The Lowlands trail, in its final stages of construction, will soon give visitors to Jordan Lake Educational State Forest an up-close look at a fascinating ecosystem. The lowlands area at Jordan is a small valley not far from the lake. Its low elevation makes it prone to flooding, but also encourages the growth of several plants and is attractive to several species of wildlife, such as turkey and quail.

Blowdown from past hurricanes is common in the area. Many of the downed trees have been left alone, to serve as wildlife habitat, but some trees are simply too large to remove. The area has also been thinned by Forest staff. This combination of artificial and natural tree removal has created a fairly open area which different species have been quick to exploit.

The trail itself is a winding path off of the main trail system. It was carefully planned to create a pleasant, low-intensity walk, while minimizing land disturbance. The first step in its creation was to mark the proposed path with flagging. Then staff repeatedly walked the flagged area to ensure the path's practicality. Modifications were made as needed.

With the trail plan finalized, actual construction began. Hand tools were used to remove vegetation from the trail and make it flat, to a width of about a foot. Then a Gator (a small all-terrain vehicle) was driven over the pathway, both to ensure that it could be used in the area, and to help flatten and compress the ground.

Because of the lowland's tendency to flooding, a simple dirt trail would not suffice in some areas. Plans were made to install decking and bridges in the wettest areas. This work is ongoing. With the assistance of a local Boy Scout troop, some 160 feet of wooden walkway will be created. The work is difficult as there is no electrical supply for power tools, meaning a generator must often be hauled to the site. Further complicating matters, a Bobcat front-end loader is being used to dig post holes for the construction, and can only be brought in when the ground is dry.

Permanent trail markers and exhibits have also been installed along the trail, with the assistance of a group from a local YMCA. And a great deal of brush has been hauled out to make the area aesthetically pleasing.  While still not complete, the final product should be an attractive, educational and popular addition to the Forest.