Covering 290 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, roughly midway between Morganton and Lenoir, is Tuttle Educational State Forest. This state-managed forest offers excellent picnic facilities, a "Talking Tree" Trail, 10 other walking trails and a small Discovery Center. The site also has ranger-conducted programs available for groups visiting the forest.
Distance
From Raleigh, Tuttle Educational State Forest is about 185 miles, about a three-hour drive, one way.
To see and do
The North Carolina system of educational state forests includes six centers, including Clemmons Educational State Forest near Clayton and Jordan Lake Educational State Forest in Chatham County. Tuttle is named in honor of Lelia Judson Tuttle, born in 1878, in a home that still stands adjacent to the state forest. Tuttle deeded 160 acres to the Tuttle Forest Foundation, which leased the property to the N.C. Forest Service in 1973; it opened to the public in 1977. In 1997, an additional 127 acres were purchased from the Tuttle family, bringing the total acreage to 287.
The state-managed forests can be described as outdoor classrooms, teaching visitors about the complex ecosystems that comprise a forest and helping them better understand and appreciate forests. The "Talking Tree" Trails are standard features at all the state forests. At Tuttle, this trail is an easy-to-moderate 0.6-mile path that loops over rolling hillsides covered with a diverse mixture of hardwoods and pines. The trail takes about 45 minutes to walk, including time to stop and listen to the brief taped messages at several points along the way. Carolina hemlock, white and scarlet oaks, and long- and short-leaf pines are among the trees given speaking parts. The trees have names, speak in the first person, and tell you about themselves, their uses, their surroundings and general history of the forest itself. Each tree has several different messages; press the play button more than once to receive additional information.
The Long Demonstration Trail, rated moderate-to-strenuous, is the longest hike, covering 2.7 miles and taking about 1 1/4 hours to walk. It offers scenic views while introducing hikers to forestry practices. The site is equipped with modern restroom facilities, 13 picnic areas with tables and grills, and a spacious group shelter.
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Where: Roughly midway between Lenoir and
Morganton
When: Open mid-March through mid-November,
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday;
closed Mondays.
Info: Call the office for daily hours and for information about ranger-conducted classes for groups of 10 or more: 828-757-5608; www.ncesf.org/TESF/home.htm.
