Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve

Sunny and Warmer Weather Expected Today in Nelson County. Highs around 70 and mountain highs in the low 60's. For the full, local weather report, visit http://www.nelsoncountylife.com/

Order a Nelson County Vacation Kit & Visitor’s Guide: send me an email to kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com Plan a visit to beautiful Nelson County this Summer.

We leave this week for our End-2-End Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure. Read my Blue Ridge Parkway blog at http://experienceblueridgeparkway.blogspot.com/


Questions, Answers, Updates & Requests

Send your questions, updates and requests to kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com I love receiving your emails and posting information to the daily blog!

Real Estate Today: 2104 Fairway Woods: This is a 2BR condo on the popular Devil’s Backbone Golf Course. The first floor condo has a walk-out patio with a large Living Room open to Dining and the Kitchen plus a wood burning fireplace. Great location near the resort shuttle stop, WinterGarden Spa & Fitness Center, pools, hiking and tennis. Listed for $199,000.

Reminder: A Wintergreen gift certificate makes the perfect Mother’s Day Gift. How about a WinterGarden Spa day? Make lodging reservations for this popular weekend at http://www.wintergreenresort.com/ or http://www.vrbo.com/ and don’t forget to book a reservation for the Mother’s Day brunch at the Copper Mine.

Q: Can you suggest an easy, family-friendly hike in Wintergreen Resort?
A: Sure, see today’s blog story for the perfect Spring family hike. Also, stop by Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties to pick up a free resort hiking map.

Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve

With Spring, I have received many requests for information on hiking either in Wintergreen Resort or near the resort. Over the coming weeks, I am going to be posting on many hiking options.

First, go by The Wintergreen Nature Foundation (http://www.twnf.org/) and pick up a map/brochure about the Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve. TWNF is located in Wintergreen Resort on Wintergreen Drive. (Across the street from the WinterGarden Spa and Fitness Center) It is also a good idea to stop into the WTG Nature Foundation to learn about the wildlife that you may encounter on this walk. You will see many birds, deer and sometimes a black bear.

The Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve is a thirteen acre area in the heart of Wintergreen Resort, on Wintergreen mountain. The parking area for this preserve is on the corner of Blue Ridge Drive and Shamokin Springs Trail. The trail is a loop, and you will finish back at your car.

This is one of my favorite parts of the resort because cool air settles into this low area and it is a wetland habitat. In the summer, the colors seem richer and the temperatures are cooler than anyplace else in the resort. This is also the area where I have seen the most wildlife in the resort. Be sure to bring your camera, but also be sure to remain wise when encountering any of our wildlife. (there is also a brochure at the WTG Nature Foundation that is educational about the wildlife in Wintergreen Resort. In an April blog, I will be discussing our black bears)

The area near bridge #2 is my favorite in the walk. There is a water garden created from the mountain stream. Many springs flow through the Nature Preserve and this has created a network of waterways. Near these waterways, you will see many species of ferns, especially near bridge #11. It is these waterways that also bring the wildlife to the Nature Preserve. I was just in the Nature Preserve a few days ago, and our wet Spring has the water flowing. April is a great time to walk this trail with the whole family.

Here are just a few of the wildflowers, plants and trees that you can expect to see in April. Spicebush, toothwort, common blue violet, bloodroot, marsh violet, round-leaf yellow violet, common serviceberry, trillium and early watercress.

I hope to see you in beautiful Nelson County soon…

Kim Chappell is a graduate from the Realtor Institute and is an agent with Wintergreen Resort Premier Properties, the official real estate office of Wintergreen Resort. Kim also lists and sells property in beautiful Nelson County. Contact Kim Chappell at kim@ExperienceNelsonCounty.com or 434-238-2430. The Free Daily Blog is posted on both www.ExperienceNelsonCounty.com and www.ExperienceWintergreen.com