Wild azalea canyon reopens... for time being
Sale of land clouds future
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

The wild azalea canyon near Newton is open for the first time since Hurricane Rita plowed through East Texas, and blooms will be at their peak for only a couple more weeks.

The canyon is a wilderness park located on Temple-Inland acreage that is only open to the public in March and April when the azaleas bloom.

It is surprisingly rugged terrain with rock cliffs and longleaf pine forests.

With all of Temple- Inland's 1.2 million acres in Texas for sale, it is uncertain if the new owners will make the canyon available to the public in the future.

To make exploring the canyon easier, Temple foresters and Newton volu n t e e r s have cleared brush and flagged and numbered several trails that correspond to a map available at the trail head.

To find the canyon, take Texas 87 north from Newton toward Burkeville, turn right on FM 1414 for 6.7 miles, turn right on an unpaved road and follow the signs for 1.8 miles.

There is parking for about a dozen cars, and a kiosk with trail maps printed by the Newton County Chamber of Commerce.

From the parking area, a set of steps descends to a covered gathering area with benches. On a recent Sunday, there were pre-cut

w a l k i n g sticks stacked

like teepee poles. Steep paths covered with loose pine straw mean these trails require stamina, balance and good walking shoes.

A woman waiting for the rest of her group advised, "Don't forget to look up or you'll miss them."

The Piedmont azalea, Rhododendron Canescens, is not like the compact domestic shrub.

They can grow 10-15 feet tall, and are open, airy bushes. In some places, you walk through what looks like a tunnel of vines with a pink canopy blooming overhead.

Wild azaleas are often mistaken for honeysuckle. Colors range from almost white to medium pink, with long fairy-like stamens.

Dogwoods are also blooming this time of year, and the canyon attracts many species of birds and butterflies.

Trails twist and loop back on themselves, so the visitor can choose short or long routes.

Even stopping to admire the views across the canyon, it only takes about an hour to make the longest loop.

Newsboy photos/ Charles Kerr THE WILD AZALEA CANYON near Newton is open for the first time since Hurricane Rita blew through.Wild azaleas grow tall and resemble honeysuckle.They are reaching peak bloom now through mid-April.This could be the last chance for the public to enjoy hiking trails on land that Temple-Inland intends to sell. Call the Newton County Chamber of Commerce for more information on the canyon.

GPS coordinates are 30.53.971N and 93.36.047W. For more information, go to www.toledo-bend.com and click on Newton County, or call the Newton County Chamber of Commerce at 379-5527.