Trip #1   region 5  Agility C Aerobics C
Trip #2   region 5  Agility C Aerobics D
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!! Features!
Ohio River Bluffs, The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System
Whipple State Nature Preserve, Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves
For pure show and wildflower density, no other field trip can excel the Bluffs! Highly recommended.

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: one hour and fifteen minutes.

Meet at the Ohio River Bluffs at 10:15 a.m. Tour will begin promptly at 10:30 am.

Trip 1: Difficulty:  We will take the lower loop of the Ohio River Bluffs, and avoid going up the slope to the top of the ridge. Trail is narrow and uneven in places, and is cut into the side of a hill, but we will stay mostly on the same elevation. Pace yourself for approximately 2.0 miles of hiking for the day. The Bluffs are absolutely stunning and you will see a profusion of wildflowers, even staying at the bottom elevation. We will also hike into Whipple, following the trail down into a lush cove, but not making the entire loop, so as to keep our total walking distance down.
Trip 2: Difficulty: This trip will take hikers on the entire Ohio River Bluffs trail. We will hike the trail to the top of the ridge, which requires hiking uphill for approximately 1/3 mile at a moderate ascent, and follow the loop along the ridge. The trail is narrow and cut into a steep hillside, with one or two ten foot sections that are very steep and a bit slippery,  but we will not be hiking at a fast pace. The trail on the top of the ridge finds wildflowers at a different  stage of bloom, and gives outstanding views of the Ohio River Valley. We will be timing this so we can eat our picnic lunch on top of the bluffs. If time allows, we will also visit Whipple and hike all or part of that trail. Pace yourself for approximately 3 1/2 miles of hiking for the day.

Description: Ohio River Bluffs is a 63 acre preserve located west of Manchester in the region of steep limestone bluffs that border the Ohio River. For sheer density of flowers, Ohio River Bluffs is in a class of its own. This preserve is so densely carpeted with bluebells, dwarf larkspurs, wild hyacinths, and in some years -- Blue-eyed Mary's -- that, in the spring, the pull-off on Route 52 is often filled with cars whose drivers have pulled off the highway just to take in the marvelous view.  It is worth driving across the state just to see this with your own eyes. From the top of the ridge, one can see Kentucky's hills across the wide swath of the Ohio River.
Whipple State Nature Preserve is an exceptionally beautiful 331-acre preserve located  near the Ohio River.  The Whipple family generously donated the original tract of 249 acres to the state of Ohio, and the preserve has grown from there.  This relatively undiscovered treasure has a 2-mile trail that passes through a number of different habitats including dolomite cliffs, slump blocks and mature oak-maple forests.  Some of the tree specimens at Whipple are quite large and impressive. On the ridge-top, the trail offers nice views of the Ohio River valley while winding between a number of sinkholes formed along joints in the calcareous bedrock. The preserve is exceptionally rich in a variety of spring wildflowers including twinleaf (which the trail is named after), large white trillium, bishop’s cap, shooting star, Dutchman’s-breeches and a variety of violets. A dozen rare plants occur in the preserve including the rare Tennessee bladder fern.   Larkspur Photo by Rick Gardner, rest by Larry Henry.

Trip #3  region 8 
Showcase!! Scenic Beauty!! Features!!! Agility C Aerobics D
 
Spruce Hill --
2000 year old Earthworks & 238-acre Natural Area
The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System & Ross County Park District

Saving Spruce Hill from the auction block in 2007  was the highlight of an already spectacular year for preservation. Here is an opportunity to hike Spruce Hill and witness a dense and showy flower displays while walking in the footsteps of an ancient Native American Culture.

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: Twenty minutes. Located halfway between the hub and Chillicothe.
Meet at 9:00 a.m. at Spruce Hill
Difficulty. The hike will mostly follow a long gradual ascent from the bottom of the hill to the top and then a return, with side spurs taken to botanical points of interest on narrow unimproved trails. Endurance is required more than strength, since for the most part the slopes are gradual but long. Hikers must be able to comfortably walk 3 miles during the day at a slow to moderate pace. There are no steep scrambles.

Preserve Description: It was at the 2007 Wildflower Pilgrimage that Larry Henry made his first speech to save Spruce Hill and he collected the first dollars for the cause. Two months later, just 48 hours before the auction, the ARC contributed $300,000 to pull Spruce Hill off the auction block and get it into contract. As we write, fund-raising is complete. In 2008 the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System and Ross County Park District was awarded a Clean Ohio grant, funding the final purchase of the property. Spruce Hill's steep wooded hillsides boast one of the Arc System's most spectacular wildflower displays. In the spring the place is dense with flowers -- with three species of trilliums, large colonies of leeks and mayapples, anemones, mats of squirrel corn and Dutchman's breeches, wood poppies, and Solomon seals--just to name a few -- in all stages of blooming. And yes, you will get a chance to see the remains of the stone wall that once circumscribed the sacred space of the flat hilltop. Distinguishing Feature: nationally significant prehistoric Native American ceremonial site. For the full story on Spruce Hill, click here.

Trip #4  region 6 Showcase! Scenic Beauty!! Features!!! Agility A Aerobics A

The Little Smokies of Ohio -
Auto Tour & Short Walks to Botanical Hotspots; Shawnee State Forest & Shawnee State Park


Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: 1 hour and twenty minutes. This is a fantastic tour of one of Ohio's densest forest regions. Consider staying at Shawnee State Park Lodge and pick up other tours in the Arc South region; or just go down for the day. It's well worth the drive.

Meet at Shawnee State Park Lodge at 10:30 a.m. Tour will leave promptly at 10:45.  Leaders for this event will be the irrepressible Jenny Richards, Park Naturalist; and Kevin Bradbury, Shawnee Park Manager.

Difficulty Level A: EASY. RELAXING and DIVERSE. People rave about this trip every year. Shawnee State Park provides 7-passenger vans so that once you begin the tour, you can leave your car behind, sit back, and enjoy the flowers. Participants will drive along forestry roads, stopping frequently to view roadside flowers. Hiking will be short treks only.  This is one of the best wildflower viewing options for maximum diversity.

Description: Shawnee State Forest and the State Park it encircles is one of Ohio's greatest treasures. A magnificent 63,000 acres in size, Shawnee is not only the largest and least fragmented of Ohio's state forests, it has the steepest hills and the richest flora. Because of its southern-most position in Ohio and its proximity to the Ohio River, Shawnee is a botanical paradise, boasting many species found no where else in the state. Car travel to hotspots will ensure that this tour will rank among the highest of the field trips in obtaining a large number of blooming species. Some species to look forward to include Bird's-Foot Violet, Vernal Iris, and Spotted Mandarin. Distinguishing Features: high overall plant diversity.  Hazy Hill photo by John Howard.

Trip #5  region 2 
Showcase!! Scenic Beauty!! Features!!! Agility C Aerobics D
Fort Hill, a 1200 acre State Memorial & Preserve, Ohio Historical Society
Friday only
Flowers, Old forests & butterflies


Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: 30 minutes
Meet at Fort Hill at 9:45 am. Hike will begin promptly at 10:00 am.
Leader: John Watts, Naturalist, Columbus Metropolitan Parks.
Difficulty: This will be the longest hike we offer, at approximately four miles. The trail is of average back country width and is often not level. It follows an undulating landscape as it threads between limestone boulders. The trial parallels the bank of scenic Baker Fork, tributary of Ohio Brush Creek. We plan to walk more slowly in the beginning to admire the flowers, and then, on our return, we will be hiking at a brisk pace.

Description: Fort Hill is an EXCEPTIONAL preserve with one of the most intact forests in the state. It was one of the favorite jaunts for the famous early botanist, Lucy Braun, who gave Fort Hill its well-earned reputation of being a botanical hotspot for some of the state's highest forest diversity, boasting an incredible plant list of 675 species!!! Almost unheard of for one tract of land. Fort Hill is one of the last places in Ohio, for instance, for the rare plant known as Canby's Mountain Lover. For wildflower enthusiasts, Fort Hill is a gem, offering among its 11 miles of trails some of the best hiking in the state. We will be following the scenic course of Baker's Fork, as it winds its way through a low limestone gorge filled with a bounty of rich wildflower displays--trilliums, anemones, jack in the pulpits, geraniums, bluebells and miterwort, just to name a few. John Watts is, among his many talents, a great butterfly lover, and he will be keeping an eye out for the early season butterflies: such as zebra swallowtails, and falcate orange tips. Fort Hill is acclaimed for its recorded sighting of the rare Early hairstreak, a little butterfly that lays its eggs on unfolding beech trees. Usually it stays high in the canopy, but occasionally it nectars on the forest floor on none other than spring beauties. But only in mid-morning -- then it's back up to the treetops!! Who knows? We just might see one! Distinguishing features: Fort Hill has one of the state's largest intact old-growth forests in the state within its 1200-acre memorial and extremely high bio-diversity of plants.

Trip #6   region 4  
Showcase!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features!!!  Agility D Aerobics D 

Exploring the Floral Highlights of the 13,000 acre
Edge of Appalachia Preserve
Ohio Nature Conservancy & Cincinnati Museum Center


Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: one hour and fifteen minutes
Meet at the Edge of Appalachia Office at 10:00 a.m. Tour will leave promptly at 10:15.
Difficulty: The day's hike will cover 2.5-3 miles of ground, and will be off-trail some or much of the time. Some ascents and descents are involved.

Description: The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is a natural wonder in southern Ohio  -- serving as the largest single nature preserve in all of Ohio.  Co-owned by The Nature Conservancy and Cincinnati Museum Center, this Preserve includes 8 globally rare plant communities and 50% of Ohio’s native flora. This hike will choose among four locations as your guide uses his knowledge of the Edge to take you into the areas with the most beautiful wildflower displays to be seen in the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System. H

Here are some of the possibilities as time allows: At Tiffin Cliffs one can stand at the bottom of an eighty foot dolomite cliff surrounded by large flowered trilliums, Virginia bluebells and Celandine poppies, Dutchman’s breeches, Twinleaf, toad trillium, hepaticas, ginger and maybe even late-blooming marsh marigolds. Buzzardsroost is a destination that is special any time of the year -with its botanically-rich prairie-influenced woodlands. There are secret spots off-trail that an experienced guide can lead you to -- such as a sea of trilliums and twinleaf observed by few eyes.  At Cedar Falls Preserve you may hike to one of the prettiest waterfalls in Ohio, possibly seeing early-blooming hoary puccoon, woo betony, meadow rue in a young developing prairie. Th3 dolomite-exposed waterfall cuts through a white cedar bluff woodlands, housing many rare and unusual plants such as the state-listed wall rue and bristle-leaved sedge. Abner Hollow enters into the wooded hill-country of The Edge, passing dolomite boulders covered in wild columbine and walking fern, and Bisher dolomite cliffs covered with miterwort, large flowered trilliums, jack in the pulpit, and possibly the state-listed spotted mandarin.  Small prairie pockets in the forest may reveal Indian paintbrush and more hoary puccoon. Regardless of which preserves your guide chooses to take you, you can be assured you will see the best of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve.  Distinguishing features: Edge of Appalachia has many rare plants and an extremely high biodiversity. Waterfalls Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy

Trip #7  region 2    Showcase!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features!!! Agility C Aerobics C
Chalet Nivale Preserve,  The Arc of Appalachia  Preserve System 
and if time allows, Davis Memorial, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

EXTRA APPEAL: This year a brand new trail system is offered at Chalet Nivale, made possible by the recent acquisition of a 90 acre addition to this botanical hotspot. This brings the preserve up from 15 acres to 101.

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: 40 minutes 

Meet at Chalet Nivale at 9:30 am. Tour will leave promptly at 9:45.

Difficulty: Walking is slow-paced on narrow trails, covering approximately 3.5 miles all day. There are no long ascents, descents, or difficult water crossings. Davis Memorial has well-established easily-navigated hiking trails.

Description: Chalet Nivale Preserve on Bacon Flats Road is one of Adam's County's best-kept botanical secrets. In March, it has what must be the densest display of snow trilliums to be found in the world; as well being recorded as a site for the state-listed Early Buttercup which blooms in early April. By mid-April, however, Chalet Nivale shows its charms through a wealth of more commonly occurring  species with a wonderful lush abundance that is classic to this region. The Preserve takes in a side tributary of Scioto Brush Creek that is rimmed by 30-40 foot dolomite walls harboring small grottos and caves. The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System owns a lovely log cabin on this site, and lunch will be enjoyed on its large wooden deck. For more information on Chalet Nivale, click here.

Davis Memorial is a 168-acre state nature preserve located near Peebles and is owned by the Ohio Historical Society and the Division of Natural Areas & Preserves.  The preserve is bisected by Cedar Fork, a tributary of Scioto Brush Creek, named for the bounty of arbor vitae, the very rare White Cedar trees, that cling to the Peebles Dolomite cliffs along the creek.  Some of these trees are over two hundred years old.  Over 20 state listed plants, including the state endangered Walter’s violet, are among the many spring wildflowers we expect to see.  Also present is Sullivantia, a plant discovered by the famous Ohio botanist, William Starling Sullivant, as well as many other more common wildflowers.  Distinguishing features: Because of the old karst landscape and prairie influences, both preserves have high biodiversity counts. Chalet Nivale contains the watershed of two small springfed streams that are ranked among the state's best in terms of water purity and biodiversity for their size. One stream earned a perfect score. Bluets and cliffs photos by Larry Henry

Trip #8  region 6    
Showcase!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features!!! Agility E Aerobics E
 
Rock Run Nature Preserve
in the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System
In  quest of the Red Trillium
The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: 1 hour and twenty minutes 
Meet at the rest stop at Sandy Springs at 10:15 am. Departure from the rest stop will begin promptly at 10:30.

TWO HIKE OFFERINGS: Choose Difficulty Level D: Hike length is 2.5 - 3 miles. Hikers will drop into the steep v-shaped valley requiring off-trail hiking and navigating the leaf-covered rock-strewn valley walls where footing is very uneven. Strong ankles necessary! At the end of the descent we will walk in the water across slippery large stones mid-creek, and work our way into the heart of the hemlock/birch forest that lines the creek in quest of the red trilliums. The trail is for the adventuresome, lithe, and limber and is not suitable for anyone nursing injuries or unwilling to possibly slip on a rock and get their feet wet.  Hikers must be hardy with good balance and wear water-proof hiking boots with good tread. A walking stick is a good idea. Although previous hikes have all been safely enjoyed by participants, hikers must be willing to hike at their own risk and be willing to get a bit wet and dirty if they take a slip. The trek will follow the creek back out to Route 52 and shuttle back to the rest stop. The above said, both trips take hikers into an amazingly wild place -- well worth seeing regardless which hiking level you choose. These Pilgrimage trips to Rock Run are one of the few opportunities to see this fragile and hard to access preserve.

Description: Rock Run is a 262-acre preserve containing a significant botanical ecosystem in a 500 feet deep valley adjacent to Shawnee Forest, Ohio's largest State Forest. The area features the extremely rare ecosystem for Ohio -- a black birch-hemlock assemblage, with sweetgum showing up in the lower elevations. The general region has a fantastic array of herps -- snakes, frogs, toads, and lizards -- including the imperiled Timber Rattlesnake and Mud Salamander. Rock Run is an extremely clear stream that drains into the Ohio River a short distance from the preserve.  The steep ravines have a diverse display of wildflowers including large white trillium and the best displays of red Trillium erectum that any field trip will see on the Pilgrimage. Hikers will also see dwarf crested Iris, yellow mandarin, and many different species of violets Although a bit early in  the year to enjoy, Rock Run has the most fern species of any of the Arc Preserves  Rock Run is one of the few locations to find the  the rarely seen but present bobcats and highly imperilled Allegheny wood rats. Distinguishing features: rare forest assemblage for Ohio, many rare plants and animal species, 28 species of ferns. Bobcat photo by Dave Reipenhoff.

Trip #9  region 2  
Showcase! Scenic Beauty! Features!!! Agility D Aerobics C
Saturday only
The ever-enigmatic Strait Creek Prairie Bluffs Preserve! The Nature Conservancy
Located in the Sinking Springs Crypto-explosion area
Explore almost the entire diversity of southern Ohio's ecosystems
in just one field trip, and just one destination!


Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: 30 minutes.
Meet in the town of Sinking Springs by 9:45 am. The car caravan to the trailhead will leave  promptly at 10:00 am. We will shuttle in as few cars as possible because of the limited parking at the preserve.
Leader: This hike will be led by Dave Minney, Southern Ohio Land Steward for Nature Conservancy, Ohio Chapter, who, among other duties, manages Strait Creek Prairie Preserve.
           
Difficulty. This hike follows the Buckeye trail along the entire length of the park with a shuttle to the return site. Undulating landscape. Hiking boots are recommended for the occasional steep slopes and stream crossings. The hike will be 2.5 to 3 miles long.

Preserve Description. Strait Creek Prairie Bluffs is a 640 acre preserve situated on the outer edge of the Sinking Springs Cryptoexplosion feature, an ancient geologic event thought to have been caused by a meteor or asteroid impact affecting a four to five mile radius area. The geologic fall-out of this event is a crazy quilt bedrock exposure of sandstone, shales, and limestones. Strait Creek Prairie Bluffs provides a microcosm of what the pre-settlement plant communities and their distribution may have looked like within this geologically-diverse and botanically-rich region. Strait Creek has extremely high biodiversity (many not spring bloomers), with an astounding plant species count of 650! Little bluestem-Indian grass barrens and prairies are dominant on soils derived from Peebles dolomite, hosting such species as Indian paintbrush, blue-eyed grass, and Leavenworthia uniflora. Massive exposures of Peebles dolomite with wild columbine and dwarf hackberry are exposed above Strait Creek. Oak-maple and mesophytic forests with a variety of spring wildflowers occur on the dolomitic substrates of the low slope and ravine habitats. Acidic oak-hickory forests are found above the dolomitic bedrocks. Photo by Randy Edwards of TNC. Distinguishing features: extremely high species count

Trip #10   region 2  
Scenic Beauty!!! Features!!!
Kayaking Scioto Brush Creek ; if water is too low:
Alternate: Hiking the headwaters of the Scioto
with Martin McAlister, Founder of Friends of Scioto Brush Creek, Friday only

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: 40 minutes 

Meet at Chalet Nivale with your own kayak or canoe at 9:45 a.m. We will begin shuttling as soon as enough people arrive and will be on the river before 10:30. You may wish to bring a plastic bag to waterproof your lunch and other personal possessions you desire to bring. Leader: Martin McAlister, Southern Ohio Preserve Manager, Ohio Division of Natural Areas & Preserves; assisted by Jody Gray, President of the Arc of Appalachia Trustees

Description: If you can bring your own kayak or canoe (kayak strongly recommended--canoes usually do not work due to the fact we usually have marginal water levels), here is a rare opportunity to float one of the state's most beautiful rivers -- the Scioto Brush Creek, which flows through Adams and Scioto Counties. Everyone who has done this trip raves about it. The Scioto Brush is a tributary of the Scioto River and is one of the most ecologically-intact watersheds in all the state. Its clear blue waters, naturally tinged with dissolved minerals, supports 69 species of fish, three species of state-endangered mussels, one of Ohio's few federally-threatened plant species, Appalachian Spirea, Spiraea virginiana; and the state-endangered Southern Monkshood, Aconitum unciatum.  Although these plants will not be in bloom on this trip, the waterway is known for its spring floral display, and the clear waters are bordered by exceptionally scenic dolomite slumpblocks and cliffs. Boaters will enjoy floating under several blue heron rookeries. On our last trip we counted over fifty nests. This is a trip you will long remember for its picture-postcard scenery. Included in this field trip, if time allows, will be a short hike into Chalet Nivale Nature Preserve, owned by the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. For a description of this preserve, please read trip #8. For more information on Scioto Brush Creek, click here.

If the float needs to be canceled because of low water or storm-level water, participants will be notified by last minute email and the trip will be replaced by a Chalet-Nivale/Shomeaker Preserve hiking tour to meet at the same advertised time and place, also led by Martin McAlister. If the alternate trip goes, it will be the first publicly guided tour into Ohio's newest state nature preserve -- Shoemaker Preserve. Shoemaker has thick colonies of flowers, including the compelling Twinleaf with its ethereal and short-lived blooms. It is home of the extremely rare Plantago cordata, Heart-leaved Plantain, which is rapidly disappearing throughout its range. The preserve was generously donated to the state by Joyce Shoemaker. Chalet Nivale has a marvelous system of trails leading through patches of thick flowers in lush glens and drier karst landscapes with weird and wonderful rock formations. High diversity of plants. For more information on Chalet Nivale hike, skip to the hike description on this page or click here for story and natural history.
River Difficulty and Arrangements: The float takes approximately 3-4 hours and runs six river miles. Boaters will meet at Chalet Nivale Nature Preserve. From there some of the cars will be shuttled two and half road miles to the take-out point. This float requires moderately high water and recent rains -- so everything depends on last minute weather conditions. Boating difficulty is average to slightly challenging. The difficulty is not deep water or high currents, but rather the narrow twists and turns of the headwaters, shallow rapids which can sometimes be tipsy, and the occasional low-lying tree or logjam. There are a few fast riffles, which the author admits to succumbing to on her last trip and getting dunked! Canoes require more water than kayaks. We will advise you by email by Wednesday night if canoes can’t make it, or if the float is off for any reason, so be sure to check your emails Thursday morning for a last-minute report before packing up your boat and departing for the Pilgrimage. Kayak photo by Martin McAlister; Heron Photo copyrighted by William Gladish, all rights protected.

Trip 13  region 1 
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features!! Agility B Aerobics B
William Sullivant Living History Hike
           at Cave Canyon
      & Valley of the Ancients Trail
Highlands Nature Sanctuary, The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System


Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: Both Cave Canyon and Etawah Woods begin at the the Appalachian Forest Museum. No driving required between trips.

Difficulty: Approximately .6 miles of hiking all day, with several short stairways at Cave Canyon and Etawah Woods. Restrooms available all day. Lunch taken at the Appalachian Forest Museum.
 
Description: William Sullivant Living History Hike. This hike leads you on the Cave Canyon Trail, featuring springs, sinkholes, cave entrances in a verdant steep-walled canyon -- a fairy-land of geologic beauty and rare botanicals.  19^th Century  Ohio botanist William Sullivant is your guide, sharing with you an exciting honor he has recently received. The year is 1853. The famous and prestigious international botanist, Asa Gray, and his botanical colleagues in New York State, have just named William’s newest plant discovery --  found right here in Cave Canyon  -- after William’s surname. The wildflower, now called Sullivantia sullivantia, is a very  rare saxifrage that has previously been unknown to science, and is found in only a few places in the world. William, son of the founder of Columbus, is a wealthy banker and capitalist who has devoted his study to natural history. His father was the surveyor of Columbus as well as much of Kentucky and Ohio’s land base. William’s dialogue on this hike is a compelling treatise from a highly educated man who is skilled in natural lore and finds in his heart the beginning seeds of American conservation. His father once walked among old-growth trees and the Native Americans. Now, William Sullivant must place a foot in two worlds – a rapidly diminishing wilderness and the domesticated world that financially supports his outdoor studies. You will find this  program thought provoking and compelling, as you are drawn into the theatre yourself as one of William’s circle of invited friends and supporters. This program has a stimulating and provocative adult content, but the drama equally sparks the imagination of children. The leader, Mr. Sullivant, being a botanist, is an able Pilgrimage leader and will be happy to share his knowledge of the plant life in the area, whether in full bloom or still unfolding.

Description: The Valley of the Ancients Trail threads its way into the deepest section of the Rocky Fork Gorge through a landscape abounding in springs, waterfalls, and grottos. The trail features the Pyramid of Trilliums -- truly a wonder to behold -- and large quantities of Walter's Violet -- a state-listed miniature violet growing in shallow niches of soil harbored on the exposed rock of the bluffs. Ancient white cedars, another rare botanical in Ohio, cling from the canyon rim.  Distinguishing features: rare Sullivantia plants, Marble Cave. Trillium photo by Tim Pohlar, Other Photos by Larry Henry
 

Trip #14  region 1  
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features! Agility A Aerobics A to B
Our easiest field trip for hiking in the highlands

Etawah Woods and Miller State Nature Preserve
Highlands Nature Sanctuary, The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: All programs near the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. .
Meet at the Appalachian Forest Museum at 9:00 a.m. We will be taking a car caravan approximately two miles to get to the Miller State Nature Preserve trailhead.
Difficulty: We will be walking approximately one and a half miles total along mostly graded paths. Trails have slight and gradual ascents and descents, and almost no stairs steps. We will not take Etawah's spur down to the river, thereby avoiding most of the stairs. All stream crossings have bridges. Pace will be slow because there is so much to look at.

The Etawah Woods Trail takes hikers into an equally stunning section of the gorge. Etawah Woods is truly Eden in the spring with a proliferation of columbine, trillium, wood anemone, geranium, goldenseal, and celandine wood poppies -- set against imposing rock walls and the shadows of giant hemlock trees. Etawah Woods is one of the few Ohio sites where the state-listed gray polypody or resurrection fern grows.  

Miller State Nature Preserve is the oldest of preserve on the Rocky Fork Creek and is one of the most beautiful. Its claim to fame is its nearly unbelievable density of Shooting Stars, otherwise known as Pride of Ohio. We will likely be too early to catch them at peak, but we shall see their prolific foliage on the rocks and lots of other flowers. Miller State Nature Preserve has a rich and compelling display of Appalachian flowers, with dense carpets of ginger, Solomon's Seal, bellwort, bluebells and waterleaf. The hiking paths cross over several small bridges that ford musical spring-swollen riffles. Wildflower displays are excellent along the entire length of the trail. Photos by Larry Henry.
For more information: The Story behind 7 Caves & Cave Canyon   Natural History of the Rocky Fork Gorge   The Story behind the Highlands Nature Sanctuary

Trip 15  region 1 
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features!! Agility C Aerobics D
Kamelands & Barrett's Rim -- jewel of the Rocky Fork Gorge
Highlands Nature Sanctuary, The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System


Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: Cave Canyon begins at the the Appalachian Forest Museum. Barrett's Rim is a five minute drive away.

Difficulty: Both trails are single-file  in width with a few short stream crossings on stones, some of which have short but slippery steep banks. Streams are small but can have 2 inches of water in them. Good balance and hiking boots are requested. Sections of the trail can be slippery if it has recently rained. There are no long climbs on either trail. You will be covering about four miles of ground during this field trip.

Description: The Barrett's Rim Trail in the Rocky Fork Gorge is spectacular in April -- truly a heady experience. The preserve is fondly referred to as the jewel of the gorge. The dolomite rock walls and fallen boulders support an incredulous density of wildflowers, presenting floral displays not only at one's feet but also above your head. As you walk between the winding river and the dolomite cliffs, columbine, trillium, bellwort, miterwort, anemone, cohosh, and wild geraniums produce a wonderful verdant display of classic Appalachia wildflowers. Highly recommended. The Highlands Nature Sanctuary which contains the gorge is the Arc's largest preserve region at 2000 acres in size.

The Kamelands Trail is a striking trail traverses the rolling hills of an old farm pasture and then follows the bluffs of Rocky Fork Gorge on the side opposite of Cave Canyon. The scenic beauty here is stunning, with views off the cliffs and a spur that runs over the rim down into the canyon floor. Although the forest corridor along the bluffs is narrow, it has some of the oldest most majestic trees in the Sanctuary -- giant oaks and hickories. Peak flowers will be a bit later on  this region, as this forest has a prairie influence, sporting blooms of such interesting plants as green violet, bastard toadflax and Seneca snakeroot. But you will see lots of bluets, anemonies, hundreds of emerging Columbo rosettes. If we are lucky, we might even see moss phlox. Distinguishing features: high overall plant diversity. Photos by Larry Henry.

Trip #16  region 1 
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features! Agility D Aerobics C
  
Cedar Run & The Listening Trail at Ravenwood
              New Trail system at Cedar Run
Highlands Nature Sanctuary, The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: Located at a fifteen minute drive from the Appalachia Forest Museum at Cave Canyon Preserve. Meet at Elder's Landing Trailhead at 9:15 am. Hike will begin promptly at 9:30 am.

Difficulty: Cedar Run Ravenwood is a one mile loop trail. It has occasional steep but moderately-long ascents and descents. It's main difficulty lies in its uneven footing over rocks, with sections of trails that are slippery if it has recently rained. Cedar Run has a moderate gradual slope to the top of the bluffs and back down, with two creek crossing requiring balance.

Preserve Description. Ravenwood:  The Listening Trail was designed as a contemplation trail -- with lots of natural niches to occupy and listen ... to the bird calls without, or the quiet voice within.  The trail offers a wooden swing for two, a cave grotto to curl up in, slanted rocks in the creek to repose upon, and a deck jutting out over the gorge. Packed in a short distance, there are few trails as spectacular for both wildflowers and scenery than the Listening Trail located behind Ravenwood Lodge. This section of the Rocky Fork Canyon has its own unique character and essence. It's steep v-shaped valley offers loamier habitats for wildflowers than the vertical cliffs farther down stream, and the flowers respond to the fertility with heady abundance. Moss, lichens, ferns and liverworts seem to cover every rock and fallen tree. This is one of the greenest, lushest habitats in the Highlands Nature Sanctuary, indeed, in the whole Arc! Hikers will see carpets of trilliums, ginger, and Solomon's seal, as well as dozens of other species. Even without flowers, the Listening Trail is a stunning trail for breath-taking scenery. Click here for more information on the Listening Trail. Cedar Run is a side tributary of the Rocky Fork Gorge, and this 1.5 mile loop takes you to both waterways. This trail is enchantingly beautiful with lots of rock formations, extremely lush flower displays and valley vistas. The trail crosses Cedar Run proper and then follows the stream into its mossy rock-strewn valley, taking a spur to a hidden falls, its view partially blocked by a fallen boulder. From there the trail works itself to the top of the Rocky Fork bluffs with stunning views of the floodplain below, walking through carpets of snow trilliums that bloomed three weeks earlier. Then the trail goes close to the Rocky Fork creek, hugging the base of the vertical canyon walls where we will see lots of Shooting Stars beginning to sprout from the rocks--but not yet in bloom. Photos by Larry Henry.

Trip #17  region 1  
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features! Agility C Aerobics C
The Henrietta Miller Memorial Flower Pilgrimage
A One-way Pilgrimage along the Rocky Fork Creek
through the Eugene & Henrietta Miller Nature Sanctuary, a state preserve & Cedar Run Preserve, Arc of Appalachia Preserve System
 

Without the early philanthropy of Henrietta Miller in 1995, when the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System was only a fragile ideal with neither money nor land, the organization may never have survived to be the 3000 acre preserve system it is today. We dedicate this hike to Henrietta, who once lived upon and loved the land that is today owned and managed as Miller State Nature Preserve, ...and who once made a gift of funds to the Arc that made all the difference in the world to the future of the Rocky Fork Gorge. In 2007, when this great nature lover departed from this earth to explore higher realms, she left behind a mighty legacy.

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: 15 minutes
Meet at Miller State Nature Preserve at 9:30. We will begin shuttling cars as soon as enough people arrive. We will begin the Pilgrimage at 9:45 am or as soon thereafter as the shuttle cars are in place.  Difficulty: We will be hiking approximately 3.5 miles, bordering the Creek and walking at the base of the rock cliffs most of the way. Not a lot of long ascents or descents, but a long walk on sometimes narrow trails and gently undulating land.

Description: Miller State Nature Preserve is the oldest of preserve on the Rocky Fork Creek and is one of the most beautiful. Its claim to fame is its nearly unbelievable density of Shooting Stars, otherwise known as Pride of Ohio. Shooting Stars are not particularly common in Ohio, so seeing a quantity of them is always an uplifting sight. We will likely be too early to catch them at peak, but we shall see their prolific foliage on the rocks and lots of other flowers. Miller State Nature Preserve has a rich and compelling display of Appalachian flowers, with dense carpets of ginger, Solomon's Seal, bellwort, bluebells and waterleaf. The hiking paths cross over several small bridges that ford musical spring-swollen riffles. After hiking the full stretch of Miller Preserve, we will walk across its boundary and enter Cedar Run Preserve of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. At Cedar Run we will continue to follow the rim of the Rocky Fork all the way to the Elders' Landing Trailhead, where we will take a side-spur up scenic rock-rimmed Cedar Run to a hidden waterfalls, then shuttle back to our original trailhead.  Wildflower displays are excellent along the entire length of the trail.  Photos by Larry Henry.

PHOTOGRAPHER'S SPECIAL!

Trip #20  region 1  
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features!! Agility C Aerobics C
Friday: Cave Canyon & Barrett's Rim - jewel of the gorge
  with Bob Miller

Trip #21  region 1  
Showcase!!! Scenic Beauty!!! Features!! Agility C Aerobics C
Saturday am: Valley of the Ancients
& Cedar Run Trail
  with Bob Miller, afternoon with Sat. keynote speaker, Tom Barnes

Dear Friends,
If you are a serious photographer and want to spend lots of solo time taking pictures, this is the very best field trip for you. Unfortunately, taking pictures very slowly and earnestly while on most of these field trips can slow down the group and makes it very hard for the leader to keep everyone together. Meanwhile, the photographer feels pushed and can feel thwarted in his or her creative focus So, instead of fighting the natural pace, if you are a photographer, here is a program JUST for you and your needs. Although all photographers must stay on the trail to keep the wildflowers intact, these field trip will be structured so that participants will have quiet solo time out on some of the best picture-taking trails of the Sanctuary--led by expert photographers sympathetic to the pursuit and willing to share their skills!  Load up your equipment and join us

Friday: Cave Canyon & Barrett's Rim     
Friday Leader: Bob Miller.  Bob is an award winning photographer from Cincinnati, and long-time volunteer with the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. Bob has led several photography courses at the Sanctuary, was an earlier keynote speaker for the Pilgrimage and loves to support other photographers' creative work.
Meet on the deck of the Appalachian Forest Museum at 9:00 am, located on the right side of the museum. Hike begins promptly at 9:15 am.
Driving Distance: Barrett's Rim is a little over one half mile from Cave Canyon--both are in the heart of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary in Region 1.
Difficulty: Approximately 2.5 miles of hiking all day. Cave Canyon is .25 miles long with several stone steps  on well maintained trail system. Barrett's Rim is a backcountry trail 2.0 miles long. One short descent has difficult footing and tends to be slippery. The trails are narrow -- single-file  in width -- with four short stream crossings on stones, two of which have short but slippery steep banks. Streams are small with about 2 inches of water in them. Good balance and hiking boots are requested. Sections of the trail can be slippery if it has recently rained.
Description: Cave Canyon is a short trail with spectacular botanical and geological beauty. The trail will be going into a lush steep-walled valley with lots of flowers, ferns, mosses and liverworts. The trail goes by several cave entrances, which make for compelling photographic images. We will not be entering the caves due to bat restoration efforts. Cave Canyon is karst country at its best--caves, springs, and grottos. The Barrett's Rim Trail in the Rocky Fork Gorge is spectacular in April -- truly a heady experience. The preserve is fondly referred to as the jewel of the gorge. The dolomite rock walls and fallen boulders support an incredulous density of wildflowers, presenting floral displays not only at one's feet but also above your head. As you walk between the winding river and the dolomite cliffs, columbine, trillium, bellwort, miterwort, anemone, cohosh, and wild geraniums produce a wonderful verdant display of classic Appalachia wildflowers. Highly recommended. The Highlands Nature Sanctuary which contains the gorge is the Arc's largest preserve region at 2000 acres in size. Distinguishing features: high overall plant diversity.

Saturday: am Valley of the Ancients, pm Cedar Run Trail
Leader: Bob Miller, and joining us in the afternoon is Leader Thomas Barnes. Bob is an award winning photographer from Cincinnati, and long-time volunteer with the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. Bob has led several photography courses at the Sanctuary, was an earlier keynote speaker for the Pilgrimage and loves to support other photographers' creative work. Tom has a brilliant reputation as both author and professional photographer. His published books have done perhaps more than any other person to raise awareness in the common Eastern citizens as to the importance of Kentucky's fragile ecosystems and our collective responsibility to save them. He is the author of Kentucky's Last Great Places, Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky, and the  just-released Rare Wildflowers of Kentucky. For more information on Tom, see www.uky.edu/Ag/Forestry/TBarnes/   Red Trillium photo by Thomas Barnes--photo from Kentucky, not seen on this trail.
Difficulty: Approximately 2.0 miles of hiking all day. Valley of the Ancients is a very short trail with a forty foot ascent and descent on rock stairways. Cedar Run is a 1.5 mile loop on a typical back-country trail -- a path that is narrow and sometimes uneven. There is one precarious crossing over a hillside spring requiring balance, but otherwise it poses no unusual obstacles.
Meet at the Appalachian Forest Museum at the main trailhead at 9:00 am, located to the outside left of the museum. Hike begins promptly at 9:15.
Description: We will take the opportunity in the morning to photograph what in most years is an outstanding display of Trillium grandiflorum on the Valley of the Ancients Trail, as well as other flowers. We will spend the afternoon with Tom Barnes on the Cedar Run Trail, a gorgeous new trail further upstream on the Rocky Fork Gorge, which includes the spring-fed side tributary of Cedar Run.  Rock formations on both of these waterways is exceptionally beautiful, and the flowers are among the best in the system with lots of trillium, cohosh, and emerging jack in the pulpits and shooting stars. A trail spur takes you to a waterfalls, partially hidden by a fallen boulder.
Driving Distance: Meets right at Cave Canyon. Cedar Run is about one mile away.

Trip #22  region 1  Saturday only
Just for CHILDREN --  for ages 8 through 12
Agility B Aerobics B
Nature Crafting
Special Pricing for Children--$20.00/day

Driving Distance from Region 1, one-way: no driving, Cave Canyon on Cave Road. 
Meet at the Appalachian Forest Museum between 8:30 - 8:45 am. Check in at the Museum Gatehouse and the children will be guided to their leader. Program will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Please pick up children promptly at 3:30 p.m. Please note: adult programs will vary in their ending times. Please be prepared to keep an access to your car in case you have to leave a bit early to pick up your children. We suggest that you choose a field trip in the Highlands Nature Sanctuary region (#1) so that you don't have to fit in a long drive after parting from your group. Most Sanctuary events will be ending between 3 and 4. Like all of our field trips, this trip is limited to 15 participants. ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED. Leaders: Kris Cross, Children's Environmental Educator. Please pack or order a lunch.
        
Difficulty Approximately 1.0 miles of hiking all day on wooded sections of Cave Canyon. Children will be carefully supervised at all time.  

Program Description. During the day, participants will enjoy a number of different activities. Children will time out in the woods on Cave Canyon's hiking trails -- witnessing , enjoy, and learning to identify several of our native wildflowers. Recognition of flowers will be aided with sharing with the children natural history folklore, and the use of wildflower flash cards. The day will also include storytelling, and crafting twig containers and seashell mosaics. Please see Sunday for another children's activity.  Hepatica Flower Photo by Tim Pohlar