State Natural Areas are celebrating with hikes and events
Tennessee State Natural Areas is having a spring celebration week from Saturday through April 9, with a variety of family-friendly events including wildflower hikes and a public grand opening for the state's newest natural area.
The new Window Cliffs State Natural Area, located in Putnam County about seven miles from Burgess Falls State Park, is opening to the public on April 7, with the completion of a 5.4-mile hiking trail that includes 20 bridgeless stream crossings.
“Tennessee is fortunate to have 85 natural areas across the state,” said Roger McCoy, director of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Natural Areas. “Spring is a prime time to see these areas in their full glory, which include rare plant habitats, breathtaking views and incredible geologic features.”
McCoy says that Window Cliffs, which is 120 feet from the top of the cliff to the creek bottom, has "unique geological features," including what looks like natural bridges or windows that were formed by erosion from the meandering Cane Creek.
"Approximately 2.4 stream-miles of Cane Creek flow through the natural area along with Phelps Branch which is a tributary to Cane Creek," said McCoy. "A few small cascades, steep slopes and narrow ledges, including a 20 foot waterfall, occur along Cane Creek."
"The cliffs and windows derive from Mississippian and Ordovician-aged sedimentary rocks," McCoy said.
The Natural Area celebration week includes events across the state, but here is a sampling of Middle Tennessee events:
April 1: Guided Hike at Beaman Park State Natural Area at 10 a.m. This is a 6.6-mile "adventure" where you can learn to use phone apps and GPS to navigate the outdoors and collect information on the trails. Beaman Park is a Metro Nashville Park, but a portion of it is designated as a state natural area.
April 2: Short Springs State Natural Area outside of Tullahoma, known as one of the richest wildflower areas in the state, has 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. wildflower hikes on April 2, and a 10 a.m. wildflower hike April 9.
April 4: Flat Rock Cedar Glades and Barrens outside Murfreesboro, known as one of the most significant ecosystems in the state, has a 10 a.m. guided hike led by regional ecologist Sam King. During the 2-3 mile hike, you will get to learn about the management practices to preserve and restore the glades and barrens.
April 5: Taylor Hollow State Natural Area in Sumner County near Westmoreland has three opportunities to visit: There are 2-mile wildflower walks at 9:30 a.m. April 5, and 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on April 9.
April 7: Window Cliffs State Natural Area in Putnam County has its grand opening including a guided hike at noon. This is a strenuous 5.4-mile round-trip hike with several bridgeless stream crossings. The description says, "Those who don't mind wet feet won't be disappointed once they walk up to the spectacular cliff tops."
April 5: Walls of Jericho State Natural Area in Franklin County has a strenuous 8-mile hike that starts at 10 a.m. and descends 900 feet into the "walls" and "continues along the creek to an amazing canyon of sheer rock bluffs, caves and waterfalls."
All of the hikes are free but space is limited for many and reservations are required. For the full schedule and to RSVP visit tennessee.gov/environment/article/na-na-events.
Reach Ms. Cheap at 615-259-8282 or mscheap@tennessean.com. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/mscheap, and at Tennessean.com/mscheap, and on Twitter @Ms_Cheap, and catch her every Thursday at 11 a.m. on WTVF-Channel 5’s “Talk of the Town.”
What is a natural area?
If you are looking for the most pristine natural spots in the state, seek out one of Tennessee's 85 state natural areas, which legislatively designate the most restrictive land use in terms of development and maintenance of a natural setting.
Tennessee has more than 122,000 acres that the Tennessee Natural Areas Preservation Act of 1971 protects.
Unlike our state parks, these areas that range in size from 9 acres to 18,000 acres are protected from development other than trails and minimal development required for visitor access. And they don't have to be on state-owned land. They could be part of a Tennessee State Park, or they could be private property like Taylor Hollow in Sumner County that is on Nature Conservancy land. Some areas are part of Metro Parks, including Beaman Park and Hill Forest within Warner Parks; or in national parks, like Honey Creek and Twin Arches within the Big South Fork National Recreation Area. Some are part of a state park like Savage Gulf in South Cumberland State Park, or Radnor Lake State Natural Area which is also managed as a state park, or vast portions of the Fall Creek Falls State Park.
But the common denominator, McCoy says, is that the natural area's land includes "rare, threatened or endangered plant or animal life."
"The focus is on species and ecosystems in need of protection," said McCoy, who said the state’s legislatively designated natural areas represent some of Tennessee’s best examples of intact ecosystems.
More information about TDEC’s Division of Natural Areas can be found at tn.gov/environment/section/na-natural-areas.