The 40ish minute trek from Maryville to Fort Loudon state historic park winds past rural communities and next to Tellico Lake before bringing travelers to a heavily wooded, secluded enclave in the outskirts of Vonore. Interspersed amongst all the tall trees are a number of attractions: native grass meadows, water access for boating or fishing, historic buildings, and an expansive visitors center where visitors can find information, use the restroom, and rent kayaks.
On the sunny afternoon that my family and I spent there, the kayaks immediately caught my brother’s attention. While my dad and middle brother fished off the shore, my oldest and youngest brother set out to row around the point. My mom and I ventured onto a trail labeled “Meadow Loop” in hopes of seeing the variety of native species that thrive in the park.
After just a few moments of walking through a shaded path, the trail opened up at the top of a field that was bursting with life below us. There was a constant hum of insect wings and rustling grass in the background, and multicolored butterflies and grasshoppers were continuously appearing and disappearing in the swaying grass. My mom commented on how many animals were probably right under our noses, hiding in the landscape without our knowledge. I love that feeling: standing outdoors and knowing how much life is buzzing all around you, seen or unseen.
The native grasses swaying in the afternoon breeze are responsible for the thriving pollinator population in the meadows; the implementation of a cover crop, used to choke out weeds and invasive species before planting seeds, allowed native grass species to proliferate throughout the park. They now provide wonderful habitats for native birds as well, such as quail and other migratory birds. In addition to grasses the fields were also dotted with wildflowers and blackberry bushes– another great attractor and food source for birds in the area.
While I was meandering the scene meadow loop, my brothers were making great progress in the kayak. Despite my 11 year old brother’s lack of experience, he picked up the paddling strategy quickly and was the most adventurous aquatic explorer in our group in no time. Fishing had been a success too, with three bluegills having been secured and then released back into the lake.
The setup of the state park makes it ideal for a day outing. Between hiking trails, picnic areas, fishing, boating, swimming, history, and wildlife, there is no shortage of activities for those visiting Fort Loudon. Despite this, the number of people who were simply sitting at the picnic tables next to the parking lot or focusing their visit around the visitor center’s gift shop far outweighed the number of people who were immersing themselves in the wilderness around them. Making the trip out to a wild place is a great first step, don’t get me wrong, but I want to challenge everyone to take a more active role in their relationship with nature. Try a new outdoor activity, or go for a details hike (where you choose a theme and look for details that correlate to the theme) to help you be present with your surroundings. Whatever you do, keep taking your wilderness experiences a step further when you can or we will never make progress as a collective to become more attuned to the needs and benefits of our natural resources.
State parks that promote the conservation and rebuilding of native species, like Fort Loudon, are helping individuals to do this and are especially important for the maintenance of our state as a whole. We can all contribute to these efforts by planting native plants, removing invasive species, attracting pollinators, and treating these nature preserves with respect and appreciation when we visit them– just a few ways to become more active in your outdoorsiness.
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