When: November 8, 2026 @ 1:00 pm
Stroll with the Naturalist!
Join Mainspring on a Naturalist walk along the eastern-most portion of the Murphy River Walk! We will talk about all the different species of trees found on that portion as well as see how many birds we can find. We will also talk about the different habitats this trail passes through as well as how our native insects, birds, and other creatures use it throughout the year. Come with questions and ready to chat! We can answer any nature questions you might have as well as guide you to the best resources. We can also talk about Mainspring and the work we’ve done recently to help conserve the region’s farms and forests. This walk is a generalist naturalist walk and we welcome everyone!
We will meet at the Thomas St. parking lot for the Murphy River Walk across the street from the Free Methodist Church (422 Valley River Ave, Murphy, NC 28906) just before 1pm on Sunday November 8th. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to park and get settled. Our walk will be 1.4 miles east from the Thomas St. entrance to Bulldog drive and back. The trail is generally wide, flat, and grassy/hard dirt with the occasional root and gentle sloping in the rhododendron portion. We recommend dressing for the weather and an easy walk. We will never be more than 15 minutes from the trail head. We also suggest bringing water and a snack along with any magnifying glasses or binoculars you might have. We have binoculars to borrow.
Meet your Guide
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate, Alina Martin lives in Murphy and spends most of her free time birding and lichenizing around Cherokee and Clay counties. She is grateful to be able to use her excitement and passion about every living thing to encourage the protection and appreciation of habitable land for ourselves as well as all things great and small that share our home here in the Southern Blue Ridge. Her wildlife management classes in addition heavy experience birding (her first love) near and far gained her strong foundational knowledge in birds, reptiles, amphibians, lichens, and plants. She dabbles in mushrooms and fish, and she knows some moss people. Don’t ask her about geology or astronomy. Armed with her identification knowledge in an incredibly biodiverse eco-region, Alina leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and finds something curious and new each time. She is a life-long bird nerd, all-around naturalist, and avid user of eBird and iNaturalist.
