Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve (Blog Hike #95)

Trails: Sullivantia and Agave Ridge Trails

Hike Location: Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve

Geographic Location: east of Peebles, OH (38.94008, -83.35349)

Length: 1.6 miles

Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)

Dates Hiked: June 2001, June 2013

Overview: A geologically interesting hike through beautiful forest in the mineral springs section of Adams County.

Preserve Information: https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/davis-memorial-state-nature-preserve

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940198
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of SR 32 and SR 41 just south of Peebles, go east on SR 32 0.5 mile to Steam Furnace Rd. and turn right (south) on Steam Furnace Rd.  Go 0.4 miles on Steam Furnace Rd. to paved, but unmarked Township Route 129.  Turn left on TR 129.  Go 2.9 miles, passing a quarry and crossing a wooden bridge to arrive at the preserve.  The preserve sign and the small gravel parking lot are on the right.

The hike: The surroundings and landmarks passed while driving into Davis Memorial give a strong indication to the land’s past.  Northeastern Adams County was an important source of iron ore during the War of 1812, at which time three iron furnaces existed in Adams County.  Steam Furnace Road’s name is derived from one of these furnaces located in this area.  The furnaces were used to melt down iron ore and produce weapons for the war.  This heavy industry soon vanished due to competition from larger and better quality ore mines in places such as Michigan.

            You probably also noticed some large farms along SR 32 on your way here.  Throughout the 1800’s and early 1900’s most of Adams County was very heavily farmed.  In fact, it was one of the first occupied areas of the Virginia Military District, a land gift set aside for veterans of the Revolutionary War, due to its close proximity to the Ohio River.

            In the 1920’s, the famous botanist E. Lucy Braun, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, began visiting the area.  By this time, the land was extremely worn out from agricultural overuse, and the economy was influenced by, of all things, tourism.  Visitors were attracted to the area’s mineral springs.  Braun was particularly interested in the area, and in 1928 published a booklet entitled Vegetation of the Mineral Springs Area of Adams County, Ohio.  Braun’s most famous work entitled Deciduous Forests of Eastern America, however, would not be published until 22 years later.

            The area today is still heavily influenced by agriculture, as evidenced by the large array of farms passed along any major route through Brown or Adams Counties.  You may have also noticed a working quarry on the left side of Route 129 on your way in.  Adams County remains a significant source of Ohio limestone, used most often for high-quality gravel and occasionally for buildings.

            The 87 acres of the park were donated to the Ohio Historical Society in 1967 in honor of Edwin Davis, president of Davon, Inc.  Originally managed as Edwin Davis State Memorial, management of the land was transferred to the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves in 1993, at which time the name became Davis Memorial State Nature Preserve. 

            Two short interpretive loop trails access the preserve.  The two loop trails are connected by another more rugged 0.5 mile trail, allowing a total of 1.6 miles in the forest.  The Buckeye Trail also passes through the preserve, using parts of all three trails.  Our hike follows the Buckeye Trail at first, then loops back to cover all of the interpretive loops.           

Trailhead at Davis Memorial

            Start at the information kiosk behind the parking lot, from which the Sullivantia Trail leaves downhill to the left and right.  Take the portion going left and use the one coming from the right as a return route.  The trail heads downhill and curves to the right to cross a small stream.  Heading back uphill, the trail passes some dying Virginia pines that are being out-competed for sunlight by their oak and maple counterparts.

            At an intersection at the crest of the ridge, turn left to leave the Sullivantia trail (for now) and begin the connecting trail.  The 0.5 mile connector is more rugged than the interpretive loops as it passes around the heads of two tributaries of Cedar Creek, which is now visible downhill at the base cliffs to the right.  Be particularly careful of roots, rocks, and some extremely steep and narrow sections along the banks of the feeder streams.  You can tell the area is not total wilderness, though, as sparsely traveled gravel Township Route 126 can be seen uphill to the left.

            The connector trail joins the Agave Ridge Trail at its northern-most point.  A black sign with white markings tells you that the Agave Ridge Trail goes left and straight.  Other than the blue blazes of the Buckeye Trail, the trails at Davis Memorial are not marked. However, they are clear and easy to follow with directional signs at each intersection.

Hiking through the forest

            Taking the right fork at this intersection, the Agave Ridge Trail descends a double switchback to the floodplain of Cedar Creek.  Bedrock in this section of Adams County is very near the surface.  Thus, only trees such as redbud and red cedars that enjoy alkaline soils can survive in this area.  Black walnut and sycamore make an appearance in the floodplain.           

            Just before the trail takes a sharp left away from the stream, an interpretive sign tells about an interesting geological feature.  When the waters of Cedar Creek are clear enough, you can see a fault line running perpendicular to the creek banks in the rocks beneath the creek.  This 6-mile long fault is similar to the famous San Andreas Fault in California except, of course, it is much smaller.  Notice the cliffs on the opposite side of the creek and how they change at the fault line.  The rocks to the right of the fault are Greenfield dolomite.  Note the jagged edges and the higher cliffs, a result of the rocks being more resistant to erosion.  By contrast, the Peebles dolomite to the left of the fault forms lower cliffs and has a more rounded appearance.

            Leaving the creek, the trail climbs moderately out of the floodplain passing several more interpretive signs.   At the top of the hill, where a side trail goes off to a second parking lot on the right, stay left and lose some of the elevation you just gained to close the Agave Ridge loop.  Turn right at the close of the loop and follow the connector trail back to the Sullivantia Trail.

Boardwalk under cliffs

            Upon intersecting the Sullivantia Trail, turn left and proceed clockwise, descending back into the floodplain.  Now along the banks of Cedar Creek, the trail becomes boardwalk and begins passing underneath a dolomite cliff on the right and the creek on the left.  The trail’s name comes from a small plant that was first discovered growing on the cliffs of southwestern Ohio.  Observe the cliffs carefully to view this rare creation.         

            While you are on the boardwalk, notice your close proximity to TR 129 on the left and the wooden bridge you crossed on your drive in.  As you can notice on your drive out, the boardwalk and cliffs are easily visible from the road, but you probably did not even notice them on your way in.  It is amazing what wonders of nature our modern, fast means of transportation can cause us to miss.

            Before reaching the road, the trail curves right, leaving the creek and boardwalk behind.  The trail climbs a couple of grassy mounds to arrive at the information kiosk representing the trailhead, thus completing the hike.