Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area boast to be the most biologically diverse areas in the Piedmont. While hiking on the Occoneechee Mountain Loop Trail you travel through five ecozones.
This burned area had the look of a Forest Service control burn instead of an actual wildfire.
Aaron is testing out the compass that is on the top of the handle of his knife. Even though we had a map, I should have used that compass earlier at our first trail intersection because we took the wrong turn and made a detour on the Chestnutt Oak Trail for forty minutes.
Aaron was fascinated by the softness of moss around this tree.
Gypsy was determined to take a stick away from Aaron even if it meant climbing a tree.
Gypsy was determined to take a stick away from Aaron even if it meant climbing a tree.
An unusual rock formation along the banks of the Eno River. Aaron didn't miss an opportunity to climb this massive boulder.
The backside of the boulder, Gypsy refreshes herself with a drink while Aaron by accident drops his hat into the river.
While looking downstream from where we stood near the rock, we noticed this rope tied to a tree branch. People must use this location to swim during the Summer.
I usually don't encourage defacing trees by carving my initials on its trunk, but I didn't think it mattered much with this tree.
Less than five minutes from the tree with all the carvings you come to the stairs that climb to the edge of the cliff face.
Our return to the car we pass through this dark and gloomy pine stand. The loop totaled 1.75 miles, but the Chestnut Oak Trail added another 1.8 miles to our hike.
