I went this morning and took this picture of a Bended Trail Tree near my home in Murray County GA
There is a legend that tells of Native Americans using bended trail trees for many reasons…it just so happens that this legend is true. It has been passed down from generation to generation but the general story always stays the same. Many years ago the Native Americans navigated through the mountains using an elaborate system of trail markings. The way they marked the trail was by bending tree saplings (typically oak) along their trail to make them point in a certain direction. That direction could indicate food, water, safety, important meetings, etc. Many of these trees still exist here in North GA. It is really interesting to see these trees and I always wonder what they were bent to indicate.
These trail trees are almost a lost part of history, but Garden clubs and Historical Societies have documented many of them. The trees can be recognized by trunks or limbs which are bent almost at a right angle. The point of the bent limb is usually marked by a “nose” (a prominent bump made by cutting the bark and packing it with moss or charred bark). Some of the trees point to a creek or cave, or even to buried treasure (though these treasure troves are usually found empty today). It is said that the knot on the end of the angle where the trees were bent were hollowed out to hold “treasures” or that the roots were exposed to hide treasure under the roots and then re-buried.
I find this an amazing part of history that is little known…especially since there are so many “trail trees” around the area in which I live. They are called by many different names: Prayer Trees, Signal Trees, Warning Trees, Casual Trees, etc. To find many of them you might need to wear an overshoe to keep from getting your feet wet, but they are worth hunting for.
I have a friend who gave me quite the education on Trail Trees, but in her family they were often referred to as Prayer Trees. The reason for this was due to the fact that more often than not her mother could be found in the woods on bended knee, hands folded over a bent tree in prayer. She was a Prayer Warrior and it was well know that if she was in the woods praying, she was not to be disturbed, it was a serious matter than needed serious attention. She would spend hours at that old tree and while it no longer held treasures of the material kind, many felt that old bent tree held treasures from heaven prayed down by a prayer warrior. It just so happened that she was also of Native American decent and knew just what kind of power those bent trees held.
So, the next time you see a bent tree…stop and take a moment to imagine why that tree was bent in the first place, and wonder if it ever held a treasure or was simply used as a directional device.
17 Responses to “Legend of Trail Trees”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
[...] the Legend of Trail Trees. I’d never heard of these before and found the post fascinating! Click here if you’d like to read it. Her post is of special interest to those of us with Native American ancestry, boy scout roots, or [...]
Wow! Thanks for sharing~~there is so much around us that we don’t even notice unless someone who cares points it out.
It is so easy to miss things Mary. We love getting out and exploring, learning about things we would never have known otherwise.
Hey Jyl! I wandered over from Christy’s Southern Plate site. I’ve been following y’all’s adventures over there for a couple of years now and decided to come check out your post today. Imagine my surprise when I saw that you live in Murray County – I’m just down the road from you in Dalton! So anyway, just wanted to say hi! *gives friendly grin and waves*
Hey Neighbor! So glad you stopped by for a visit! Such a small world, I bet we even know some folks in common.
Hey Susan, I’m just over the mountain from you in Blue Ridge.
It’s a small world!
Hi jilly, I’m a Northener by birth, but a Southerner by heart, I love to learn about the Native American and their beliefs. I live between the Choctaws and the Chicasaws in a small town in OK. (Yes there is another Tupelo). I found your site thru Christy. I will now visit regularly.
So glad to have you Elizabeth! Look forward to getting to know you.
I also wandered over from Christy and Southern Plate. As a decendant, far removed from my indian heritage (Cherokee), I love to hear about Native American Indian stuff. I have never heard about this. Very interesting, thanks.
Charles, you should research it a little further. Much of your heritage was dependent upon trail trees. Different tribes used different trees as their trail markers. It is pretty easy to find which tribes used which type of tree, and you can find lots of trees that have been documented that you can visit. Many are on historical societies list and have been protected so that they won’t be cut down.
I am a descendent of the Cherokee Indians and I also found it interesting to find out what these are. I have seen them before and always wondered what had made the tree bend like that. Now I know. Learn something new everyday.
Here in Missouri in the Ozarks they are called Thong Trees.
This information is so neat. I have seen those trees and always wondered what happened to them to cause them to grow that way. I’ll have to confess as the mother of two boys who were always climbing trees, etc. I thought some boy long ago must have tied ropes to them and cause them to somehow grow bent over! LOL
This is so cool. I have never heard about this before. Six years ago my husband and I bought a home in the heart of Osage territory. In our front yard there is a lot of old post oak trees, and there is one in particular that has a branch that has always captured our imagination because it is bent and creates an almost 45 degree angle. We have always loved it because of that strange limb. We had just chalked it up to kids playing, building swings or hideouts, but now I wonder! HUMMMM!! May have to do some more research.
This is pretty interesting I have seen trees like this but had always assumed they were damaged by lightning or had some other natural explanation. Like TedW Ive seen trees like this in my travels around the Southeast but never gave them any thought.
This is pretty interesting I have seen trees like this but had always assumed they were damaged by lightning or had some other natural explanation. Like TedW Ive seen trees like this in my travels around the Southeast but never gave them any thought.
If anyone wants more information or to see pictures of many of these trees all over the country – check out mountainstewards.org. It is a nationwide group ( headquartered in Jasper Georgia) that is researching this part of American Indian culture. They have a new book out about the subject. It can be ordered from the website. Not only is there a book but my husband has a great presentation, which includes a video of interviews with many different Indian elders about the trees. He has spoken to over 2000 people in the last few years. There is no charge for the presentation and within reason we are willing to travel to share the story. We would love to come and see you trees at some time. So glad to have found your blog..