Saferight Preserve, McCandless Woods Preserve and Southwest Park Trails - Greensboro, NC
“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” - Mark Twain
“Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.” - C.S. Lewis
The Story -
On a windy Saturday afternoon, Ginger, Sophie, and I hiked four miles on a combination of beautiful and remote trails in southern Guilford County. Two of the trails, Saferight and McCandless Woods, are serene nature preserves and the other was Southwest Park, one of the newest parks in the Guilford County parks system. And though not connected, all three trails are surprisingly located within one mile of each other.
The entrance to Saferight Preserve is across the street from Southern High School.
The short half-mile Saferight Preserve loop trail is mostly covered in pine needles and is home to thousands of Longleaf Pine trees, and one very old, and very large Persimmon tree. Interestingly, the Longleaf Pine is mistakenly thought of as the state tree of North Carolina, which more accurately is just all “Pine" trees.
Longleaf Pines, like the ones pictured above, are highly resistant to wildfire and actually dependent on it for survival. Surprisingly, the low number of fires in the area actually contributes to their decline.
Ginger standing next to a lone Persimmon tree, seemingly out of place in a forest full of pine trees. The rugged, blocky bark of the Persimmon tree is unmistakable, and its fruits can be harvested to make jams, pies, and other desserts. For this reason, the large Persimmon tree has survived the chopping block over the years.
The entrance to McCandless Woods Preserve, our second stop of the day, is a short walk from the bus parking lot at Southern High School.
The unkempt but very pleasant 1.5 mile loop trail of the McCandless Woods Preserve runs through a thick forest and eventually crosses a trickling stream several times via wooden bridges and rock hops.
With its close proximity to Southern Guilford Schools, McCandless Woods Preserve offers several outdoor learning environments including study areas and the forest itself.
The southern section of the McCandless Woods Preserve travels alongside a rambling creek requiring several rock hops.
Our last stop of the day, the Southwest Park is a 513-acre property owned and operated by Guilford County in conjunction with Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority. Visitors to Southwest Park are able to choose from a wide variety of outdoor experiences including hiking trails, a dog park, picnic shelters, playgrounds, boating, fishing, and plenty of open space.
On the Chimney Run Trail you pass a late 18th century chimney ruin for which the trail is aptly named.
Southwest Park has access to the serene Randleman Regional Reservoir for boating and fishing. No swimming is allowed and the Lake Trail only offers limited views of the Reservoir. You must visit the loading dock area near the marina for the best views of the water.
Southwest Park offers nine separate hiking trails that crisscross the park and intersect each other fairly often. Fortunately, the trails are well-marked and easy to follow. Chimney Run, Lake, Bear, Greenway, and the Southern Trails were our favorites.
Abundant signs of Spring
Wrap It Up -
Our day of hiking on the Saferight Preserve, McCandless Woods Preserve, and the trails at Southwest Park in southern Guilford County will appeal to most everyone, but especially beginners and those looking for an easy, short, peaceful, and relaxing stroll in the woods with occasional items of special interest. It is nice that the three trails are so close together and can be combined together for longer hikes if desired.
Sassafras and Skinks