Behind FCHS and next to the bus loop, there’s a quiet area called The Woodlands, a set of walking trails hidden in the woods between Pleasant Grove Park and the school.

These trails were once part of Pleasant Grove Park, but after the school was built, they became connected to the school campus. When many things were shut down during COVID, the Student Government Association (SGA) decided to take care of the trails and turn them into a small park for the school and local community. You can learn more about how the trails originated and about recent improvements here.

Now, these trails are used by the cross country team for practice or by classes looking to get outside and take a walk in the fresh air.

SGA helps take care of the trails by clearing branches, blowing leaves, and keeping the paths clean. “SGA mainly maintains the area. It’s one of their many community services,” said SGA teacher David Small. He helps by cutting down trees and trimming weeds along the approximately 2.5 miles of trails.

“I think that the Woodlands are an awesome addition to our high school campus. They give us a lot of freedom and students can learn a lot about nature in the comfort of their own class,” said senior and SGA member Amelia Moore.

Even though the trails are part of the school, the public is allowed to use them as well, just not during school hours. The trails are closed to the public on Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Outside of that, they’re open from sunrise to sunset.

You can find a map of The Woodlands’ trails here.