Blackberry Island Trail

Description:

• Begin the nature hike heading south from the parking lot. Within several feet you'll reach an information board where the 1-mile hike begins at the boardwalk. Cattails predominate the vegetation, however, be sure to look for twig rush in this area. Twig rush is an unlikely species in this region since it is a native of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Wind your way across the phragmites following the boardwalk southeast to a small peninsula where flowering dogwood and willow live on the higher ground. When you come to a fork in the boardwalk, bear left crossing a sedge meadow and terminating at a bird observation platform that overlooks the Natalie K. Chambers Memorial Pond. Retrace your steps back to the fork and continue eastbound coming to another spur. This short spur takes you to an observation tower affording a different and more expansive view of the memorial pond. It is from these two overlooks that bird watchers congregate each spring and fall during times of migration. Once again retrace your steps back to the main boardwalk and turn left (east) entering high ground dominated by cottonwood and maple. The quiet hiker is likely to get lingering looks at great blue heron, white-tailed deer and the threatened spotted turtle. Other woodland residents that are rarely seen include mink and weasel. Rare plant species at Springville include grass-of-Parnassus, shrubby cinquefoil, Fen orchids, bottle gentian, Kalm's lobelia and little yellow sedge.