The first time I ever encountered boulders in the woods similar to these, I was in DeSoto State Park. I spent a majority of one summer there with my grandparents who were the hosts for the campground. I worked at the pool during the week cleaning the bathrooms and doing whatever the lifeguards told me to do. I spent weekends with the park's naturalist, playing with the snakes and learning about hiking and the history of the area. I earned my Junior Ranger badge over and over again that summer. I was having so much fun working at DSP that I turned down a trip to the Grand Canyon! I realize now foolish that was, but when I was 10...well, I guess I figured I had my whole life to see that. Whenever I see rocks like these, I remember that awesome summer. Oh, to be young and spry enough to leap from boulder to boulder again!
These trails are a lovely excursion to take when you feel like getting away from the city. Not only can you find some peace and quiet, you’ll notice interesting rock formations and plants.
From Tuscaloosa's PARA website: “Hurricane Creek is a boundary area; here Appalachian and Gulf Coastal Plain plants meet. Here strange combinations occur. On the coastal plain, the main evergreen shrub along the stream banks is Florida anis (Illicium floridanum), while mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) occupies the same niche in the Appalachian areas. At the “M Bend” site both are present. Dr. Eugene Allen Smith, Alabama’s second state geologist, found a rather rare small tree at the “M Bend” before 1900. This beautiful little tree – the silky camellia (Stewartia malacodendron) was not reported again for over 100 years (even Dr. Allen couldn’t find it) until George Wood spotted it in 2002. There are three species of native azalea at the “M Bend,” as well as a rather rare ginger, an equally rare stonecrop: and a dozen species of fern occur there. From February to May, wildflowers abound at the “M Bend.” The plants are nice, but the backdrop is spectacular: tall sandstone cliffs with beautiful “ box work” formations and a creek with sandstone boulders. To see Hurricane Creek today is to see, albeit on a smaller scale, what the Black Warrior River looked like before it was dammed. Hurricane Creek is the last free-flowing Appalachian-type stream which can be seen before the Black Warrior River reaches the Fall Line at Tuscaloosa.”
These trails are perfect for hiking or biking. Don’t forget to CITO and have fun!
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Congrats to TeamBAMA for FTF!
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