Kreher Preserve and Nature Center (Blog Hike #613)

Trails: (numerous)

Hike Location: Kreher Preserve and Nature Center

Geographic Location: north side of Auburn, AL (32.65999, -85.48791)

Length: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: January 2017

Overview: A short rolling loop featuring historic and natural points of interest.

Preserve Information: http://wp.auburn.edu/preserve/

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=578356
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Montgomery and points south, take I-85 to US 29/SR 147 (exit 51).  Exit and turn left.  Drive SR 147 north 8.4 miles (making several turns along the way to stay on SR 147) to the signed Kreher Preserve and Nature Center on the right.  Park in the gravel parking lot.  From Atlanta and points north, reach the same parking lot by taking I-85 to US 280 west (exit 58), turning right on US 280, and driving US 280 6.9 miles to SR 147.  Turn left on SR 147, and the parking lot will be 1.3 miles ahead on the left.

The hike: Established in 1993, Kreher Preserve and Nature Center owes its existence to a land donation made by Dr. Louise Kreher Turner to Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Resources.  Dr. Turner was an Associate Professor of Health, Education, and Recreation at Auburn University who later became known as a writer.  Most of the land has been left in its natural state, and the preserve’s only amenities are a playground, a pavilion with an open-air amphitheater, and a system of hiking trails.

            The Kreher Preserve packs many miles of trails into its 120 acres, so many different hikes are possible.  The preserve designates three color-coded loops through its trail system: a 1 mile blue loop, a 2 mile green loop, and a 2.6 miles circuitous yellow loop.  This hike combines parts of all three of the designated routes to form this 1.8 mile loop that explores almost every major point of interest in the preserve.

Trailhead area

            Start your loop on Wax Myrtle Lane, which departs the rear of the parking lot.  An interpretive sign here gives information about the preserve, and a black mailbox nearby may contain some trail maps.  The preserve’s trails are unmarked except for the color-coded loops, but major trail intersections are signed.  The trail heads into the woods and quickly passes the playground on your right to reach the pavilion.  Restrooms and some interpretive pamphlets are available at the pavilion.

            Stay left of the pavilion and pick up the blue loop as it follows a trail called Pond Way.  Pond Way heads north toward the longleaf pine demonstration forest, which is reached at 0.25 miles.  A sign tells about the three kinds of pines that grow at the Kreher Center (longleaf, shortleaf, and loblolly) and how to distinguish them.  Some hinged tree identification markers allow you to guess what kind of tree you are looking at and then flip up the cover to check your guess.

Longleaf pine demonstration forest

            The trail now curves right and climbs slightly to enter a power line corridor that cuts through the middle of the preserve.  While I have seen plenty of deer and other wildlife in open areas such as this one, preserve managers have constructed a wooden wildlife observation blind that looks very out of place in this power line clearing.  After crossing the power line corridor, several trails exit left to head for the Cemetery Trail, the next major segment of this hike.  While each of these trails offers its own rewards, I recommend passing up the first two and turning left on the third, which is called the Ridge Path.  At this point you leave the blue loop and begin following the green loop.

Small natural spring

The Ridge Path climbs gradually past an area that features numerous small natural springs.  At 0.55 miles, the Ridge Path ends at an intersection with the Cemetery Trail.  Turn right to continue our loop, and quickly pass a modern cemetery on private property to the left.  When the trail next forks, you could go either way because the two forks re-converge in only a few hundred feet.  I prefer the option going right because it passes some interesting boulders, offers a nice bench overlooking a ravine, and stays further from noisy Farmville Road.

Barn from old homestead

            Soon you reach the preserve’s northern boundary, where a right turn is required to begin paralleling Farmville Rd.  At 0.75 miles, you reach an old rustic barn, all that remains of a homestead that predates the preserve.  The homestead was owned by Jacob Bartow Cooper before it burned down in the early 1940’s.  Pass in front of the barn, then angle right to pick up the Barn Trace, which descends on a gradual to moderate grade.

Turtle Pond

            0.9 miles into the hike, the Barn Trace ends at the north shore of Turtle Pond, which did indeed contain a few turtles on logs when I came here on a seasonally warm winter afternoon.  The Pond Way goes right to head directly back to the pavilion, but this route turns left to trace the north and east banks of the pond.  Rather than walking across the earthen dam that forms the pond, angle left to begin following the yellow loop, which climbs slightly around an old parking area.  Look for a yellow marker on a large magnolia tree that marks where the trail reenters the woods.

Large magnolia tree

            Upon reaching the unsigned Northeast Pass Trail, turn right to begin heading south along the preserve’s eastern boundary.  After passing back under the power line, you reach an area known as Azalea Place at 1.3 miles.  Continue straight to begin a trail called Tree Walk.

            A housing development appears to the left as the Tree Walk heads due south.  Upon reaching the southeast corner of the preserve, the trail curves right just before it splits.  Either option will take you to the Rill & Dell Trail, the final segment of our hike, so the choice is yours.  I prefer the Fern View Trail going left because it passes a nice creekside area with lots of ferns.  Upon reaching the Rill & Dell Trail, turn left.  A final rolling segment returns you to the parking lot to complete the hike.