The diversity of plants along the way mark the subtle changes from zone to zone. To begin the trip, access the Bay from land trust property and paddle south for about 300 yards to see the cliffs up close. The cliffs look sturdier than they are as they rise up 100-150 feet above the Bay's surface. Tannish white along the face, they are topped by a green layer of trees and shrubs hanging out at crazy angles from the edge, holding on in vain to the cliff. The relentless wave action of the Bay chews away at the cliffs from below, lapping at the tons of driftwood and fallen trees and exposing layer after layer of fossils-remnants of the plant and animal life that inhabited the Bay floor nearly 16 million years ago.
Paddlers then head north to the mouth of the creek.
At a high tide, the creek is easily accessible from the Bay and after the first of 10 meandering curves you disappear on a journey that seems worlds away from the wide open Bay and tall cliffs. The meanders make Parkers especially interesting because you can't see what's around the next bend. The mound, covered by oak and hickory trees, is the focus of much speculation about how it was formed. No one is sure, buteveryone likes a good mystery. Farther up the creek, the transition from salt to fresh takes place quickly as narrow leaf cattails appear and soon make way for broad leaf cattails.