Miami University Natural Areas: Silvoor Biological Sanctuary, Peffer Park (Blog Hike #13)

Trails: Silvoor Biological Sanctuary, Peffer Park

Hike Location: Miami University Natural Areas Trail System (MUNATS)

Geographic Location: south side of Oxford, OH (39.50017,-84.73335)

Length: 2 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: 1998, February 2005, October 2011, and June 2013

Overview: A fairly easy course through young succession forest.

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

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940223
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Oxford, follow US 27 south to Chestnut Street.  Turn right on Chestnut St.  Find a place to park on Chestnut St. or on Silvoor Lane, a side street that goes off of Chestnut St. on the left between Maple and Oak streets.  The trail starts off of Silvoor Lane just a few feet south of Chestnut St.

The hike: For my comments on MUNATS, see the Bachelor Reserve hike.  Though not the most scenic trail in the system, the hike described here provides a nice change of pace from other walks in MUNATS as it goes almost entirely through young forest.  It should be fun to watch this forest grow over the next few decades. 

Bridge near beginning of Silvoor Trail

            From Silvoor Lane, the trail descends several stone steps and crosses a small bridge while passing a small landscaped area decked out in flowers and ivy.  The trail then turns right and begins following a small stream downhill through a shallow, but steep-sided, ravine.  Only about 300 yards after you have begun, a trail connecting the Silvoor Preserve to Peffer Park goes off on the left.  You will need this connector trail twice later, but for now take the trail to the right, which uses a wooden bridge to cross the stream you have been following and head into the southern section of Silvoor Preserve. 

Connector trail to Peffer Park

            The trail through the southern part of Silvoor Preserve takes you on a short loop past several downed trees and glacier erratics.  Glacier erratics are large chunks of rock that were pushed south during the ice age several thousand years ago.  Glacier erratics can be identified because they are of different composition than the local bedrock.  In southwestern Ohio, the bedrock is limestone, while glacier erratics are usually granite.

Continue straight until you come to another small stream and concrete dam, where several side trails go off to the right.  At some times of the year this section of trail becomes very overgrown, so come prepared by wearing pants rather than shorts. 

            For the remainder of the loop, whenever the trail splits, always choose the trail that goes to the left.  You will pass by several sinkholes just before closing the loop.  Turn right to take the main trail back north to the Peffer Park connector.  Turn right on this short trail and follow it into the park.  The connector trail takes you to a wide-open, mown grassy area.  Follow around the right side of this area until you come to a bridge (on the south side), then take the bridge across Collins Creek to a blacktop parking lot. 

Bridge over Collins Creek

            Just past the far (right) end of the parking lot, step over a low gate to reach the entrance to the Peffer Park Preserve portion of MUNATS.  Enter the preserve and take the trail to the right.  This is a loop trail, so you will return via the trail on the left.  This trail, the Perimeter Trail, takes you uphill to a high bluff along Collins Creek, affording an excellent view. 

A word of caution: Peffer Park Preserve is almost entirely nondescript, young forest. Thus, one trail looks pretty much like the rest (at least it did the first time I hiked here!).  The lack of landmarks combined with the unmarked, winding, overlapping trail system in this section of the preserve makes it rather easy to get lost.  Make sure you keep track of which turns you make and stay on the established trails. 

            Just past the bluff, a side trail goes to the right.  Your trail, which continues straight at this junction, soon takes a gradual right turn before descending to creek level and intersecting another trail.  Turn left at this intersection and climb the hill again, going away from the creek. 

Hiking in Peffer Park

            Shortly ahead of this point, the main, wide trail goes to the left, and a narrower trail goes to the right.  Take the left fork, which takes you along the border of the park property.  Although this section of trail is narrow, it is easy to follow with no intersections and an obvious treadway.

After traversing the width of the preserve, make a sharp left turn alongside a cemetery.  0.3 miles of straight trail returns you to the preserve entrance.  From here, the best way back to your car is to retrace your steps back over the bridge and through the Silvoor Preserve to the trailhead near Chestnut Street.