Friday Field Trips

Attendance for most field trips is limited, and consequently the field trip selection made during event registration is final and cannot be changed at the Symposium. Please review possible choices below and ensure you are comfortable with the option you are choosing (there is also an option for no field trip). For assistance or questions, email admin-assist@npsot.org. (Please note response will be fastest during office hours of Tuesday 9-1, Wednesday 3-5, and Thursday 9-1.)

Printed field trip information will be available at the symposium. Distance and travel times are estimated from The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center in downtown Nacogdoches.

F1. Angelina National Forest Upland Island Wilderness Area

Bouton Lake Rec Area, Zavalla, TX 75980
57 miles, 1 hour

Description:
This walk will allow participants to experience several healthy Habitats on what Ned Fritz called Longleaf Ridge. From bogs/baygalls, seeps, savannahs, and a Longleaf Sand Cap. Some rare plant species at the site include Louisiana Squarehead/ Tetragonetheca ludivichiana, Texas Bartonia/Bartonia texanum, Bog Giant Coneflower/Rudbeckia scabrifolia, and Bogmoss/Mayaca aublletii. There are several species of Milkweed/ Ascelepias spp, Gayfeathers/Liatris spp, Asters amongst the Grasses galore. Location is located in part of what Ned Fritz coined Longleaf Ridge.

Leader: Peter Loos and Jason Singhurst
Difficulty: Moderate, no formal trail. Keep in mind that Baygalls and Bogs are wet by nature, otherwise hiking boots are encouraged. Some elevation change.
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: No
Start Time: Noon
Duration: 3-3.5 hours
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: No
Other: Field trip occurs during hunting season. Wear bright colors, such as blaze orange. 

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link
US59/I69 south from Nacogdoches to Lufkin, around loop to southeast side of town to US69 South, go south through Huntington to Zavalla. You can either come in from west side by staying on US69 to the Countyline but suspect road expansion construction will still make the left turn hard to recognize at time of trip. Alternative route is at Zavalla take Hwy63 exit, go past school stay right at fork, south of town.

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F2. Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve

527 CR 4777, Warren, TX, United States, 77664 
98 miles, 2 hours

Description: 
This walk will allow participants to see excellent examples of a pitcher plant Bog, with slopes dominated by Longleaf Pine Savanah. Home to one of the larger populations of the rare Chapman’s Fringed Orchid there are several other orchid species found at the site. Other unusual species at the Preserve include Sweet Pepper Shrub/Clethra alnifolia, Bigleaf Magnolia/Magnolia macrophylla, Liatris spp, several species of Milkweed/Asclepias spp (to include Rubra, Lanceolata, obovata), and Tall Catchfly/Silene subcilliata

Links for more information:
Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve on Facebook
Watson Rare Native Plant Preserve Website

Leader: Joe Liggio
Difficulty: Easy; Property has areas of dirt based paths and boardwalks to maneuver through the bog areas. Minimal elevation change.
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: No
Start Time: Noon
Duration: 2.5 hours
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: Portable Toilet

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link 
Take Bus 59 (North Street) south to Lufkin Loop, take loop around to US 69 exit, go south on US 69 through town of Warren, approx. 2 miles south of town take left (east) on Lake Hyatt Estates road, follow sign to preserve (after crossing lake spillway take left fork in road).

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F3. Pineywoods Native Plant Center, Stephen F Austin State University

2900 Raguet St, Nacogdoches, TX 75965
2.3 miles, 10 min

Description: 
One of the premier public display gardens in the Pineywoods and in Texas, the PNPC is a part of the SFS Gardens. Home to the twice held annually SFA Garden Plant Sales, the property is home to numerous display areas to include a prairie/meadow and extensive collections of numerous species. As part of its mission statement, there also are numerous trial species, a number of which can be found scattered throughout the landscape.

Leader:  Dr. David Creech and Staff
Difficulty: Easy
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: Yes, in places
Start Time: 11 am
Duration: Flexible as it can include other native collections located in other parts of the Gardens
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: Yes

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link
Located north of the hotel on Raguet St. on the northwest edge of campus, directly adjacent to Raguet Elementary

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F4. Scrappin’ Valley

North Newton Co. Meeting at corner of TX-87 and State Hwy 255
86 miles, 1.5 hours

Description: 
Scrapping Valley is a wonderful example of Longleaf Pine habitat and contains numerous plant communities to include Pitcher Plant Bogs, Dry Upland Sand Caps, Baygalls, Mesic Creeks, and Barrens. Located in part of the area Ned Fritz coined Longleaf Ridge. Highlight will be a stop at what some call a cave but is more of a Grotto where one might see Tall Catchfly, Bottle Gentians, Native Azaleas. The property has become a conservation area since changing ownership and continues to have numerous scientific research activities from monitoring RCW (Red-cockaded Woodpeckers) to Louisiana Pine Snake.

Leader: Scott Walberg
Difficulty: Moderate; No organized trails but short walks from roads at numerous stops, some sites have gentle slopes.
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: No
Start Time: 11:45 am
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: No

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link 
From the Fredonia, take Main St (Hwy21) go east to San Augustine, turn right (south) on US96 to PR255, turn left to corner of TX-255/State Hwy 87 (northwest corner) to meet leader.

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F5. Sabine National Forest, Fox Hunters Hill

TX-87 Sabine Co. (Meet at Public Boat Ramp south side of lake crossing at community of Six Mile.)
72 miles, 1.5 hours

Description:
Another site located on Longleaf Ridge, this location is another excellent example of Longleaf Pine habitat. Plant communities include Sand Cap/Dry Sand Hills, Wet Creek bottoms, Mesic Creek Bottoms, Pitcher plant Bog, Baygalls Catahoula Barrens and Savannahs. Two of the more unusual species participants should see include Bottle Gentians and Bigleaf Witch Hazel/Hamamelis ovalis. Home to numerous RCW (Red-cockaded Woodpecker) clusters, the site also include large colonies of Sandhill Sellaginella and several colonies of Tall Catchfly/Silene subcilliata and Yellow Sandhill Blazing star/Liatris bridgesii.

Leader: Suzanne Walker
Difficulty: Difficult; no trails, numerous slopes
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: No
Start Time:  11:45 am
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: No, though there are Rest Rooms at the meeting site
Other: Field trip occurs during hunting season. Wear bright colors, such as blaze orange. 

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link 
Take Main St (Hwy21) east to San Augustine, south (right turn) on US96 to Pineland, turn left on FM 1 go ¼ mile to FM 2426 turn right (east) to end at Hwy 87, turn right (south) through community of Six Mile across lake. Public Boat Ramp is on the left.

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F6. USDA-NRCS East Texas Plant Materials Center and Winston 8 Tree Farm

6598 FM2782, Nacogdoches, TX 75964
12 miles, 20 min

Description: 
The group will start with a tour of the Pineywoods Plant Material Center facilities and field plots. After that the group will travel to the nearby Winston 8 Tree Farm, a wonderful example of pine savannah dominated habitat. There will be plenty of opportunity to see numerous Savannah plant species such as Gaillardia aesitvialis, Salvia azurea, Eyringium yuccafolia, Liatris bridgesii, Liatris pycnostachya, Liatris squarrosa, and numerous species of Grasses. The property also has several Baygalls as well as mesic creeks and dry sandhills. The property is also home to the recently designated State Champion Southern Sugar Maple/Acer barbatum.

Leader: Dawn Stover
Difficulty: Easy, there will be several short walks from unpaved roads. At Winston Ranch there are some gentle slopes.
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: No
Start Time: 11:30 am
Duration: 3-3.5 hours
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: Yes

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link Take BUS 59 south becoming US59 continue south to FM 2782, take right turn continue along FM past TxP&W WMA to entrance to the SFASU Experimental Forest/ NRCS-PMC, turn left, go through two gates and take right turn when you reach several buildings (PMC).

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F7. Davy Crockett Neches Bluff Overlook
Neches Bluff scenic overlook FR511A, Grapeland, TX 75844
36 miles, 60 min

Description: 
After meeting at the Neches Bluff Overlook where participants might see Clematis carrizoensis, Thaspium sp, the group will caravan to a nearby seasonal wetland “bowl” full of Spiranthes odorata which also contains two species of Hibiscus and Cardinal Flower. Next stop will be a Post Oak dominated roadside site with a large colony of Palafoxia sp. From there its on to Pond Camp along the way seeing Louisiana Squarehead/Tetragonetheca ludivichiana adjacent to a large colony of Bluejack (or Sand Jack) Oak. At Pond Camp there will be an opportunity to see Liatris aspera, Liatris tenuis, Rattlesnake Master/Eryngium yuccifolium, and Red Ring Milkweed/Ascelepias varigata.

Leader: Mark Tietz
Difficulty: Moderate, no formal trails off roadsides
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: No
Start Time:  11:45 am
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: Yes, only at Neches Bluff overlook
Other: Field trip occurs during hunting season. Wear bright colors, such as blaze orange. 

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link 
Take Hwy 21 west through Alto and just across the Neches River turn left on FR 511 to FR511A take left go to overlook at end of road near Rest Rooms.

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F8. Big Thicket National Preserve, Pitcher Plant Trail

Co Rd 4850, Warren, TX 77664, Tyler County
90 miles, 2 hours

Description: 
One of the Big Thicket Preserve’s premier Pitcher Plant bogs and home to numerous bog species to include Bog Coreopsis/Coreopsis gladiata, several Gayfeathers/Liatris spp (to include pycnostachya and acidota) numerous orchid species such as Grass Pinks/Calypogon, Rose Pagonia/Pagonia, Yellow Fringed Orchid/Plantanthera cilliaris, and Chapman’s Fringed Orchid/Plantanthera chapmanii. The bog is surrounded by Baygall on lower wet side with Swamp Titi/Cyrilla racemiflora, Tall Inkberry Holly/Ilex coriacea, and Sweetbay Magnolia/Magnolia virginiana.  The higher drier land on the walk in has Beautyberry, Dwarf Pawpaw/Asimina parviflora, and several Oak species.

Leader: Eric Keith
Difficulty: Easy, paved trail from parking lot to boardwalk at Pitcher Plant Bog
Wheelchair/ADA accessible: Yes
Start Time: Noon
Duration: 2.5-3 hours
Maximum number of attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: Yes
Other: Wearing bright colors suggested. Field trip occurs during hunting season but this field trip is in a no shooting zone with well-established asphalt/boardwalk trail.  

From The Fredonia Hotel & Convention Center: google map link 
Take bus59 south to Lufkin, take Lufkin Loop around east side to US69 to Warren, take left at light on FM 1943 (east) past Turkey Creek to CR by Brown Sign for the Pitcher Plant Trail (not the Turkey Creek Trail with roadside Picnic Area) turn right, entrance to parking area is on right.