COLUMBUS, OH - When greens turn to vibrant reds and golds in Ohio, it’s time to take to the trails to enjoy the best of fall color. This month, as part of the Natural Areas Discovery Series, visitors can experience guided hikes at two great fall color spots - Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve in Richland County and Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve in Wayne County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Each Open House is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, October 16. These are the final events of this year’s Natural Areas Discovery Series, sponsored by the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
Naturalist-guided hikes will begin at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Both sites feature wheelchair-accessible boardwalk trails. The preserves are about an hour away from each other, and visitors are encouraged to visit both to compare the fall foliage beauty.
Fowler Woods State Nature Preserve is an impressive old-growth woods featuring an outstanding beech-maple community. The 1.3-mile trail winds through varying habitats, including several large buttonbush swamps and former farm fields that are returning to woods. The 187-acre preserve is 13 miles north of Mansfield and 6 miles northwest of Olivesburg on Olivesburg-Fitchville Road.
One of the largest remaining old-growth forests in Ohio can be found at Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve. The 206-acre site protects an oak-hickory forest typical of the region’s pre-settlement landscape. Some of the oldest trees are 400 years old and rise 120 feet. Johnson Woods is located 4 miles north of Orrville off of State Route 57, on Fox Lake Road.
The Division of Natural Areas and Preserves oversees 128 state nature preserves and 20 state scenic river segments throughout Ohio. Visit ohiodnr.com for more information about the Natural Areas Discovery Series.