Cincinnati Nature Center: Redwing Trail (Blog Hike #76)

Trails: Whitetail Trace, Redwing, and Deep Woods Trails

Hike Location: Cincinnati Nature Center

Geographic Location: northwest of Batavia, OH (39.12477, -84.24531)

Length: 4.4 miles

Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: 2000, August 2017

Overview: A moderate course through alternating young forest and field.

Center Information: https://www.cincynature.org/

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940205
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: On the east side of Cincinnati, take I-275 to exit 63B, which goes onto SR 32 east.  Take SR 32 east for 1.2 miles to Glen Este-Withamsville Road (the first traffic light) and turn left.  Follow this road north 0.4 miles to Old SR 74 and turn right.  Take Old SR 74 east for 0.25 miles and turn left onto Tealtown Rd.  The Cincinnati Nature Center is about 3 miles ahead on Tealtown Rd.on the left.  A large "Rowe Woods" sign marks the entrance.  Pay the small parking fee and proceed to the main parking lot in front of the interpretive building, where our hike will begin.  A second gravel parking area is available to the right of the main parking area, should the main area be full.

The hike: For my general comments on the Cincinnati Nature Center, see the Waterfall Loop.  This route, the longest one at the Center, takes you through the far southeastern corner of the preserve and gives the hiker an extended hike without a feeling of being lost in the wilderness. Also, the open fields and young forest make for good wildlife viewing and birding.

Start of Edge Trail near Visitor Center

            Begin in front of the Rowe Visitor Center (post #1), turn right, and hike the Edge Trail (described in the Waterfall Loop blog entry) around Powell Crosley Lake to post #3, its intersection with the Whitetail Trace.  Turn left onto the Trace, which derives its name from the substantial deer population that enjoys the forest-field boundaries found on this trail.  The Trace passes through a couple of shallow ravines heading south with Avey's Run ravine downhill to the right and Tealtown Road nearby on the left.  The forest is remarkably open with some large maple and beech trees. 

            After 0.2 miles the trail comes to a T-intersection at the edge of a field, point #29 on the map.  Turn right here, go about 20 yards, and turn right again, reentering the forest.  The trail heads slightly downhill and soon comes to another T-intersection at point #32.  Turn left here, cross a short wooden footbridge, pass a bench, and soon arrive at a small wooden shelter on the right overlooking Avey's Run some 50 feet below you.  There is a good-sized waterfall just upstream from the shelter, but trees and a bad angle make it difficult to see. 

            Continuing southward, the gravel trail passes through another small but steep ravine before entering a field and arriving at post #31.  This marks the intersection of the Whitetail Trace and the Redwing Trail.  Turn right to begin the Redwing Trail, a long connector trail between the Whitetail Trace and the Geology Trail, our destination.

Starting the Redwing Trail

            The dirt Redwing Trail crosses a field, a low-voltage powerline right-of-way, and a private gravel drive before entering a young maple forest with a thick understory of honeysuckle.  Cross a ravine using a couple switchbacks and steps and continue heading south with the park boundary fence on the left.  A right turn and descent lead you to the crossing of the first of two tributaries of Avey's Run on stepping stones. 

            The trail next curves left, ascends along the bank of a drainage, and begins heading through an old field.  Some dying red cedars are hanging on against the taller young maple trees of the early-stage succession forest.  A right turn leaves the old field and arrives at Half-way Point, a stone that marks the midpoint of the Redwing Trail.

            Continue through young forest, cross the other tributary of Avey's Run on stepping stones, and ascend to a large, open field.  Look for goldenrod, black-eyed susan, thistle, and wild roses.  After several minutes of crossing the field, reenter the forest and come to point #35 where the Redwing Trail splits.  Choose the longer left option.  The Redwing Trail dips through a shallow ravine and begins following a ridgetop course through open, mature maple forest. 

Approaching the Geology Trail

            The ridge narrows as the trail approaches the end of the ridge, where the trail makes a sharp right turn, rolls off the side of the ridge, crosses a creek on a high wooden bridge, and begins climbing the opposite ridge.  Cross the second ridge and drop into the adjacent ravine to reach point #34.  Do not continue ahead to close the loop, but turn left and cross another, steeper ridge to reach point #33, an intersection with the Geology Trail.  The shortest route back to the Rowe Center is to turn right on the Geology Trail to return you to the Edge Trail.  A left turn on the Edge Trail will lead you to the Rowe Center in 0.2 miles.