Around Memphis:Get Your Hike On!
June 1st, 2008 by Jane Schneider
Did you know that there’s a 10,000-year-old forest just outside your door? Nestled between two playgrounds, a golf course, the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, The Memphis College of Art, and the Memphis Zoo lies one of the Bluff City’s most precious— and unappreciated — natural resources: Overton Park’s Old Forest. Contrary to what you may have heard, the Old Forest is a great place to take children.
My husband and I have been on weekly hikes there since the boys were born. Initially, my sons experienced the trails from a baby backpack. Tree trunks, branches, leaves, and butterflies kept them entertained. As they began to walk, they learned to step over fallen trees, avoid puddles, and spot various insects. Now they can walk along the trunks of fallen trees, swing from low hanging vines, and climb…everything!
My 4-year-old confidently leads us along the main trail that spans a little more than a mile. My 6-year-old can identify several plants and tree species, knows the best places to spot a turtle, and can tell you if a snake is poisonous or not. With seasonal changes and the natural order of an old-growth forest — where trees fall and become a part of the forest floor to nurture new trees — there is always something new to see!
Today, more than ever, we need to expose our children and educate on the natural world so when they grow up, they’ll want to protect our dwindling resources. • Check it out: Park Friends has created a map of the Old Forest’s main trail that includes a tree guide, historical information, and interesting facts. Download at parkfriends.net or pick one up at the golf house near the Poplar entrance.
Family-friendly hikes are held every second Saturday of the month through October. Led by Citizens to Preserve Overton Park (CPOP).