Trees

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

-Joyce Kilmer

Named in memory of famous poet Joyce Kilmer, best known for the above poem, Trees, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is appropriately named. Filled to the brim with some of the most jaw dropping trees in the Appalachian Mountains, this example of an old growth cove hardwood forest transports you away from the mountains and to a place that feels to many to be straight from a poem.

Wikimedia Commons / Notneb82
Located in the Nantahala National Forest near Robbinsville, this 3,800-acre tract of land is home to an extremely diverse forest with trees that are more than 400 years old. It's also one of the oldest and largest contiguous tracts of old growth forest in the Eastern United States.

Joyce was not just a poet, but also fought for our country. He was killed during action in WWI and the Veterans of the Foreign Wars asked the government to set aside a highly-forested set of land in honor of Kilmer. While most well-known for his poetry about beautiful, common things, an abundant forest chocked full of stunning trees and wilderness seemed the perfect spot to pay homage to the soldier and poet. In 1975 the forest joined with Nantahala National Forest to become the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness. Full of poplar, hemlock, basswood, beech, red and white oak, and sycamore trees...this is tree and nature lovers dream.
Trip Advisor / Mark S
Astonishingly, some trees reach over 100 feet high with a circumference of up to 20 feet. A favorite activity for many who visit is posing with the trees to show the perspective (and size) or even forming a hand-holding circle around one of the larger trees (be warned, it takes four to five people to complete the circle!)
Flickr / Doug Bradley

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The best way to view all the forest has to offer is taking the scenic, two-mile loop trail that begins at the far end of the parking area. If you're looking to see the largest trees in the forest, take the upper Poplar Cove Loop Trail. The two-mile loop trail forms a figure eight and winds you through all the forest has to offer, perfect for a day of adventure, pictures, or even writing some poetry yourself.
Flickr / Lee Coursey
Aside from trees, the forest is filled with unique plants, natural streams, wildflowers in spring and maybe even a bird or two.
Flickr / Fuji Visions
If you're looking to escape in nature, explore something new and different in North Carolina, or even find some creative inspiration, Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest has to be one of the most beautiful places to do it.

What an absolutely beautiful place! Have you visited here before?

The Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is actually the starting point of this beautiful drive that rivals the Blue Ridge.

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