Experience Shelby Forest After Dark: Guided Night Hikes This October
Guided hikes reveal the sights, sounds, and secrets of the forest at night.
Guided hikes reveal the sights, sounds, and secrets of the forest at night.
Ever wonder what the park is like after the gates close at dusk? Throughout the month of October, Ranger Decoda Muller is leading a series of night hikes at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park on select weekend nights, 7-9 p.m.
After a sunset chat at the Visitor Center, explore the woods with heightened senses. Hear leaves crunching underfoot, tree frogs and cicadas in symphony, Barred Owls calling to one another alerting the presence of man.
October 4 and 18: Blacklight hikes run a moderate route along the Woodland Trail, a one-mile loop with elevation, bridge crossings and glowing creatures. Certain millipedes shine bright green with bioluminescence. Mycelium, the fungi that grows along the underground roots of the “wood wide web,” protrude in places above the forest floor and glow in fluorescent colors like Silly String.
October 5 and 25: Lantern-led hikes go to Pigman bridge, a place of local lore similar to Sasquatch. Along the way, Muller shares recent urban legends and past Indigenous stories from people who dwelled in the region centuries ago.
Each hike takes about 90 minutes, including stops to view nightlife. Flashlights and lanterns are available, but feel free to bring your own. The trails rate moderate difficulty and are not ADA accessible, so wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.
Approachable for both beginners and park regulars, this is your chance to experience the nocturnal nuance of the forest. Different from daylight, there’s an exciting focus that comes when exploring a path illuminated only a few steps at a time.
$15 per person. Registration required. https://tnstateparks.com/parks/events/meeman-shelby/
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