Wildflower Pilgrimage
2027 Field Trips
Participants take part in day-long field trips to wildflower destinations on Saturday and Sunday. Optional half-day field trips to local trails will be offered on Friday. Pilgrimage treks are led by some of Ohio’s most knowledgeable naturalists and botanists. Groups are limited to 12 people or less.
ALL FIELD TRIPS BEGIN AT THE RESPECTIVE TRAILHEADS. DIRECTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED CLOSER TO THE EVENT.
Friday Afternoon Field Trips
Barrett’s Rim Trail - Highlands Nature Sanctuary - MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 2 miles (5 minutes)
Length of Trail: 2.5 mile loop trail
Difficulty: MODERATE due to length. This is a well-maintained and improved trial. The trail includes one descent and ascent of roughly 40 feet.
The Barrett’s Rim Trail in the Rocky Fork Gorge is spectacular in April. Dolomite rock walls line the Rocky Fork Creek like sentinels, and the fallen boulders bordering the trail support an incredulous density of wildflowers. Floral displays present themselves not only at one’s feet but also above one’s head, earning our nickname for the place, “the jewel of the Rocky Fork Gorge.” We will be hiking along the winding creek of the Rocky Fork and under the beautiful cliff overhangs - admiring small cascades and bubbling brooks. Barrett’s Rim showcases a high density of karst country wildflowers, including large colonies of blue cohosh that tumble down the steep-sided ravine and incomprehensible numbers of large-flowered trillium. Only in April, and only in the Sanctuary, are such magical experiences possible! Blue cohosh photo by Gallespie.
Listening Trail - Highlands Nature Sanctuary - MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: 8.5 miles (11 minutes)
Length of Trail: 0.5 mile
Difficulty: MODERATE due only to the narrow paths along the very steep hillside.
A lovely 0.5-mile trail that follows the bluffs above the Rocky Fork, with a end at the waters edge. Along the way, enjoy stunning rock formations, peaceful scenery, and a wonderful display of spring wildflowers. The trail ends with a gorgeous view of the Rocky Fork Creek. It’s a beautiful little hike that packs plenty of scenery into a short distance.
Harmony Trail at Paint Creek State Park - EASY
Distance from Forest Museum: 4 miles (9 minutes)
Length of Trail: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: EASY Trails are wide and level and well maintained.
This easy loop trail gracefully winds through mineral-rich floodplains within the scenic dolomite gorge of Paint Creek just upstream from its confluence with the Rocky Fork. In spring, this wide, well-maintained path comes alive with a profusion of showy ephemeral flora and serenading neotropic songbirds. From the unbroken sprawl of wildflowers at ones feet to the attractive botanical showcases that drape over the dolomite canyon walls - This short, gentle hike feels just as immersive as many of our other more difficult hikes being offered. We will break for lunch at the picnic area near the trail and then travel to the Appalachian Forest Museum for the second leg of our hike.
The Henrietta Miller Memorial Trek - Miller State Nature Preserve - EASY
Distance from Forest Museum: 3 miles (7 minutes)
Length of Trail: 2.5 miles of hiking.
Difficulty: EASY Trails are wide and level with lots of steps and bridges. Only a few short ascents and descents.
Miller State Nature Preserve is adjacent to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and is the oldest preserve on the Rocky Fork Gorge. The preserve has an extremely rich and compelling display of karst-country wildflowers, with dense displays of wild ginger, sweet William, large-flowered bellwort, Virginia bluebells, and large-flowered trillium. Later in the season, it is one of the best destinations to observe shooting stars. Several sparkling clean creeks dissect the preserve, sculpting out beautiful limestone rock formations, including a handsome stone arch. This hike is dedicated to Henrietta Miller, who donated much of Miller Preserve to the natural areas many decades ago and was the Arc’s VERY FIRST large donor, helping our fledgling organization get off the ground in 1995. Photo by Bob Miller.
Valley of the Ancients Trail & Etawah Woods - Highlands Nature Sanctuary - EASY
Distance from Forest Museum: at the Musuem, access from the deck
Length of Trail: .5 mile (Valley of the Ancients) 1.2 miles (Etawah Woods Trail)
Difficulty: EASY Trails are wide and level and well maintained.
Valley of the Ancients Trail description here.
The Etawah Woods Trail at Highlands Nature Sanctuary offers a gradual descent into one of the most scenic sections of the Rocky Fork Gorge, where mature to old-growth woodlands shelter some of the best wildflower displays in the region. The trail is well-maintained, and several sets of steps lead down to the gorge spur, where hikers are rewarded with a view of the famous “Three Sisters” - three massive dolomite boulders standing together within the center of Rocky Fork Creek’s waters. photo by Tim Pohlar
Saturday & Sunday Field Trips
Attention Wildflower Friends!!
If you have the stamina and strength to hike uphill, we STRONGLY recommend that you sign up for the Ohio River Bluffs field trip over the weekend, even though it is a considerable drive from the Sanctuary. The floral display at this preserve is stunning beyond comprehension. This is a rare chance to catch the Bluff’s early-spring display at its peak, simply because this year’s Pilgrimage is earlier than usual. We don’t want you to miss a world-class display!
Ohio River Bluffs - A hillside of solid flowers!!
Arc of Appalachia Preserve - CHALLENGING
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 48 miles (1 hr 10 mins)
Length of Trail: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: This trail is HARD only because of the ascent.
The Ohio River Bluffs offers one of Ohio's most breathtaking wildflower displays, featuring a dense, nearly unbroken carpet of spring blooms cascading from the steep limestone bluffs to the Ohio River below. This preserved remnant of a once-continuous floral expanse is highlighted by Virginia bluebells, blue-eyed Mary, toad trillium, dwarf larkspur, and wild hyacinth. Visitors can enjoy stunning panoramas of the Ohio River and Kentucky hills, with trailside views framed by drifts of vibrant wildflowers
Whipple State Nature Preserve -
Ohio Department of Natural Resources -
MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 47.2 miles (1 hr 6 mins)
Length of Trail: 2-miles
Difficulty: This trail descends into a hollow, and back out, and it is not a short trail, but is otherwise moderate in difficulty
*A shuttle will be available from the Museum to the Preserve for those who would prefer not to drive.
Whipple State Nature Preserve lies in close proximity to the Arc's renowned Ohio River Bluffs, just on the other side of the sleepy town of Manchester. The preserve protects precipitously steep south-facing slopes overlooking the scenic Ohio River Valley. The Ordovician limestones and Silurian dolomites underlying the steep hills have produced mineral-rich, alkaline soils that host stunning spring ephemeral communities in open understories, including unbroken carpets of Virginia Bluebells, Twinleaf, Goldenseal, and many more. Since parking is limited to a narrow roadside pull-off, we will be taking advantage of our shuttle van for transport so that we can renew this popular Pilgrimage destination offering.
Trimmer Arch - Paint Creek Reservoir
Managed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife -
CHALLENGING
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 9 miles (14 minutes) to the north
Length of Trail: 2.75 miles of hiking
Difficulty: HARD. We will be walking in rocky, uneven terrain and off-trail much of the way. Hikers will need good balance.
We heard rumors of this enchanting location a few years ago and sleuthed out where it was. It was more magical than we imagined, and we were smitten! Smothered in wildflowers, the dripping rock walls and fallen boulders in this humid, sheltered ravine have never seen a dry day. The landscape boasts two waterfalls plus a pristine rock arch so big a group of people can stand below it. Large-flowered trillium, large-flowered bellwort, wild ginger, and false rue anemones carpet the rocks. Because invasive plants are starting to enter this landscape, the Arc is trying to figure out how to help the State of Ohio care for this delicate, vulnerable site. At this time, Trimmer Arch does not have an official entrance or legal parking. We have, however, obtained permission to enter for the Pilgrimage. Photo by Kathryn Cubert.
Cliff Run Preserve - An Arc of Appalachia Preserve fantastic for trilliums - MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 4 miles (8 minutes)
Length of Trail: 2.5 miles of hiking at Cliff Run; half mile at Harmony Trail
Difficulty: MODERATE because of length. The few short ascents and descents have been improved with steps, and all stream crossings have bridges.
Cliff Run and its tributary, Lewis Family Gorge, contain over 1.5 mile of a vertical-sided gorge that drains into Paint Creek Reservoir, a short distance outside the preserve’s boundaries. The wildflowers along these two waterways boast signature karst country flowers in extravagant displays. Several species of flowers actually cling to 50-foot dolomite cliffs that border the stream, while large-flowered trillium and wild ginger tumble over the upper part of the gorge. The trail is stunningly beautiful and offers diverse experiences, including walking on a boardwalk that crosses a small lake that shelters an active beaver colony. photo by Brian Prose
Otter Banks - Highlands Nature Sanctuary - CHALLENGING
Distance from Forest Museum: 8-miles (20 minutes). We will meet at Ridgeview Farm in Sanctuary West, and then shuttle together to the trailhead (2 more miles)
Length of Trail: 2 mile loop trail.
Difficulty: This trail is HARD because the trail is only lightly improved. It is cut into a very steep slope above the Rocky Fork, presenting a narrowly level, sometimes muddy route. The path is rocky and uneven and requires good balance. Elevation change is 100 feet.
Otter Banks is a stunning biological area that protects an entire mile of creek frontage along the Rocky Fork in a remote, roadless region of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. Otter Banks shelters the most beautiful and dense wildflower display in the entire 10-mile stretch of the lower Rocky Fork Gorge. The property shelters breathtaking rock formations, seeps and springs, a gorgeous rock arch, and several small but splendid waterfalls that cascade over the rim of the bluffs. Because Otter Banks can only be accessed by crossing private Mennonite-owned farms with permission, the only way to enter the property at this time is through one of our guided Wildflower Pilgrimage hikes. photo by Brian Prose
Barrett’s Rim Trail - Highlands Nature Sanctuary -
The Jewel of Gorge - fantastic for trilliums
MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 2 miles (5 minutes)
Length of Trail: 2.5 mile loop trail
Difficulty: MODERATE due to length. This is a well-maintained and improved trial. The trail includes one descent and ascent of roughly 40 feet.
The Barrett’s Rim Trail in the Rocky Fork Gorge is spectacular in April. Dolomite rock walls line the Rocky Fork Creek like sentinels, and the fallen boulders bordering the trail support an incredible density of wildflowers. Floral displays present themselves not only at one’s feet but also above one’s head, earning our nickname for the place, “the jewel of the Rocky Fork Gorge.” We will be hiking along the winding creek of the Rocky Fork and under the beautiful cliff overhangs - admiring small cascades and bubbling brooks. Barrett’s Rim showcases a high density of karst country wildflowers, including large colonies of blue cohosh that tumble down the steep-sided ravine and incomprehensible numbers of large-flowered trillium. Only in April, and only in the Sanctuary, are such magical experiences possible!
Quiverheart Gorge - Arc of Appalachia Preserve CHALLENGING
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 30 miles (41 minutes)
Length of Trail: 2 miles of hiking if we take one trail, 3.5 miles if we take both.
Difficulty: HARD. The narrow trail has been attentively improved with steps, bridges, and much maddock work to level the trails. Nevertheless, the trails are rocky with several ascents and descents. If the group opts to take both trails, the trek will be of considerable length.
Quiverheart is a stunningly beautiful deep dolomite gorge in Adams County that boasts rock shelters, intriguing rock formations, rich riparian forests, karst country woodlands, scattered cedar glades, and a beautiful waterfall. A profusion of wildflowers covers the canyon floor and fallen boulders in this karst-country landscape, including large-flowered trillium, wild ginger, miterwort, hepatica, and false rue anemone. The most common adjectives for this preserve are “magical and enchanting.“
Shoemaker State Nature Preserve & Davis State Memorial - Ohio Department of Natural Resources - MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 48 miles (1 hr 10 mins)
Length of Trail: 1.5 miles (Shoemaker) & roughly 2 miles (Davis State)
Difficulty: MODERATE, only because of the ascent at Davis.
Davis Memorial and Shoemaker State Nature Preserve are two natural gems that sit just one mile away from one another as the crow flies. Collectively, these two nature preserves managed by the Division of Natural Areas protect a range of unique, globally rare flora and fauna that represent a remarkable slice of Adams County's unparalleled natural heritage. The preserves' unique geological compositions, including dolomite cliffs and dry-xeric black shale knobs, foster extraordinary floral communities that are hard to find anywhere else. Trillium diversity is well represented here. For this trip, we will begin at Shoemaker, hiking the 1.5 mile hiking trail, and from there, we will jump over to Davis State Memorial for a final hike. Photo by Tom Croce.
Hickory Hollows - near the Highlands Nature Sanctuary - MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: 8 miles (20 minutes). We will meet at Ridgeview Farm in Sanctuary West, and then shuttle together to the trailhead (2 more miles)
Length of Trail: 2 miles covered
Difficulty: MODERATE only because trailsis just roughed in. You will cross two unimproved stream crossings that you can navigate with stepping stones.
Hickory Hollows is a beautiful mature woodland that boasts magnificent specimens of hickories, hence its name. The towering trees of this mature forest overlook the sparkling waters of a private lake that borders the property. If you are nurtured by quiet expanses of open waters and you love wildflowers, this is the trip for you! The forest supports an unusual density of twinleaf and goldenseal, along with rue anemones, adder’s tongue, and hepatica. Along the trek, you will be experiencing classic mesic wildflower display as well as karst-country showcases in regions of the preserve where dolomite bedrock is exposed at the surface,Two small streams enter the lake, each forming its own small karst-influenced ravine. Photo by John Howard.
Maude’s Cedar Narrows - Highlands Nature Sanctuary - MODERATE
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 9 miles (12 minutes)
Length of Trail: 3.5 miles of hiking
Difficulty: MODERATE. The only difficulty is length. There is a 50-foot elevation change. The trail is narrow but is cut into the steep hillside to create a level walkway. Hikers should possess good balance.
Maude’s Cedar Narrows protects a long section of the Rocky Fork Creek corridor and the lower run of Franklin Branch in the western reaches of the 3,000-acre Sanctuary. It also boasts one of the prettiest waterfalls in the Arc Preserve system. Maude’s Trail follows a steep hillside overlooking the Rocky Fork right after the creek exits the lake at the Rocky Fork State Park. In this high-humidity and wind-protected gorge, karst wildflowers flourish. On this trip, we will be sure to take an off-trail spur to see the signature feature of Maude’s - the dense trillium and blue cohosh displays of Franklin Branch - and the creek’s handsome waterfalls.
Cedar Falls Trail - Edge of Appalachia
The Nature Conservancy & Cincinnati Museum Center - MODERATE | Saturday Only
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 35 miles (55 minutes)
Length of Trail: 3 miles (out and back)
Difficulty: MODERATE due to length, but there are no major elevation changes. The trail can be intermittently muddy after a lot of rain.
The Cedar Falls Trail offers a memorable wildflower experience. and is well worth the drive. Although the density of flowers is less than at the Rocky Fork Gorge, the biodiversity along this trail is absolutely breathtaking and quite likely provides the highest species count of all our field trips. Look for unusually large populations of goldenseal in bloom. Less common plants include the American Gromwell and a hybridized long-spurred violet. The trail follows the rim of a deep ravine that has been sculpted by Cedar Run. The path winds upstream, passing a beautiful boulder field and a stately white oak forest. The trail ends at a wooden deck, where you will enjoy a handsome view of the falls and an elevated wooden deck. We will return at a brisker pace the same way we came.
Fort Hill - managed by the Arc of Appalachia - CHALLENGING
Distance from Forest Museum: approximately 11 miles (19 minutes)
Length of Trail: 4.5-mile loop trail
Difficulty: HARD mostly because of its length, with many small ascents and descents. Hikers need to be in good physical condition.
Fort Hill protects the largest, oldest forest in Ohio. Its botanical charms were first promoted by the 20th C. botanist, Lucy Braun. Her botanical inventories and interpretive booklets gave Fort Hill its well-earned reputation of being a high-diversity botanical hotspot. Today it boasts a remarkable plant list of 675 species, with more yet to be discovered. Fort Hill boasts an incredibly rich karst country assemblage of diverse wildflowers and a deep dolomite gorge bordered by spectacular arches, seeps, and grottos. Fort Hill is so verdant, that seeing so many floral showcases hour after hour after hour is an intensely emotional experience, and it is one of our most beautiful showcases. It is a long walk so it is not for everyone. Photo by Tim Pohlar
Miller State Nature Preserve -
The Henrietta Miller Memorial Trek - EASY
Distance from Forest Museum: 3 miles (7 minutes)
Length of Trail: 2.5 miles of hiking.
Difficulty: EASY Trails are wide and level with lots of steps and bridges. Only a few short ascents and descents.
Miller State Nature Preserve is adjacent to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary and is the oldest preserve on the Rocky Fork Gorge. The preserve has an extremely rich and compelling display of karst-country wildflowers, with dense displays of wild ginger, sweet William, large-flowered bellwort, Virginia bluebells, and large-flowered trillium. Later in the season, it is one of the best destinations to observe shooting stars. Several sparkling clean creeks dissect the preserve, sculpting out beautiful limestone rock formations, including a handsome stone arch. This hike is dedicated to Henrietta Miller, who donated much of Miller Preserve to the natural areas many decades ago and was the Arc’s VERY FIRST large donor, helping our fledgling organization get off the ground in 1995. Her dream was to one day connect the Highlands Nature Sanctuary to Miller Preserve, which, back in 1995, seemed like a far-fetched fantasy. We did it, Henrietta!! Bloodroot Photo by Tom Croce.
Harmony Trail at Paint Creek State Park
& Etawah Woods at the Sanctuary - EASY
Distance from Forest Museum: 4 miles (9 minutes)
Length of Trail: 1.5 miles (Harmony Trail) 1.2 miles (Etawah Woods Trail)
Difficulty: EASY Trails are wide, level, and well maintained.
This easy loop trail gracefully winds through mineral-rich floodplains within the scenic dolomite gorge of Paint Creek just upstream from its confluence with the Rocky Fork. In spring, this wide, well-maintained path comes alive with a profusion of showy ephemeral flora and serenading neotropic songbirds. From the unbroken sprawl of wildflowers at one's feet to the attractive botanical showcases that drape over the dolomite canyon walls, this short, gentle hike feels just as immersive as many of our other more difficult hikes. We will break for lunch at the picnic area near the trail and then travel to the Appalachian Forest Museum for the second leg of our hike.
The Etawah Woods Trail at Highlands Nature Sanctuary offers a gradual descent into one of the most scenic sections of the Rocky Fork Gorge, where mature to old-growth woodlands shelter some of the best wildflower displays in the region. The trail is well-maintained, and several sets of steps lead down to the gorge spur, where hikers are rewarded with a view of the famous “Three Sisters” - three massive dolomite boulders standing together within the center of Rocky Fork Creek’s waters.