Perryville Trace Slide Show
The Perryville Trace trailhead is located where Perryville Road crosses the tracks and French River in WebsterAcross the road is a stone building dating from 1874, which was a storage building for the mill located here.A viewpoint on the beautiful Perryville Dam has been opened near the trailhead. In the summer, waxwings perform their acrobatic insect pusuits over the damPerryville Dam is a beautiful curved stone structure which provided water power for thriving industry in the 1800'sLooking upstream from the dam. The area is infested with invasive purple loosestrife An informal car-top paddling access point is available a few steps beyond the viewpoint. From here, the quiet of the impoundment can be exploredThe beginning of the Perryville Trace, a trail made primarily by the feet of deer and peopleAn open grassy area along the trailA natural seat beckons those in need of a restThe trail proceeds upstreamAnd continues toward an area where a huge tree blew down across the tracks in 2006Continuing upstreamThis tree has been protected from beavers by placing a wire cage around itThis tree, like many along the river, has been killed by beavers who eat off all the bark they can reach. They can do this very quickly. Loss of riverside trees removes shade upon which fish and other life dependA bridge pier juts out into the river, which once provided access from the railroad to the mill owners estateLooking downstream from the pier. The impoundment harbors waterfowl, turtles, bass and bluegill, muskrats, mink, and of course, beavers.From the pier, the clarity of the water is evidentContinuing upstream from the pierThe Perryville Trace is the inaugural segment of the French River Greenway, and is blazed with greenway signsNotice more beaver damage to trees as the trail continues upstream. You may be able to see that the nearest tree has been protectedThis is a potential vernal pool along the trail which should qualify for certification, as it contains wood frogsThe trail continues upstreamNearing the end of the trail, the path becomes narrower and not as flatAlmost to the end; note the green stake in the middle of the trailThe end of the trail for now, one-half mile from the starting point. Hopefully the next landowner will agree that the trail is a good thing, and if so it could double in length
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