What are those numbers on the trees?

If you’ve recently hiked on the Snowden Trail at Sky Meadows State Park, you might have wondered about the little squares with numbers attached to different trees along that trail. You can now have the key to unlock the mystery of those numbers if you accept the challenge. The Snowden Trail Tree Identification Field Guide (PDF) is a new self-guided opportunity for those looking to try out tree-naming as they take a beautiful stroll in the woods.

The trailhead of Snowden Trail at Sky Meadows State Park

This activity is a great addition to your hike with family and friends, or on your own. It would also make a fun activity for school groups, homeschool groups, or youth organization field trips to the park (PDF). The Snowden Trail is accessed from Boston Mill Road Trail, is an approximate 2-mile round-trip hike and is designated as easy.

To follow along with the field guide in chronological order, take the Snowden Trail in a counterclockwise loop.

What kind of tree is that?

The comprehensive field guide has detailed tree identification tricks and tools as well as color photos and drawings of the leaves, bark, nuts, fruits and other tree characteristics you’ll find on your hike. It is available as a downloadable pdf for scrolling on your mobile device or for printing out ahead of time. There’s even a short quiz (with hints and an answer key) to show off your newfound knowledge of the native trees as you try to identify 13 “mystery trees” along the trail.

Fun history fact: The Snowden Manor ruins are not accessible from the Snowden Trail. Instead, you must hike the South Ridge Trail to see the ruins.

Once you have mastered the “Snowden Tree Hike,” why stop there? With over 72 species of trees and over 22 miles of trails to explore in the park, there is plenty to keep you returning again and again. You might even be ready to learn how to identify trees in the winter.

Tree stumps at the base of tree number 14 provide a stopping place to rest or have a picnic.

Where can I learn more?

Other resources for learning about and identifying trees in the park are available daily in the Visitor Center. These include the free brochure “Sky Meadows State Park Native Trees, Shrubs & Woody Vines,” one of a series of checklists compiled by the Virginia Master Naturalists, Shenandoah Chapter. For young tree enthusiasts, we have the “Woodland Wonders” Discovery Backpack available for check-out from the Visitor Center. The backpack includes field guides, tools and a Tree ID Bingo game for fun, as well as learning about the park’s woodland wonders.

Discovery Backpacks are one of the self-guided activities available every day in the park Visitor Center.

The Sky Meadows State Park Nature Guide is another valuable resource available both on the park website and in printed binders available for research or casual reading in our Visitor Center. The Nature Guide is a result of over a decade of careful research and compilation by the late Richard Clelland, a long-time dedicated park volunteer, naturalist and educator.

Browse through our special selection of books and field guides available for purchase in the gift shop.

Ready to take your naturalist knowledge to the next level? In addition to the many free resources available in our Visitor Center, we also have a gift shop with a carefully curated selection of field guides and other literature. Some of our books for sale have been hand-selected by members of the Virginia Native Plant Society, and your purchase will support both VNPS and Virginia State Parks.

Self-guided vs. guided hikes

Why not try both? Nature lovers will enjoy the self-paced freedom of learning on their own while also benefiting from the knowledge of an expert guide. Sky Meadows State Park offers guided hikes throughout the year.

Paul is leading a group hike as part of the “Botany and Bloom Workshop Series.”

Virginia State Parks is proud to offer an abundance of both guided programs and self-guided activities. There is truly something for everyone. Check back often to see what’s new and upcoming on the park’s programs and events listing. If you can’t make an upcoming program, rest assured that there is no shortage of chances to learn and explore nature either with a guide or on your own.