The Black River meanders and oxbows as it makes its way to the Cape Fear. Mature cypress swamp forests flank the river banks. The water surface reflects black (hence its name) from brown tea stained tannins.

Researchers deem some of the old trees to be 1000+ years old but it is difficult to take core samples as most are hollow (like this one pictured). We had hopes on this outing to view Methuselah and the other two sisters but perhaps next year. Cypress are deciduous and as it is now Fall season they have lost their needles. The remaining Spanish Moss draped on bare limbs makes for an eerie feeling of isolation.