By Brandt Mannchen

On Saturday, November 12, 2022, the Houston Sierra Club hiked Big Creek Scenic Area (BCSA) in Sam Houston National Forest.  For sixty years BCSA, formerly named Big Thicket Scenic Area, has provided a window into the Big Thicket.

It rained the night before and temperatures dropped to the 40’s overnight.  It was the first, real, cool spell of Autumn.  I enjoyed the chilly fall weather and the anticipation of a great hike.  Sixteen people had signed up for the hike, but only six arrived.  However, these great folks were filled with enthusiasm and a desire to hike, observe, and learn.

A large group of Boy Scouts left ahead of us hiking toward an overnight backpack and camping experience near Double Lake Recreation Area.  Other day hikers moved out ahead of us and disappeared in the forest.

We saw many different trees on our hike, which revealed the high diversity of life in the BCSA.  In the uplands, we saw many Loblolly Pine trees and an occasional Shortleaf Pine along with Laurel, Water, and White Oaks and White Ash.  When we moved to the slopes that drop toward Big Creek and its tributaries, White Oak, Southern Magnolia, and American Beech trees take over.  In the floodplains, we found Sweetbay Magnolia, Red Maple, Sweetgum, and Black Gum.  It was an overwhelming display of Big Thicket woody plant diversity.

The fern beds near the bottom of seepage slopes were splendid and the understory of Red Bay, Cherry Laurel, (we loved smelling the leaves of these great trees), Maple-leaf Viburnum, Witch Hazel, and other shrubs and small trees filled the forest.  We discussed possible changes to the hiking trails of BCSA due to soil erosion and sedimentation of Big Creek.

The pace of the three and one-half mile hike was leisurely.  We had a wonderful lunch at an isolated wooden bench and traded food that we enjoyed in the dappled sunlight as the day warmed.  There were solitary trees whose leaves turned colors, yellow and red, including Black Gum, Sweetgum, White Oak, and Swamp Chestnut Oak.

When we finished it was with a sense of gratitude and fulfillment.  We talked about December and another Nature centered outdoor outing and then dispersed to our individual haunts.  We had gotten the solitude and beauty we needed and found in Big Creek Scenic Area.  All was calm and good!

Photo courtesy of Brandt Mannchen.