Ruffner Mountain Nature Center: Trillium Trail

Submitted by jo7hs2 on Sat, 05/03/2008 - 8:39pm

Basic Trail Information

Short Description:

TrilliumThis half-mile long loop offers excellent wildflower opportunities in the spring, and a lovely short hike during all seasons.

Trail Length (in miles):

0.50

Estimated time to complete trail:

30mins

Driving Directions

Traihead Directions:

For directions to the Nature Center, see: http://www.ruffnermountain.org/DirectionalMap.pdf

From the parking area, head up the road that forms the parking area, up past the gate. You can join up with the Trillium Trail almost immediately after the gate (marked with a sign), or you can walk up to the curve in the road, and behind the information kiosk you'll find the upper access to the Trillium Trail.

Starting from the top trailhead for the Trillium Trail, behind the information kiosk at the curve in the old road, head down the marked Trillium Trail. If you are visiting in Spring, it will be readily apparent how the trail received its name. During the spring months, the trail is covered in the greener varieties of wildflowers, like Trillium and Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

After a few minutes, the trail makes the turn to the right, and the character of the land begins to change. You drop through a small ridge of exposed rock, and then run parallel to it. This area is home to many rock-dwelling ferns.

Shortly thereafter the character of the land changes again, to a more open forest with lots of ground cover. Pay close attention for wildflowers here if you are visiting during the Spring or Summer months. I saw lots of Jack-in-the-Pulpit and Yellow Star Grass from this point on. Soon you come to a set of small footbridges covering some drainages. Where the trail starts to loop around again I saw the largest Jack-in-the-Pulpit I have ever seen. It was nearly three feet tall, by my estimate, and the cup was big enough to hold at least a mouthful of water. You'll pass a side trail heading somewhere (I think the parking lot), but don't follow it, stay on the Trillium Trail.

Giant Jack The trail heads uphill, and you pass an area with many vines, and I'm told they include Muscadines. A few mostly downed trees mark the point where you are getting close to the road. Getting back on the old road, you can either head back uphill to enjoy one of the many trails that intersect near the curve, or you can head back downhill and enjoy the nature center, or obviously return to your vehicle.

The whole trip takes less than a half-hour without photography, and I highly recommend you take this short hike anytime you visit Ruffner and there are wildflowers blooming.

For a trail map see: http://www.ruffnermountain.org/RMNCTrailMap2007.pdf

For more information about Ruffner Mountain, see: http://www.ruffnermountain.org/

Star Grass Jack