When: April 15, 2026 @ 3:00 pm
Indulge in springtime delights at Fires Creek!
Join Alina for this amble along the paved river trail at the Fires Creek Recreation Area, where we will revel in the many colors of our mountain valley springtime! This is a great time of year to admire the flowering Blood Root, Trout Lilys, and other spring ephemerals, like Little Sweet Betsy Trillium, Cross Vine, May Apple (Mapple), and more. We will discuss identification tips, wildlife benefits, and other interesting notes.
We will meet between 2:45-2:55pm on Wednesday, April 15th at the Fires Creek Picnic Area north of Hayesville, and be ready to go at 3pm. See the map below for exact location. We will keep a gentle pace during this event, and walk less than half a mile on a flat, paved trail that runs along the river. After this portion we will do the Leatherwood Falls loop, which is about .7 miles on a dirt trail and does include 127 ft of elevation gain. We suggest bringing water, a snack, a warm layer, sturdy shoes, and any naturalist tools you may want such as field guides, hand lenses, or binoculars. This event should last around 2 hours, we will back at the trailhead around 5:00pm.
This event is donation-based, with a suggested donation of $10. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but please give what you can. Your support allows us to protect the special creatures, plants, landscapes, and heritage of WNC for all to enjoy! Donations can be made online (select “upcoming event” from the dropdown box), or by cash or check at the event.
This event is weather-dependent. Please leave pets at home. Email Alina at [email protected] with any questions.
Meet your teacher
As Mainspring’s 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 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 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.
Please treat your registration as a formal ticket. Read this event description thoroughly and ensure that the date, time, and location work for your schedule. We monitor event sign-ups, and restrict group size to ensure you have a quality experience out in the woods with us. If you register and can no longer attend, email Skye at [email protected]. Thank you!
