COLUMBUS, OH - Whether by land or by water, visitors to Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve in Warren County will have a chance to enjoy its beauty during a special event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 10. The event, which features a canoe float and nature hikes, is part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) new nature program, the Natural Areas Discovery Series.
The 483-acre preserve, situated along the east side of the Little Miami State and National Scenic River, offers impressive views of shale and limestone cliffs rising 180 feet above Caesar Creek, a tributary of the Little Miami.
Two canoeing and hiking sessions will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Pre-registration begins one hour prior to each session. Canoes will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are asked to meet at the shelter house located below Caesar Creek Dam in Caesar Creek State Park. Personal flotation devices will be available, but participants weighing less than 90 pounds must bring their own.
Separate naturalist-led hikes through Caesar Creek Gorge begin at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. from the preserve's parking area for individuals who prefer to stay on land. Along the 2-mile hike, visitors will be greeted by a diverse habitat supporting a variety of trees, including beech, maple, hickory and oak. Hikers also will see the limestone outcroppings that line the gorge, which are home to a rich collection of fossils, including the state fossil, the trilobite.
Caesar Creek State Nature Preserve is located 3 miles north of Oregonia in Warren County and is accessible from Interstate 71 by taking State Route 73 west to Corwin Road south. To reach the shelter house from Route 73, take Clarksville Road south. Pass the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers visitor center on the left to access the tailwater parking area.
The Natural Areas Discovery Series features scheduled hikes and interpretive activities with preserve and scenic river staff. The monthly programs will run through October at state nature preserves across Ohio and are free and open to the public. The ODNR Division of Natural Areas & Preserves sponsors the series. For more information about the Natural Areas Discovery Series, visit ohiodnr.com, or for specific information about the July 10 event at Caesar Creek Gorge, call 513-934-0751.