Where
McKamy Lake Recreation Area/Cherokee Nat'l ForestFall Foliage Hike
Tennessee Valley Wild Ones members are invited to participate in a Fall Color/Nature Hike within the forest surrounding McKamy Lake Recreation Area in the Cherokee National Forest, Polk County, TN.
Severe drought conditions are expected to result in early Fall colors; however, the diverse forest habitats will still provide abundant coloration.
The hike is rated “easy” with level and dry footing throughout with the exception of an optional short trail to the base of Benton Falls and return. Stone steps and wood handrails will aid access to the beautiful waterfall.
The hike will originate at McKamy Lake and follow an approximate 3.5-mile loop on portions or the Azalea (#140), Arbutus (#141), Red Leaf (#144) and Benton Falls (#131) trails. For a detailed site map of the trails, Google “Chilhowee Trail System Map”.
Numerous sites ranging from old-growth trees to early forest succession species, including moist riparian habitats to dry upland sites with a diverse mix of trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, mosses, fungi and wildflowers.
This program is free and open to Wild Ones members.
Limit: 15 participants.
Driving directions and additional program details will be provided upon registration.
The following is a partial list of plants observed on a recent hike to McKamy Lake in August:
Trees
1. Oaks - Scarlet, Northern Red, Post, Chestnut & White
2. Hickories - Shagbark & Pignut
3. Other Deciduous Trees - American Chestnut, Red Maple, Yellow Wood, River Birch, Black Locust, Black Cherry, American Beech, Sycamore, Sassafras, Winged Elm, Sourwood, Fringe Tree, Eastern Redbud, Black Gum, Mimosa & Chokeberry
4. Evergreens - Eastern Hemlock, Eastern Red Cedar, Virginia Pine, Eastern White pPne, Shortleaf Pine, Loblolly Pine & American Holly
Shrubs
Rosebay Rhododendron, Mountain Laurel, Devil's Walking Stick, Sweet Shrub, Tag Alder, Maple-Leaf Viburnum, Flame Azalea, Wild Azalea, Strawberry Bush, Yellowroot, Huckleberries, Spicebush, Chinese Privet, Wild Hydrangea, Witch Hazel, Mountain Doghobble, Common Elderberry
Vines
Trailing Arbutus, Wild Potato Vine, Japanese Honeysuckle, Partridge Berry, Virginia Creeper, Green Briar, Climbing Hydrangea, Poison Ivy, Trumpet Vine, Muscadine, Wild Yan
Orchids
Pink Lady's Slipper, Downy Rattlesnake Orchid, Yellow Fringed Orchid (Orange Color Phase), Cranefly Orchid
Herbs
Galax, Wild Ginger, Reclining St. Andrews Cross, Elephant's Foot, Spotted Wintergreen, Cutleaf Prairie Dock, Wild Sensitive Plant, Smooth Creeping Bush Clover, Whorled Loosestrife, Tall Thoroughwort, Early Goldenrod, Joe-Pye Weed, Cardinal Flower
Ferns
Christmas Fern, Cinnamon Fern, Bracken Fern, Sensitive Fern, New York Fern, Resurrection Fern, Ebony Spleenwort
Club Moss
Running Cedar
Mosses
Sphagnum & Numerous Others