Stillwater Prairie Reserve (Blog Hike #169)

Trails: (various)

Hike Location: Stillwater Prairie Reserve

Geographic Location: northwest of Covington, OH (40.15635, -84.39007)

Length: 1.4 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Dates Hiked: November 2004, June 2013

Overview: A loop hike through the prairie and along the banks of the Stillwater River.

Park Information: https://www.miamicountyparks.com/park/stillwater

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940177
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Take I-75 to US 36 (exit 82).  Exit and go west on US 36.  In the town of Piqua, where US 36 turns left, continue straight on SR 185.  Take SR 185 west for 8 miles to the preserve entrance on your left; there is a sign marking this entrance.  Turn left to enter the preserve.  Follow the main park road to where it ends at the lower parking area, where you should park.  The trail starts to the left of the brick ranger station.

The hike: Located in northwestern Miami County, Stillwater Prairie Reserve protects 260 acres of prairie and young succession forest along the normally peaceful Stillwater River.  The first settlers on this site were John and Elizabeth Hagan, who built a sawmill on the river here in 1840.  This industry led to the construction of the now-abandoned Hagan Road, which still serves as part of the trail system today.  In 1846, the Hagans built a brick home which now serves as the ranger station near the lower parking lot.  In 1849, the Hagans sold the land to Robert Aspinall, an immigrant from England, who farmed the land until 1886.

            From that time, the land had various owners until, in 1977, the Miami County Park District purchased the land for the creation of Stillwater Prairie Reserve.  The land’s long period of use and recent date of purchase can be seen along this route.  Today, the park features numerous hiking trails, a couple of picnic areas, and a pair of man-made ponds that are stocked with fish (a permit is required, of course).  There is also a recently created wetlands area with an observation deck.  These are located near the lower parking lot and are best seen at the end of this hike.           

Wide gravel path at start of hike

            Start from the rear of the parking lot and head moderately uphill, passing a “Texas restroom,” (the park’s terminology, not mine).  You will pass the red brick ranger station on the right as you continue uphill on a wide gravel path.  After crossing a maintenance road, you reach the top of the steepest climb and intersect the main loop.  Turn left here and climb more gently to reach Old Pond, one of the two man-made ponds mentioned in the introduction.  A pier and several picnic tables allow you to observe the tranquil, reflective waters of the pond.  Look carefully and you might even see some fish.           

Old Pond

            Continue along the main loop through a large tallgrass prairie planting to reach the upper parking area where you will find restrooms, a drinking fountain, and a small picnic area.  This parking area is accessed by a spur route off of the main park road and would make an alternative starting point for this hike.  Look to your right toward the picnic area to find the main loop trail, which heads into the young forest as a crushed stone path.

            The trail now heads south along the eastern boundary of the reserve through young beech maple forest not more than 35 years old.  Where a short-cut trail exits right, angle left to begin the moderately steep descent toward the river.  This descent will include crossing a tributary on a wide, newly constructed wooden bridge.

Heading toward the river

            When you finally approach the river, you will enter the centerpiece of this reserve: the remnant riverside prairie.  Come in late summer to see a real display of color.  Participants in this show include purple coneflower, the blue bell-shaped flowers of harebell, the red-orange flowers of both little and big bluestem, and the white blossoms of shooting star.  Watch for monarch butterflies on aptly named butterfly weed.  A recycled plastic boardwalk allows you to view these gems up close without damage to the prairie environment.  At the river bank itself, you will see a trail on the other side of the river.  While it is possible to ford the river most of the year, there is another way to see the remnant prairie on the opposite side of the river that does not involve wet feet (see the end of this hike).  Also at the river, you can walk on the bedrock that lies just under the surface of much of the reserve.           

Stillwater River

            From the prairie, head west along the Stillwater State Scenic River through the young riverside forest.  This portion of trail uses the old Hagan Road mentioned in the introduction.  Notice the limestone outcroppings on the far side of the river, overhanging some 10 feet over the river.

            Near the southwest corner of the reserve, the trail turns back to grass and takes a sweeping right turn, heading back toward the parking area.  To the left you can see the dike that created the wetlands area, which is behind the dike and also on your left.  At 1.2 miles, close the loop by returning to the parking area.  The wetlands observation deck can be reached by a trail that exits to the left (as you come in on the return trail) and leads 0.1 miles to the wooden platform.           

Hiking through the prairie

            While you are in the area, there are two other destinations that are worth seeing.  The trails through the remnant prairie on the south side of the Stillwater River can be reached by heading east on SR 185 and turning right on Range Line Rd.  Take Range Line Rd. south for 0.9 miles, crossing the Stillwater River, to reach the small signed parking lot on the right. 

            Also in the area is Greenville Falls State Scenic River Area, managed jointly as a Miami County park and as a state nature preserve.  To reach this site, continue south on Range Line Road, cross US 36, and turn right on Covington Rd.  The preserve entrance is at a small gravel parking lot on the left.  This area features a short hiking trail to Greenville Falls, a cascade-type waterfall on Greenville Creek.  An overlook situated on a rocky bluff gives a terrific view of the falls for very little effort.  You can also see remnants from the days when the creek was used for water power.  On your next trip to western Miami County, make sure not to miss these three interesting and rewarding sites.