An abandoned coal mine along the trail. Laurel-Snow is another of the Bowater Pocket Wilderness Areas. It is located in Dayton, TN off Hwy. 27. Turn west on Walnut Grove Rd. (pass the Lazy Boy Chair Factory) 0.7 mile to Back Valley Rd. The Pocket Wilderness Road is just across the road from the small Old Time Holiness Church. At the end of the gravel road is the parking area. Be sure to enjoy this old coal mine from the outside, mines can be dangerous due to possible cave-ins, and toxic gases. map...
A few years ago the state had a television ad campaign called "Tennessee Trash." Seeing this awful sight as we drove to the parking area brought back thoughts of that ad. It looked as though someone had dumped their whole living room on the side of the road! There are 2 couches, an easy chair, a smashed TV and lots of other kinds of household trash in this picture. We have seen an old stove, a refrigerator, mattresses, a toilet, and even a discarded computer along this road. What a shame it is that these people have no more respect for such a beautiful area than this!
The beginning of the trail follows the an old small-gauge railroad track. In the early 1900's this area was developed as the Dayton Coal and Iron Company. Coal was "coked", heated in low-oxygen ovens to make coke (no, not the kind you drink!) which was used in making iron. This part of the trail follows the Richland Creek. On the cold January 2005 day we hiked the trail, the water was high and made some beautiful cascades.
This burned stump shows that the area has endured many forest fires. Fast burning ground-level fires can actually help some forest ecosystems, but they should only be set by trained land managers. Unfortunately, in some parts of the state, setting forest fires is annual fall pastime by folks who are not interested in controlled burns!
We were amazed to see how the roots of this tree were growing in the cracks between the stones in the rock wall. I wonder how long the tree will hold on or the rock wall will be able to support it? Much of the lower end of the trail is bordered by this wall. Look for lots of violets, Cranefly orchids, Fire Pink, and wild Hydrangia along this part of the trail.