Get off the beaten path with a walk in Blue Sky Preserve located on the edge of Savannah

Let’s take a walk in the woods.

From your car, you begin to walk down an arrow-straight path between tall pines that rise above a border of bushy wax myrtle and small maple trees. Mowed grass grows on either side of the sandy trail that was once a logging road, now given over to foot traffic and the enjoyment of people to the forest that it once invaded.

The trail comes to an intersection, where picnic tables mark a place of rest. Other trails, narrower and hemmed in closer by the green growth, fork off into the woods on either side. Unlike the straight path you were on, these passages form green leafy tunnels that quickly bend out of sight beneath the trees.

Which way will you go?

A kiosk-mounted map provides you with information, and, as you consider your route, you become aware of the sound: nothing. It is quiet, peaceful and still beneath the canopy of pines. Your ears detect rustling and you see a brown thrasher darting among the myrtles in search of bugs beneath the carpet of pine straw. High above is the unmistakable sound of a red-bellied woodpecker high in a nearby hardwood, tapping at a branch broken in a recent storm. Before flying off, he gives his characteristic “churrrr” call and is soon part of the forest shadows.

Above it all you begin to detect a fainter sound, like that of a distant waterfall, or the rush of a great river. You consider that the mighty Ogeechee flows nearby, but you know that such a slow-moving blackwater river would not be a cascade. Then your ear picks it out: It is the noise of 10,000 tires from the steady flow of human traffic as thousands of vehicles thunder along on I-95, just a few short miles away. At first you are discouraged, and then you remember that even through the world hustles by on its way from Miami to Maine, you are in the forest. And it is time to keep walking.

You are visiting Blue Sky Preserve near Savannah. Located on Fort Argyll Road, Blue Sky Preserve is a static park owned and maintained by Chatham County.

Purchased from timber companies in 2008, the park serves as a vital buffer between the industrialized areas of Savannah and the delicate ecosystem of the Ogeechee River.

Blue Sky Preserve serves as an important purpose for groundwater filtration into the nearby watershed, as well as provides a habitat for rare creatures such as the flatwoods salamander. This burrowing amphibian makes its home among the leaf litter beneath trees such as longleaf pine and the wiregrass that grows in the coastal region.

Numerous migratory songbirds can be seen at Blue Sky Preserve throughout the year, and it provides a habitat for other native birds.

Blue Sky Preserve is 641-acres of of forests and wetlands once harvested by timber companies and now set aside for recreational use. It preserves 570 acres of wetlands and has approximately 1.5 miles of easy to moderate hiking trails.

These paths range from former logging roads to newer paths created to take you through examples of the local features of the land. One path will take you through pine flatwoods, while another will allow you to explore low-lying areas where forested depressional wetlands provide a vital breeding habitat for the frogs, salamanders and insects.

When you visit, you will discover 1.4 miles of trails are well-maintained and ideal for walking, running or mountain biking. Designated loops take you on and off the main stem through various ecosystems. All are relatively easy to travel, but you may encounter tree roots or mud in low-lying areas.

Leashed pets are allowed, so Blue Sky Preserve is a great place to bring your four-legged friends for an outing.

On a recent visit to Blue Sky Preserve, I encountered three other visitors, but the park is off the beaten path, so you can expect traffic to be light.

Whether out for some birdwatching or just a good stretch of the legs, Blue Sky Preserve near Savannah is a great destination for a half-hour break from the everyday bustle or a few hours of enjoyment in the heart of nature.

Getting there

Blue Sky Preserve is located just 30 minutes from the Beaufort County area at 417 Fort Argyle Road, Savannah, and it is open year-round from dawn to dusk.

This is a passive park with few facilities, but nearby shops and restaurants can provide refreshment before or after your visit. When you go, be sure to check the weather, dress appropriately, and bring plenty of water and bug repellent.

For more information on Blue Sky Preserve, go to https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/georgia/blue-sky-preserve-trail or Chatham County Parks and Recreation at https://parks.chathamcountyga.gov/NaturePreserves/BlueSkyPreserve.