The Orange Trail

At Ivy Creek Natural Area the Orange Trail travels through the northwest corner. It begins to the east of the old field just beyond the 220 year old oak at the intersection of red, brown, peninsula and orange trails. It heads north and out above the reservoir through yellow poplars, red and white oaks, cedars and Virginia Pines. In the winter the primary wildlife seems to be squirrels and woodpeckers. In short order the orange trail loops back to cross the peninsula trail and head uphill into the forest with big views overlooking Ivy Creek and the wooded islands from the silting process. Leaves are quite deep in many places along the trail. The trail heads to the western edge of the Natural Area before sweeping south and then back east. There is a short loop trail which connects to the red trail. However, staying on the orange trail brings you downhill to the western edge of the old field and the red trail and a short skip from the brown trail which is the shortest way back to the parking area.

The Green Trail

On a slightly warmer day I resolved to walk the green trail, one of the longer loop trails at Ivy Creek Natural Area. It loops off the red trail in the southernmost corner of Ivy Creek. It starts by continuing to follow Martin’s Branch upstream after leaving the red trail behind. The remains of an old fence line can be seen along the stream. Very few people use this trail as evidenced by the thick, very lightly flattened leaves covering the trail. Thank goodness for trail markers!

Eventually turning away from Martin’s Branch the trail travels through extensive oak/hickory/poplar forest. Most of trees have very few low branches so the feeling is very open especially so in the winter. Nearby  houses on private property are quite visible. However, after you turn north and cross over a tributary streambed (dry in the winter) much of the feel is that you are far out in the wilderness. This meditative feeling continues until you come across the power line cutting through fairly low overhead. Virginia pines start to become more and more common. Then suddenly the green trail is finished where it meets the red trail at the top of the hill of cut through for the gas pipeline. During the entire hour long walk I met only one other person on the green trail. Next up the orange trail.