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The Nature
Conservancy and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources have preserved
many areas in Adams County, on account of their natural beauty and rare
flora and fauna. Many are open to the public and have hiking trails and
interpretive maps. All are within easy driving distance of Cave Hill Lodge.
Chapparal
Prairie
The closest
preserve is Chapparal Prairie, which is on Hawk Hill Road about two miles
from the Lodge. It features a prairie remnant, with plants not ordinarily
seen this side of Kansas, including Little Bluestem, Rattlesnake Master and
False Blue Indigo. There is a .75 mile gentle groomed trail leading though
the prairie. Here is a picture of the prairie.
For more
information, go to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/location/dnap/chaparral_prairie/tabid/926/Default.aspx.
Directions: Go down Cave Hill Road to Hawk Hill Road, turn right,
travel about a mile and a half. The preserve is on the right. A good spot
to visit if you don't have much time.
Adams
Lake Prairie
If you are
interested in prairie remnants, go to see Adams Lake Prairie, which is
about 6 miles from the Lodge, just outside West Union. It is a xeric
prairie - very dry and parched open fields. There are stands of Prairie
Dock, Blazing Star and bluets. Here is a picture of the Prairie Dock.
There is a
gentle ¼ mile trail. For more information, go to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/location/dnap/adamslake/tabid/915/Default.aspx.
Directions: Go down Cave Hill Road, turn left on Hawk Hill, right on
Cross Road. Follow Cross Road to State Route 247, turn right. Turn left on
SR 125 in West Union, go through West Union, then left on SR 41. The
preserve is in Adams Lake State Park; the trailhead is at the end of the
paved road.
Davis
Memorial
One of the
most beautiful and interesting State nature preserves is Davis Memorial. A
stream runs though high limestone cliffs. One of the cliffs reveals a
geologic fault where the strata have been displaced about 30 feet.
Wildflowers adorn the cliffs. Here is a picture of one of them.
There is a 2
mile trail system with bridges, bulletin board, interpretive signs,
boardwalk and parking lot. The trail is a bit steep at the beginning, then
flattens out down by the creek. For more information, go to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/location/dnap/davis/tabid/934/Default.aspx.
Directions: Left on Hawk Hill, right on Cross Road, left on SR 247,
right on SR 32. From the junction of State Rte 32 and State Rte 41 south of
Peebles, follow State Rte 32 approximately 1.2 miles east to Steam Furnace
Rd. Proceed south on Steam Furnace Rd .3 mile to Davis Memorial Rd. Go left
(east) on Davis Memorial Rd for 2.8 miles until reaching the parking lot on
the right. This is a bit of a drive, but well worth it for the walk along
the stream next to the cliffs.
Shoemaker
Preserve
The newest
nature preserve in the county is Shoemaker Preserve. From the official
description of the site:
"The
22-acre site protects several significant natural features including seven
state-listed plants. The rarities found at this Adams County preserve
include heart-leaved plantain (Plantago cordata), a state endangered
species only known from three other sites in Ohio.
"Not
only botanically significant, the site is geologically significant as well.
It features two natural arches, dolomite cliffs and slump blocks harboring
several species of ferns and other plants found in calcareous cliff
communities.
"The
preserve also protects both banks of Cedar Fork for nearly a half mile.
Cedar Fork is a tributary of Scioto Brush Creek which is considered one of
Ohio's most pristine waterways."
Here's a picture of the Preserve.
There is a 1
½ mile trail along the creek. For more information, go to http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/location/dnap/Shoemaker/tabid/21440/Default.aspx.
Directions: Left on Hawk Hill, right on Cross Road, left on SR 247,
right on SR 32. From the junction of State Rte 32 and State Rte 41 south of
Peebles, follow State Route 41 north to Portsmouth Road. Take a right on
Portsmouth Rd., then a right on Pine Gap Road. The Preserve is at 165 Pine
Gap Road.
Edge of
Appalachia Preserve
The Nature
Conservancy's Edge of Appalachia Preserve has some of the best hikes and
nature trails in the State of Ohio.
For
information and directions, go to
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/preserves/art145.html
Lynx
Prairie
Lynx Prairie
is a gem, with a short trail and a wide variety of prairie plants. It is
the oldest Nature Conservancy Preserve in Ohio. It's about 15 miles from
the Lodge. Here's a picture of a Coneflower at the Preserve.
For
information and directions, go to http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/preserves/art26009.html.
There is a trail map, including notes of points of interest on the trail,
at http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/files/lynx_prairie_trail_map.pdf.
The
Wilderness
The
Wilderness is a more strenuous hike, but still rather easy. It is located
across State Route 125 from Lynx Prairie, to the north of the road. Here's
a picture of one of the rockhouses.
For
information and directions go to http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/preserves/art26010.html.
There is a trail map and extensive descriptions at http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/files/the_wildnerness_trail_map.pdf.
Buzzardroost
Rock
Buzzardroost
Rock is the granddaddy of them all, sporting magnificent views and a
traverse through a variety of soil and vegetation types. The trail is long
and is steep in several parts, but the effort is well worth it when you get
to the end. Like Lynx Prairie and The Wilderness, it is about 15 miles from
the Lodge. Here are some pictures of the Preserve.
For
information go to http://www.cincymuseum.org/explore_our_sites/edge_appalachia/buzzardroost_rock.asp.
For a trail map and points of interest along the trail, go to http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/ohio/preserves/art26004.html
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Additional
Information
Ohio
Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/867/Default.aspx
Whipple
State Nature Preserve.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/location/dnap/whipple/tabid/913/Default.aspx
Johnson
Ridge State Nature Preserve.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnap/location/johnson_ridge/tabid/897/Default.aspx
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