April 28, 2022
Kimsey Creek Trail
near Standing Indian Campground
This turned out to be a really great hike, not so much for the beautiful weather or the trail conditions being much better than our 2020 fall hike, but mostly for the tremendous amount of trillium along Kimsey Creek. Trillium were on full display with the White and Red Trillium dominating and an occasional painted trillium showing up. With trillium found in large masses almost continuously along the hillsides, open areas and the trail, this was the largest display of trillium many of us have ever seen. There were also numerous other wildflowers including one very large area of Trout lilies still in bloom. Fortunately, the trail was unusually dry with just a few very wet, muddy patches, but nothing terrible. And while the bridge at 2.5 miles in is still without handrails and a bit wonky, it was passable so we hiked a bit further than originally planned. A great day for a hike!
The route
5.9 mi · 764 ft climbing · 4h 56m out, 4h 2m walking · 1.5 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
Photos (44)
This hike is dedicated to the amazing display of Trillium, especially White trillium ((Trillium grandiflorum) which covered many of the hillsides. Today's hikers (L-R): Back Renee & Beth; Front: Gary, Ray, Angela, Jenny, Christine & Mike Off we go! The trail is fairly well marked with signs and blue blazes. The initial section of the hike took us along the southern boundary of the recent controlled burn. But even after only three weeks of the burn, wildflowers were emerging. The trail takes us along Kimsey Creek, not a large creek, but still quite pretty. There are a number of bridges crossing feeds into the creek, but there are also quite a number of small shallow water crossings to step through or cross. There is one wonky bridge without a handrail at 2.5 miles that requires a bit more care in crossing. Like many of our hikes, there always seems to be a number of interesting trees with very unusual trunks. More pictures of Kimsey Creek. Just one example of the hundreds of White trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) we saw today. Here's a small patch of White trillium along Kimsey Creek. Did you know that Red trillium (Trillium erectum) has petals other than just red? Red trillium (Trillium erectum) with red petals. Red trillium (Trillium erectum) with white petals. Red trillium (Trillium erectum) with yellow petals. A trio of Painted trillium (Trillium undulatum). Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla) A nice cluster of three young Jack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema triphyllum). Woods Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) about to bloom. Dwarf ginseng (Panax trifolius) Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) Blisterwort (Ranunculus recurvatus) Golden Ragwort (Senecio aureus) Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense) ??? Maple leaf viburnum (Viburnum acer folium) taken by Beth McDonald Carolina springbeauty (Claytonia caroliniana) by Beth McDonald Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) Wood Anemone (Anemone lancifolia) Brook Lettuce (Saxifraga micranthidifolia) Even the common violets were large and eye catching. Not sure, but we saw several of these. Perhaps some type of lily forming up??? Not sure again, but it looks like Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis) that has already bloomed and gone to fruit ??? Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) One small patch of Pussy-Toes (Antennaria plantaginifolia) The Wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) were quite large in this area. Bluet (Houstonia serpyllifolia) Not sure of this plant which we saw both with and without variegation. Lots of small Buckeyes on this hike. Ray, Beth & Angela in front of a large hollow, but dead tree at the end of the Kimsey Creek Trail. My editor strongly suggested I include this photo