When: June 28, 2025 @ 8:30 pm
EXPLORE YOUR BIOLUMINESCENT BACKYARD!
EVENT FULL
Pinnacle Park has a vibrant night life scene: lightning bugs and foxfire worms! Join us for this evening hike on the lower Forest Therapy trail loop to view and learn about these beautiful bugs. We will discuss how to identify different species, the firefly life cycle, the magic behind their glow, and how to attract similar insects to your property. In addition to multiple different species firefly species, we may also hear owls hooting in the distance, or a flying squirrel scurrying around in the trees.
All participants will be given a red-light device (flashlight or headlamp) to use for this hike, but are also welcome to bring their own red-light device. Please do not bring standard white- or yellow- light devices; these not only disturb the lightning bugs, but also affect our ability to properly view them.
This walk will be about a mile on a maintained, moderate-grade trail that is medium difficulty. Roots and rocks are present in the trail, as are other hazards like poison ivy. Participants are encouraged to wear pants and closed toed shoes. A rock that is obvious in the daytime is much more subtle in the evening! We will meet at the Pinnacle Park trailhead (end of Fischer Creek Rd in Sylva) at 8:30pm on Saturday, June 28th. We will be out until around 10:30pm. This program is weather-dependent; it will still occur in light rain or drizzles, but will be cancelled in the case of heavy rain or dangerous conditions. Email Skye with any questions. Please leave pets at home.
Tickets are $10, and availability is limited to reduce disruption to the fireflies and improve our experience out in the woods together. This event is sold out. To be added to the waitlist, email Skye at [email protected] with your full name, number of people in your party and your phone number.
This same event is available on Wednesday, June 18th and Saturday, June 27th. Both of these nights are waitlisted as well.
Meet Your Teacher
As Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate, Alina Martin aims to encourage the protection and appreciation of land by connecting communities to the birds, plants, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that share our home here in the Southern Blue Ridge. Her birding adventures up and down the east coast have introduced her to a wide variety of habitats, and those experiences inspire her to continue nurturing her understanding of wildlife and plant ecology. Armed with her identification knowledge and ever-increasing wonder, Alina leads a variety of educational programs here at Mainspring, and finds something curious and new each time. She is a life-long birder, all-around naturalist, and avid user of eBird and iNaturalist.
