Turnhole Bend @ Mammoth Cave Park

The Turnhole Bend Overlook @ Mammoth Cave Park

Turnhole Bend is the name given to the section of the 

Green River that forms an oxbow;  it bends in the shape of a "U."

  This trail takes you by a very large sinkhole on your way to 

the Green River Valley Overlook.
Below the overlook is one of the region's largest springs, where

many of the subterranean streams empties into the river.

On the second half of your walk you'll see another very large

sinkhole.  This area is filled with sinkholes...a karst landscape.

Information on Mammoth Cave Hiking Trails

Map of Mammoth Cave Park


Click the map (above), and look just west of the Visitors' Center 
and you'll see Turnhole Bend.  The sign (photo below)
at the parking lot shows you a trail map.  

Click the photo to enlarge it. 

At the top of the steps you can decide whether to turn right or left;
it's a loop trail.  I turned right, walking into the woods toward
the Green River Overlook.

The most common fern you'll see is the Yule Fern.
It's an evergreen plant that people used to decorate
their homes with during Christmas time. 
This fern is also called Christmas Fern.
Information on Yule Ferns

Soon you'll come upon this bench (the 1st Exhibit on the map).

From the bench area you can look into the
Green River Valley.
Can you see the river, below?

A rock tumbling

Almost reaches the river;

Turnhole Bend.

Very close to the bench was this fern that
I think is a Marginal Woodfern.

This is one of the pinnae of the above fern.
If someone disagrees on the ID, then please
e-mail me the info (see my profile).

This is a hybrid of Ebony Spleenwort and another species of fern.

 

As you continue on your walk you'll be able to see an extremely large sinkhole ahead.

Before you get to the large sinkhole, you'll see this small cave.

This cave entrance was just off the trail to the left.  
The plants still had dew on them.

Dew on moss sporophytes.
Sporophytes are plants that make spores.

Dew clinging

To the moss stems;

Nature's beads.

Heard a Carolina Wren calling insanely.

Photo taken from the Cornell website, below.
Information on the Carolina Wren

Take a few minutes to read the sign and view this sight...
a very large sinkhole.

This fern is a hybrid with one of the parents being
Mountain Spleenwort (Asplenium montanum) growing on
the side of the sinkhole.

As you continue on your walk observe the area that you just came
from.  The Valley Overlook is just beyond the rocks in the
background.  At the bottom of the hill to the left is the
Green River (out of view).

This is called Turkeytail Fungus.
When trees die and fall many species of fungi will consume it...
decompose it and return much of the nutrients back to the soil
for future plants to use.  

Trametes versicolor - appropriately named.
Information on Turkeytail Fungus

Turkeytail fungus;

Colorful decomposers

On a fallen tree.

A look back at the area I just walked through.
The sinkhole is to the right, hidden from view.

Ahead to the left is the Turnhole Bend Overlook
(the second Exhibit on the map).  

From this overlook you can see the Green River and how the
valley curves into the background.  You're at the base of the
oxbow...the bend in the river.

This sign is posted at the overlook.  Take plenty of time to read
 the sign and take in the beauty of this area.
Click the photo to enlarge it.

After your break continue up the hill on
your walk around the loop.  You're at the
"top" of the trail (see map below).

You are at the top of the trail.
Ignore "you are here."

The Turnhole Bend Overlook

You can see the curve (bend) in the river!

At the bottom of the cliff was the Turnhole Bend Spring, which
is where the subterranean stream comes out of the cave system.
This is directly below the overlook.

Your looking east with this view...the bottom of the bend.
The spring is in the background to the right (out of view).

Looking NW at the Green River as it meanders around the corner.

This is an Adiantum species of fern.
Which kind, I do not know.

A carpet of low growing plants, called Ground Cedar 
(Lycopodium digitatum?)...a kind of Clubmoss that does not produce
 flowers nor seeds.

This is as big as an individual Ground Cedar gets.

They reproduce by producing club-shaped
strobili (spore cases)...thus the name, clubmoss,
which is misleading, because it's not a moss plant;  it's more closely related to ferns.

Small tree-like plants --

Club-shaped spore cases;

Ground Cedar.

A neat looking set of fronds of Black-stemmed Spleenwort
(Asplenium resiliens), at least that's what I think it is.
What I like about this genus of ferns is that they tend to make hybrids, 
which result in interesting looking fronds.

I was surprised to see this Holly tree
growing all by itself.

At this intersection you want to turn left.
An old road is on the right, which goes to Brownsville Road.

Growing on a boulder with mosses and liverworts was this
beautiful little Adiantum fern;  I think this one is
 Venus' Hair Fern (aka Southern Maidenhair Fern), but
I could be mistaken.  
(compare the fern size with that penny)

Notice the zigzag pattern of the leaf axis and the veins in the
leaflets.  Very fragile looking.  I think it's beautiful.
Information on Venus (Southern) Maidenhair Fern

Growing very close to the fern were these mosses and liverworts.
Look how tiny this liverwort species is!
Some good Info on Liverworts

This fungus (Annulohypoxylon thouarsianum),
is reproducing...making more of its species.
Its mycelia is under the bark
consuming the wood.

Walking Fern (Asplenium rhizophyllum) growing on a boulder 
with mosses. 

When the tip of the frond touches substrate, new fronds are
formed...a great example of asexual reproduction.

A Hydnum species...a toothed White Shelf Fungus.

A look under the cap reveals the "teeth."

Ran across a population of a species of "Bushy" Mosses.
The fern is Ebony Spleenwort.

This is a different view of the large sinkhole
that I passed earlier.

Heard the ringing call of 

a Golden Crowned Kinglet!!

Photo taken from the Cornell website, below.
Information on this Kinglet

Just about every boulder has a species of Lichen growing all
over it.  They break down the rock surface pulling the minerals
into their cells.  Mosses and lichens create a thin surface of soil
for other plants to grow on.

Ahead is the Overlook for the other (second) large sinkhole.

Take some time to read this sign and enjoy the view.
(this 2nd sinkhole is the 3rd Exhibit on your map)

Notice the Lobed Spleenwort (ferns) (Asplenium penatifidum) growing in the crevices of the bluff of this 2nd sinkhole.

Close-up of one of the Lobed Spleenworts

Looking at the second large sinkhole from its south side.

As you round the corner you'll see the parking lot.

I feel extremely lucky to live so near so many trails that wind

through karst landscapes with caves, sinkholes and all the different

species of plants, animals, and fungi that call this area home.

Take some time to get out and explore 

your surroundings.

A Sundog!
On my way home I saw one of my favorite phenomena...a Sundog (a parhelion)!
You can see it on the right side of the photo (the sun is on the left).   
Information on Sundogs