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An open glade on the Hinds Road Outcrop tract. Photo by Patrick Thompson
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Opuntia, a member of the cactus family, in bloom. Photo by Patrick Thompson
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Boynton's Oak; Photo by Patrick Thompson
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The Hinds Road Outcrop is one of the few places in Alabama where the Boynton's Oak (Quercus boyntonii) grows. This tree occupies dry oak and pine woodlands in portions of Alabama’s mountains, especially on or near exposures of sandstone. Photo by Alan Cressler
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Hinds Road Outcrop; Photo by Alan Cressler
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Hinds Road Outcrop; Photo by Ashley Peters
Overview
The Hinds Road Outcrop is a Forever Wild property in Etowah County consisting of 80 acres of mixed hardwood/pine forest and large expanses of treeless sandstone rock outcrops.
The thin soils associated with the outcrop host an uncommon variety of habitat specialist plant species, such as: the Alabama endemic Boynton’s Oak, Elf Orpine, Nuttall's Rayless-Goldenrod, Harper’s Dodder, Small-head Blazing Star, and White Sunnybells.
A trail system around the periphery of the exposed sandstone outcrop may be developed in conjunction with the City of Gadsden in order to extend the existing hiking/bicycle trails from Noccalula Falls Park located to the south of the property.