Take a hike

Some easterners will pile into the car and drive 400 miles to get a glimpse of the colorful fall foliage in the Smokey Mountains.

Many don’t realize that just four miles from Havelock there is a trail that puts on a mighty good show of its own in the Croatan National Forest’s Neuse River Recreation Area.

"A lot of people come in the fall just to see the colors down here," said Robert Kaylor, biological technician in the national forest. "Maples, hickory, yellow poplars, dogwoods, and sweet gum have some of the pretty colors."

Kaylor points out a dogwood clinging to a set of leaves that are fire engine red, the brightest in the forest, he said.

"And most of these leaves will be gone in about two weeks," he said.

The trail at Flanners Beach is one of five major trails in the Croatan National Forest. It includes a shorter loop that is paved and handicap accessible and the longer Beede Loop Trail that is gravel and dirt.

On Monday, A collage of fallen leaves of all hues and tints covered the trail.

Ray Bullock, of Havelock, spent his morning biking along the paved trail then set off for a walk along the Beede Loop trail. Bullock is the campground host at the Neuse River Recreation Area.

"I enjoy it," Bullock said as he hiked along the narrow scenic loop that starts out paralleling the shore of the Neuse River at Flanners Beach.

From an overlook, one could see raccoon prints in the sand along with the imprinted path made by the gangly legs of a crane or an egret.

In the next moment, the distinctive call of a bald eagle can be heard overhead. An adult with white head and tail circled above with a gray and brown fledgling following along.

Bullock said the raptors will frequently perch on a cypress tree nearby that is easily observed from the cover of the trail.

Walking along, both sides of the trail are covered with fallen leaves, but there is still a pronounced green presence along the ground in the thousands of fiddle ferns folding their fan-like branches skyward.

On Monday, there weren’t very many birds to be heard under the tall canopy. But Bullock said that it is likely a visitor may see a cardinal, Carolina bluebird, sparrow or if they are lucky, the red feathery crop of a pileated woodpecker.

If the woods traveler takes a modest pace, there is always a chance to see a squirrel, possum, gray fox or white-tailed deer.

On this trip, though, it was the color of the flora that stole the show.

Kaylor said he helped build the trails with fellow forest employees Dennis Foster and David Wright.

"I like for people to come," Kaylor said. "It makes me feel good to see people using it."

People interested should get going, as access to the Flanners Beach parking lot will close on Dec. 1. Hikers can still park by the gate and walk about 100 feet off the road to access the trails.

For more information on the Croatan’s hiking trails, call the ranger station at 638-5628 or drop by the office located off U.S. 70 between Havelock and New Bern from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to get a map of the trails. 

CROATAN NATURE TRAILS

Neusiok Trail — A 21-mile trail that begins at the Pine Cliff Recreation area off N.C. 306 (Ferry Road) in Craven County and stretches to the Newport River just north of Newport. Various access points exist along the route on N.C. 306, N.C. 101 and Old Wineberry Road.

Cedar Point Trail — A 1.4-mile loop located off N.C. 58 just north of Cape Carteret along the White Oak River.

Flanners Beach Trail — A two-trail system that totals three miles located off U.S. 70 between Havelock and New Bern on Flanners Beach Road.

Island Creek Forest Walk — A half-mile walk through wooded area located about eight miles off U.S. 70 on Brices Creek Road (State Road 1004) outside New Bern.

Patsy Pond Nature Trail — A two-loop trail that totals 1.75 miles off N.C. 24 in Ocean between Morehead City and Cape Carteret.