Tree Walk with Carrie Blair: Identify Native Trees at Pearson's Falls & Glen

Pearson's Falls & Glen, just outside Saluda, North Carolina, is a compact, protected ravine carved by a clear mountain stream and capped by a mossy waterfall. On Carrie Blair’s guided Tree Walk you move beyond postcard views to learn the living structure of this landscape: which trees hold the bank, which shrubs shade the trail, and which wildflowers signal seasonal change. Carrie Blair comes to the Glen as a guide and a lifelong plant student; she began paying attention to plants after seeing a hillside of blooming trillium and has built field knowledge through botanical societies, courses, and decades of exploration. On this private 1.5-hour walk she teaches practical identification skills—leaf shapes, bark texture, bud and branching patterns—and shows how to identify species in winter. The tour includes private access to the Glen, giving small groups close-up views of trunks, lichens, and understory vines without the usual crowds. The trail threads through mixed hardwoods—oaks, maples, and poplars—under a canopy punctuated by rhododendron and mountain laurel; eastern hemlock and scattered pines mark cooler hollows beside the stream. Look for trillium and other spring ephemerals on the forest floor; in summer the glen’s moist microclimate supports ferns and moss on exposed rock. Geologically the preserve sits in the foothills where weathered metamorphic outcrops and stream-carved boulders create the glen’s steep, rocky character. Carrie’s interpretation balances science and stewardship: you’ll learn how past land use and local conservation efforts shape the preserve today, including the role of the Tryon Garden Club and Pearson’s Falls & Glen in protecting this corridor. Practical guidance—how to read a tree’s branching pattern, when to look for flowers, and how to practice leave-no-trace habits—is woven into the walk so visitors leave with both skill and a sense of responsibility. The experience is ideal for curious hikers, amateur naturalists, photographers, and families who want an intimate nature class rather than a long hike. Note the preserve is pack-in/pack-out, no pets are allowed, and the terrain includes wet, uneven sections and bridges; Carrie helps participants move safely through these sections. Before you go, check updated driving directions if road repairs are active and bring sturdy shoes; the tour limits groups to 12 and the preserve is pack-in/pack-out. Commercial photography requires written consent from the Executive Director of Pearson’s Falls & Glen. Whether you come to sharpen identification skills or to slow down with an expert, Carrie’s Tree Walk turns a short forest ramble into a focused lesson in place-based observation that will often enrich every return visit.