Nashville, TN – The Department of Environment and Conservation’s Resource Management Division will host a guided hike at Devil’s Backbone State Natural Area in Lewis County near Hohenwald on Saturday, December 11th. Participants should meet at 10:00am at the natural area’s parking lot near mile marker 394 on Natchez Trace Parkway, approximately three miles north of Highway 412.
Stewardship Ecologist Allan Trently will take hikers on a three-mile loop through the Devil’s Backbone State Natural Area. This easy to moderate trail follows the steep ridges of the Highland Rim and descends into a hollow before returning to the ridge. Devil’s Backbone is a high quality Western Highland Rim forest community, with fine examples of oak, hickory, beech, tuliptree and other species found within its boundaries.
“This area is truly impressive so hikers should come prepared to learn about its ecology,” Trently said. “Devil’s Backbone is a real treasure – almost untouched by human activity and intervention.”
Participants should bring water and snacks, and they should wear appropriate footwear and dress in layers. Reservations are required for the guided hike and can be made by calling 731-512-1369 or e-mailing allan.trently@tn.gov by December 9th. The hike will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather or if predicted.
Devil’s Backbone State Natural Area is a 950-acre mixed hardwood forest located on the Western Highland Rim. Few high-quality examples of this type of forest community are known to exist because of present and past land use patterns. Devil’s Backbone also is an outstanding scenic recreation area, offering exceptional views of the ridge and the rare forest community it supports.
The hike at Devil’s Backbone is part of a series of monthly, guided trips to Tennessee State Natural Areas offered by the department’s Resource Management Division. Tennessee has 81 designated natural areas throughout the state, covering approximately 116,000 acres of ecologically significant lands. More information about Tennessee’s natural areas program, including a complete list of all natural areas and scheduled field trips, can be found at www.tn.gov/environment/na/. For information about Devil’s Backbone, including a map of the area, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/devils/.
