The Beech Glen Park Trail is open and ready to be trod on during these early spring days in Eastern Madison County, NC. If one imagines an elongated 8 numeral, or the infinity symbol, a concept of what the trail footprint makes. Running roughly north to south and measured on arial photos, it is approximately one-third of a mile on even ground. For about 400 yards the trail hugs the California Creek stream bank in the northern most part of the trail. As the creek waters pass under the bridge on Beech Glen Road and enters the county owned land, access to the first of the two loops is easily attained with parking and a short switchback down to the trail and the bottom of the bridge. Having been built in 1922, the structure has seen many vehicles with it being the major route from Asheville to Burnsville in the early 20th century.
A football field and a half downstream, a confluence of Paint Fork Creek and California Creek form the Little Ivy Creek. The beginning of the Little Ivy Creek is the “waistline” of the figure 8 and the next 400 yards downstream is the end/beginning of the trail near its banks close to the playground and gym. At this “waistline”, one may go back to the bridge or continue on towards the B.G. Community Center building by taking the western parts of the loops winding through newly planted trees, bushes and flowers. The newly erected bluebird boxes have become homes for a couple of years now and the activity is easily viewed.
The Little Ivy has had years of abuse from fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients and sediment, however, since installing livestock fencing, alternative watering practices and riparian plantings, much of the creek has improved from fair to good and in 2008 was taken off the impaired waters list of NC’s 2002 Clean Waters Act. Much has been done but much more is needed to keep this beautiful small, 2.6 mile creek clean, and as a municipal water source, monitoring should be continued.
Not only bluebirds, but kingfishers, red-wing blackbirds, wrens, shrikes, kestrels, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, blue herons, bank swallows, and other avian splashes of color often accompanies most walks on the trail. Volunteer labor and plantings from the community and especially the members of the Greater Ivy Community Citizens Association have changed an area once not suitable for hiking into an easy walk for visitors to the Beech Glen Park.
The confluence of California Creek, left, and Paint Fork Creek forming the Little Ivy Creek
The parking area and the short switchback down to California Creek at the Beech Glen Road bridge.
A photo taken from the Beech Glen Road bridge showing California Creek and the loop of the north part of the trail.
Now I can envision the trail. Thanks.