Edge of the Appalachia Preserve Serpent Mound Hiking Trails Pictures Movies

Edge of the Appalachia The Edge of the Appalachia Preserve is one of the most biologically diverse collections of natural systems in the midwestern U.S. The Adams county preserve, located near West Union Ohio, has ohio hiking trails in the Lynx Prairie hiking trail, Buzzardroost Rock hiking trail, the Wilderness Preserve hiking trail, Chaparral Prairie hiking trail, Whipple State Nature Preserve hiking trail, Davis State Nature Preserve hiking trail and the Johnson Preserve trail. A short drive North gives you the Serpent Mound State Memorial. There you can hike a beautiful trail around the Serpent and also hike another beautiful trail on down the hill.

The Buzzardroost Trail passes through a number of plant communities and provides the opportunity to see the region's diverse geologic history. The hike is moderate, with a round trip distance of three miles.

The Wilderness Trail could be difficult to follow and strenuous for some. You should stay on the marked trail to protect the rare plant communities.

Located within the Edge of Appalachia is the Wilderness Preserve. This preserve contains a matrix of Appalachian communities from Appalachian Cove Forests to the globally rare Northern White-cedar Bluffs and remnant prairie communities that persist along cliff edges, narrow ridges, and forest openings on unglaciated Cedarville dolomite. This matrix is characteristic of the diversity of Adams County which was influenced, but not flattened, by the glacial movements in Ohio thousands of years ago, making it one of Ohio's best "biodiversity hotspots."

What to See: Amphibians and Reptiles:
Green salamander, Timber rattlesnake, Eastern hognose snake, Rough green snake, Eastern box turtle, Eastern earth snake, Red-spotted newt
What to See: Birds
Northern saw-whet owl, Sharp-shinned hawk, Henslow's sparrow, Red-shouldered hawk, Chuck-will's-widow, Black vulture, Barn owl, Cerulean warbler, Turkey vulture
What to See: Mussels:
Ridged pocketbook, Purple wartyback, Unexpected cycnia, Snuffbox, Yellow sandshell, Black sandshell, Washboard, Clubshell, Round pigtoe, Rabbitsfoot, Wartyback, Salamander mussel, Fawnsfoot, Deertoe, Three-horned wartyback
What to See: Mammals, Fish & Insects:
Dragonflies, Allegheny Woodrat, Tiger spiketail, Hellbender, River otter, Indiana bat, Rafinesque's Big-eared bat, Paddlefish, Pipevine swallowtail butterfly, Zebra swallowtail butterfly, Tiger swallowtail butterfly
Why the Conservancy Selected This Site:

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing:

The Nature Conservancy and Cincinnati Museum Center own and manage eleven contiguous preserves lying along a 12-mile stretch of Ohio Brush Creek. The history of this partnership dates back to 1959 when the Conservancy's Ohio Chapter made its first land purchase near the town of Lynx. Today, the preserve provides critical habitat for more than 100 rare species. Three areas, Lynx Prairie, Buzzardroost Rock, and The Wilderness Preserve, are registered National Natural Landmarks. Land acquisition will focus on consolidating land holdings and linking critical areas within the preserve system. Land management includes restoration of glade communities and prairie openings and addressing timber management issues as they relate to local economic development and neo-tropical migrant birds. The Conservancy will continue to build partnerships with the local community, and public and private entities to develop innovative approaches to compatible economic development.

Visit website hikingohioparks.com for more information about hiking in many Ohio and surrounding states park trails.