And also hiding in the leaf litter

Stepping off the trail to get a closer look at the creek, this guy suddenly slithered out and into the creek.

Not a copperhead, he's a Northern Water Snake. But that didn't stop our hearts from racing at the surprise.

 

Also hiding in the leaf litter

If you look closely, the forest floor is not just leaf litter.

Little brown jug (see here)

Spotted Wintergreen. (see here)

 

Hiding in the leaf litter

Orchids!

The crippled cranefly orchid. (see here)

The Adam and Eve orchid. (see here)

Both of these put out their leaves in the winter when the overstory trees lose their leaves letting light come to the forest floor.

 

Tree Toes

Beech tree roots look like long toes digging into the ground.

 

Exploring

There's no way to keep them out of the water.

 

Spring Azure

This little butterfly was brilliant blue as it flew.  When it landed it almost disappeared in the leaves.  

Since it's spring and the color was blue, it's a Spring Azure (see here)

 

Mountains to Sea

Blue Jay Point Park is a stop on the Mountains to Sea Trail (here)  The trail runs 1175 miles from the Great Smokey Mountains to the sea at Jockey's Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks.  You can see most of the state along the way.  

Falls Lake from the Mountains to sea trail

I got a tiny peek at Falls Lake from one section of the Mountains to Sea Trail.  See Here, if you haven't already.

Mountains to sea trail

The Mountains to Sea trail crosses North Carolina the long way, from the Smokey Mountains to the Outer Banks.  It winds through Raleigh and intersects with many of the parks and greenways in the city.  See here for the website.

 Trail sign at one of the many trailheads.

And here's the white trail marker that tells you you're on the right track.

Super Bowl afternoon

Maybe it was because Carolina wasn't playing in the Super Bowl, but people found better things to do.

Mountains to sea trail

The Mountains to sea trail runs 1,200 miles from the western edge of North Carolina at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smokey Mountains  to Jockey's Ridge on the Outer Banks.  It goes through Raleigh on its way.  This access trail in the Wilkerson Nature Preserve connects to the Mountains to Sea trail at Falls Lake.