|
|
Trails
Narrative Direction: South from Prescott Road Trailhead From its northern trailhead on Prescott Road, Dark Branch trail skirts the edge of a very large mown meadow as it enters total forest cover. Within 50 yards of its trailhead (see photo below), Dark Branch has already begun its decline down to the creek for which it is named and which it will follow for almost its entire length. Though shaded, this initial leg of the trail is flanked by multiflora rose and stiltgrass.
After about 150 yards, the trail makes a sharp turn left. Notice that the forest understory is now beginning to clear. To your right in the steep hollow about 100 feet down below is Dark Branch, a tributary to Little Bennett Creek. The trail undulates along the forested hillside for several hundred yards. It is a peaceful and cool hike amid many mature hardwoods. You will notice that to your right the forest is clear and clean as the land slopes down to Dark Branch. You will soon come to several Mt. Laurel bushes along the right side of the trail. To your left, there is much more undergrowth. This is the side of the trail that is closest to the open meadow sighted at the beginning of the trail. The trail parallels this meadow for several hundred yards, and the increased light that the meadow clearing lets into the forest has stimulated more undergrowth on the left side of the trail. After about ½ mile you come to the first of three steep declines in the trail. But the trail quickly regains some of its lost altitude by climbing again. As the trail begins to level off, you come upon a casual trail (not an official park trail) to your left (see the photo below). It bypasses the official woodland leg of Dark Branch trail and follows the edge of the meadow at the Prescott Road trailhead until it finally intersects here with Dark Branch. It is a shorter route but the path is not always mown and the grass can get high. So beware of ticks if you use this route.
Look down along the trail edges and notice the thick moss around tree trunk bases along the trail here. This thick moss is characteristic of this stretch of Dark Branch, as shown in the photo below.
The trail will soon begin to decline sharply as it switchbacks its way down the hill. Notice the thick undergrowth of Mt. Laurel present in this part of the Park. As the trail flattens out briefly, you notice a very steep dropoff on your left. Down below is Little Bennett Creek. On your right, on the other side of the ridge you are now on, is Dark Branch creek. You soon get a great view of the narrow Little Bennett valley about 80 feet below. Owl Ridge (off of Bennett Ridge on the other side of the creek) and the Dark Branch ridge you are now on combine to pinch the creek valley to its narrowest point in the park here. In a minute, the trail divides. If in a hurry, take the right. And skip over the next paragraph. But if you are adventurous and have a few minutes, take the left. You will climb for a minute and notice a lot of Mt Laurel around you. When you reach the small, moss-covered hilltop, follow the trail cairn on the left and venture a few yards down to the exposed nose of the ridge you are on that divides the Little Bennett and Dark Branch valleys down below. This is one of the special places off Dark Branch trail. A photo of the Dark Branch ridge south face is below.
When you return to the little sidetrail you will quickly rejoin the other leg of the trail you would have left behind above. This point, which is also the site of a wooden bench, is the beginning of Dark Branch trail's steep 80 foot final decline to the creek for which it is named. Watch your step here. Especially on the way down. There are many exposed roots that can trip you. See the photo below.
From here on, the last hundred yards or so of the trail can get very muddy and can be impassable to hikers at times. So be prepared to walk off trail here a few yards until you reach the southern trailhead on Western Piedmont Trail.
|
|||||||||||||||
