of ways.

Limit 10 – to register (RSVP) click HERE – details and directions sent to registered participants. 

A donation of $15 or more helps support our programs.

Beaver work

New Beech Leaves