Miami University Natural Areas: Marcum and Ruder Preserve (Blog Hike #002)

Trails: Ruder Trail, Marcum Trail, et. al.
Hike Location: Four Mile Creek Preserve, Miami University Natural Areas
Geographic Location: east side of Oxford, OH (39.51326,-84.72697)
Length: 2.4 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Dates Hiked: many, including October 2011
Overview: A quiet, fairly easy stroll along broad, peaceful Four-Mile Creek.

Area Information: http://miamioh.edu/student-life/natural-areas/

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=794741
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 27 and SR 732 in downtown Oxford, begin following US 27 south.  Where Patterson Ave. intersects High Street at a traffic light, turn left (US 27 turns right here).  Follow this street for two blocks to the entrance to the Marcum Conference Center on the right.  Turn right here and park in the lot in the back (left side) of the Marcum Center. The trail starts at the gazebo on the northeast side of the building.

The hike: For some general information on MUNATS, see the Bachelor Reserve hike. This set of trails connects the Western Reserve Trail to Yager Stadium, home of Miami football.  After I graduated from Miami, this trail would become my most commonly used route through MUNATS: on gamedays I would park at an MUNATS trailhead and walk up this trail to the stadium.

The hike itself features Four-Mile Creek, a tributary of the Great Miami River that drains northwest Butler and southwest Preble Counties.  Locals call Four-Mile Creek Talawanda Creek, the name used by the Miami Indians.  This same creek is dammed to create Acton Lake, the center of Hueston Woods State Park, located a few miles upstream. This hike is especially scenic in the summer when dense secondary growth creates a green carpet for the hillside that borders the west side of the trail.

            The gravel trail leaves the Marcum Center and immediately heads into the woods, dropping steeply downhill toward Four-Mile Creek.  About half way to the creek, the trail splits to form the Marcum Loop, with the left trail continuing to drop toward the creek and the right trail heading across a long, high, wooden bridge.  Take the right trail for now; you will eventually return on the other one.  The trail winds along the hillside slightly more than midway between the creek and the crest of the hill. Some of the red brick buildings that typify Miami's campus are visible to the right, and the creek can be seen downhill on your left.

Exiting the Marcum Loop

            After crossing a second wooden bridge, the trail starts to descend to the creek, first slowly, and then more abruptly.  At the bottom of the hill, the trail intersects the other half of the Marcum Loop, which goes off to the left at a sharp angle, while another trail goes off to the right through an opening in a wooden fence.  Take the trail to the right first.  A short, flat hike will take you along Four-Mile Creek to the Miami University stables, a cinder access road, and the northern terminus of the Western Reserve Trail (see note at beginning of this hike). To continue this hike, turn left on the cinder road.

Deep ravines above Four-Mile Creek

            The sunny road heads due east with the stable’s horse pasture on the right and a fence between you and the creek on the left.  On the other side of the pastureland, the trail reenters the shady woods.  The road curves right and left several times before forking.  Take the left fork to a pool just below a concrete dam in Four-Mile Creek.  This is a good spot for rest, meditation, wading, or even fishing. 

Peaceful Four-Mile Creek

            Once done here, retrace your steps back to the Marcum Loop Trail (where you came down the hill along the wooden fence).  Continue around the loop by taking the trail to the right along the bank of the creek.  Make sure to wear plenty of bug repellant during the summer, as mosquitoes love the calm water of Four-Mile Creek.  One day, as I was walking along this section of the trail, I happened to frighten a great blue heron from its perch on a branch over the creek.  I watched in wonder as the large, blue bird glided majestically over the creek to a new perch downstream.

            After passing by some fallen trees and crossing a couple of dry creek overflow channels, come to another gravel trail that goes off to the left.  Do not follow it yet, as it will take you back uphill to the Marcum Center.  Instead continue ahead on a dirt trail that goes through an opening in another wooden fence.   You are now hiking the Ruder Trail.  This trail continues along Four-Mile Creek for about 0.35 miles until it reaches another concrete dam.  Once again, the pool directly below it makes a good place for any of the activities I mentioned before.

Low-level dam in Four-Mile Creek

            Past this point, the trail puts some distance between itself and the creek.  This section of the trail is particularly narrow with grass growing on either side.  Pants will help avoid ticks and chigger bites if you are hiking this section in the summer or fall.  Chiggers are small, red insects that live in tall grass such as is found here.  Their bites look like mosquito bites, but they are twice as big and itch twice as much. 

            Rather abruptly, the trail leaves the old growth forest and enters its final section, which consists entirely of young secondary forest. The trail ends at the intersection of Shadowy Hills Ln. and Bonham Rd.  Just in front of you here is Yager Stadium, where thousands of fans gather on various Saturdays each fall to cheer for the Miami University Redhawk football team.  To get back to your car from here, simply retrace your steps along the Ruder Trail to where it joins the Marcum Loop, then take the trail to the right uphill to the Marcum Center where you began the hike.