Arnovitz Nature Preserve (Blog Hike #175)

Trail: (unnamed)

Hike Location: Arnovitz Nature Preserve

Geographic Location: north side of Xenia, OH (39.71443, -83.92154)

Length: 0.7 miles

Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: June 2013

Overview: A short hike first through a marsh, then through young hillside forest.

Reserve Information: https://www.gcparkstrails.com/parks/sara-lee-arnovitz-nature-preserve/

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=720088
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From Xenia, go north on US 68 for 2 mile to Kinsey Road.  There is a traffic light at this intersection.  Turn right on Kinsey Rd.  Take Kinsey Rd. east 0.9 miles to the preserve entrance on the left.  Park in the only lot.

The hike: The 43 acre Arnovitz Preserve seems somewhat out of place in the residential area of northern Xenia.  In fact, without the work and foresight of some of these residents, this preserve would not exist at all.  The land now comprising the preserve was donated by residents in memory of Sara Lee Arnovitz.  In 1984, the Greene County Park District dedicated the preserve in her name.  Since then, the preserve has been left to return to its natural state, and it is now well on its way toward that goal.

            As with many Greene County parks, the preserve is rather underdeveloped, but that only adds to the quite natural feel the preserve provides.  Besides a couple of picnic tables near the parking lot, the only feature of this park is the 0.5 mile loop trail described here.  It is unusual to get this much privacy in an urban area, so appreciate what the residents have left for us to enjoy.           

Dedication marker at trailhead

            From an information board at the parking lot, the trail begins by heading down a few steps to the beginning of the loop.  For no particular reason, I chose to turn left and use the right hand trail coming over the bridge as the return route.  Turning left, the trail heads north across boardwalk into the marsh.  Marshes such as this are formed when groundwater seeped through the rock finds a place high enough on the hill to collect without draining directly into the creek.  This large marsh features an abundance of cattails and insects such as damselfly.  Oldtown Creek can be heard but usually not seen to the right.           

Boardwalk through marsh

            The boardwalk will keep your feet dry for the first 800 feet, but then the trail reverts to dirt and, still on the edge of the marsh, may be damp.  At 0.2 miles you will come to an intersection.  The trail to the left leads to an alternate trailhead on a residential street.  We will eventually take the trail to the right, but for now go straight and in short order reach a raised wooden observation deck.  A couple boards were missing on my visit, so watch your step.  This sunny platform gives a great view of the marsh and lets you see birds that you could not have seen from the boardwalk.           

Oldtown Creek

            After taking a few minutes to observe from the platform, return to the intersection and turn left to begin the return loop.  Up to now you have been in the sunny warm marsh, but now the trail turns into the cooler, shady woods dominated by young box-elder trees.  At 0.25 miles, the trail crosses a new bridge over Oldtown Creek.  The trail now turns right and, after crossing a couple of small tributaries, the trail climbs moderately to reach a bluff some 40 feet above the level of the creek.  The preserve boundary can be seen immediately to the left of the trail.           

Grassy upland trail

            The trail is heading for Kinsey Road, but before reaching it the trail takes a sharp right turn and heads downhill using some wooden steps built into the hillside.  At the bottom of the hill, the trail crosses a final wooden bridge to close the loop.  A few more steps uphill to the parking lot complete the hike.