Winter Wonders

We asked Land Manager Brad LaFoy about what’s happening in nature during Winter at the Mountain. From the animals you may encounter to his favorite places on property to visit, get the inside scoop on what you can enjoy as you explore the land and experience the Winter season.

Winter Animals
In November and December, whitetail deer are especially active and frequently seen throughout property. In the mornings, they can be seen feeding in the pastures near the Valley. In the afternoons, you may spot them wandering the woods along just about any hiking trail on property.

With more visibility in the woods throughout the Winter, its easier to spot our native ruffed grouse. East Tennessee is part of the Southernmost range of territory for this woodland game bird. They are beautiful, interesting and a rare site.

The Land and Plants
One of the best parts of Winter is the amazing views. With most of the leaves off the trees and on the ground, there’s not really a bad view on the Mountain in the Winter. Whether you are on top of a ridge and looking to the valley floor directly below or looking off at the distant ridges and dips, it seems like you can see forever. Visibility is also so much better on a Winter afternoon than pretty much any other time of the year.

The Chestnut Flats Shelter, one of our remote amenities on property, is a great place to visit in Winter. After a hike up and over Chilhowee Mountain, you wind up at the shelter, equipped with a fireplace, firewood, chairs, darts and bocci ball. Again, as you’ll see when hiking to and from the shelter, with no leaves the vistas and setting along the trail are truly amazing.

American hollies are all quite showy all Winter. They hold their berries all season and really stick out in an otherwise leafless landscape.

Witch hazel blooms in the Winter! The bloom of the witch hazel, from around December to February, is so interesting and unique, and Blackberry Mountain has a healthy population.

The American beech is a special site in the Winter, as they mostly hold on to a portion of their leaves all Winter, until the Spring buds force them off. One of Sam Beall’s favorites, the beeches really stick out in the forest with their bleached leaves almost glowing in the woods. Blackberry Mountain has a healthy population of beeches, including some special old-growth trees easily accessed along our trail system.