Trip Report
Naturalist Trip - Coal Creek Natural Area
A very nice hike, lucky to dodge the predicted rain. Identified trees, ferns and a few early blooming plants while walking on a well-maintained trail to Newcastle beach and back
Linda Shewey
- Tue, Mar 3, 2026
- Naturalist Trip - Coal Creek Natural Area
- Coal Creek Natural Area
- Naturalist & Day Hiking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The section of the trail from near Red Cedar trailhead to the road was newly graveled and several bridges replaced. Other sections had a bit of mud from recent rains, but nothing too bad.
Currently construction at the Red Cedar trailhead is going on and the trailhead is temporarily closed. There is a fairly reasonable detour around it.
We started out at the YMCA parking lot and traveled along the Coal Creek Natural area.
Ferns: Sword, licorice, bracken, maidenhair and wood fern
Currently in bloom: osoberry. Branching out: red huckleberry, bleeding heart, elderberry
Lots of mosses and lichens - here was a fun one (Membranous Pelt Lichen)
Saw our first Banana Slug of the season
We had a nice lunch at Newcastle Beach Park where we saw a pair of Bald Eagles fishing in the lake, several Mallard ducks and crows checking out our lunch and some Widgeons swimming in the lake.
On the way back we spotted the rare Wood Duck in a tree!
