Herring Creek Nature Trail Guide

Welcome to Zoar State Forest Nature Trail. Using this brochure, you take a self-guided tour of this trail. A brochure is also available for the Mattaponi Bluffs Trail. Markers have been placed along the trails in order to interpret what you see and to help you gain a deeper appreciation of the special qualities this area has to offer. Most of all, pause to use your senses on your visit - sights, sounds, smells, and touch - all will give you an opportunity to learn more about this place. Please remember to leave only footprints, and take only photographs and memories with you, so that others may enjoy their visit. Help keep the forest a special place by kindly taking the litter you generate on your visit with you as you leave. Enjoy your visit and come again soon, for each visit will offer a different sensory experience in this changing place.

Herring Creek Nature Trail - (.4 Mmile)

Stop #16

From this vantage point one can observe the meandering channel of Herring Creek below you. The headwaters of this creek extend westward from this point approximately 18 miles. It received its name for the river herring which migrate to this area every spring, along with its close relative, the shad. These fish spawn annually in this lower stretch of the creek, and have generated fishing activity since colonial times.

Stop #17

From this spot you can observe several different understory plants. Each plant fills a special place, or niche, in the forest community. Here one finds mountain laurel, an evergreen shrub with thick shiny leaves which grow in clumps; wild blueberry, sometimes called huckleberry, which has oval shaped light green furry-textured leaves; and pawpaw with its distinctive large oval shaped dark green leaves.

Stop #18

Notice the remains of an old tree which is undergoing the process of decomposition, returning its nutrients to the soil. This natural process is hastened by the work of insects, rainfall, and fungi which unlike other chlorophyl-producing plants prey on the energy stored in other plants. A variety of mushrooms and other fungi are visible at work. Remember to take care and not to collect these for food, as many are poisonous and quite toxic to humans.

From this point the trail descends to the Herring Creek floodplain and observation overlook. If you would prefer to bypass this portion of the trail, turn left to stop #22 on the trail.

Stop # 19

From this stop you will notice a rather unusual-shaped American beech with a forked trunk. This kind of trunk is likely the result of this tree having grown in an area which had been fairly open. Behind you notice the pond which was once part of the creek's channel. Compare this view with those you saw earlier along the Mattaponi River. It is quickly apparent that this floodplain is much more stable than that of the river's.

Stop #20

At this stop the floodplain is entirely on the side of the creek where you are standing. The opposite steep bank forces rising water from the creek over to this bank. The creek has meandered as far as it can to the opposite bank, where marl found just below the topsoil has dramatically slowed the erosive effect of the water cutting the channel further. Several springs help drain the groundwater from the opposite hillside into the creek.

From this point return to the top of the bank and turn right to continue to the next stop.

Stop #21

In front of you notice the large oak with an unusual growth on the side of its trunk. This feature was probably the result of an infestation or disease which afflicted the tree some years ago. Behind you is a large beech tree with a number of cavities in it. These cavities were probably the result of an old injury or disease. Cavities such as these are used by various birds and small mammals for shelter at different times of the year.

Stop #22

At this stop you will notice a number of fallen trees on your left in the not to far distance. These were probably taken down by the large beech tree which is easily identified from its splintered trunk. The beech was probably destroyed by lightning. Just up the trail is a rather unusual looking white oak with a large hump on one side of its trunk. This was caused by some past damage to this tree which resulted in one of its forks dying. The remaining fork survived and the trunk healed the wound to form the hump you see today.

From here the trail returns to the Canoe parking area. Thank you for visiting Zoar State Forest!

Last modified: Thursday, 13-Mar-2008 16:31:31 EDT