Meet at the end of Rail Falls Road at the Douglas Falls Parking Lot at 10 am

Leader: Aaron Graham

Join Friends of Blackwater for a walk along the rail trail where we will observe the natural world in what was once the booming coal town of Douglas. Plan on seeing a variety of wildlife such as Chimney Swifts buzzing over the canyon, Cedar Waxwing hunting from the taller trees lining the road, and Black-throated Blue and Canada Warblers singing from the woods around Douglas and Kennedy Falls. The butterflying along this section of the trail can be productive as it transverses a variety of habitats where we could find Long Dash skippers along the sedge dominated wetlands, Red-spotted Purples puddling in the road, Carolina Satyrs in the wooded openings, and Atlantis Fritillary and Tiger Swallowtails nectaring on the flowering species along the road. While on the tour we will stop at all three of the waterfalls along the road, Albert Falls, Douglas Falls, and Kennedy Falls. Wear appropriate attire for hiking around a mile on the maintained flat rail trail.