Kroger Wetlands in Marietta, OH (Blog Hike #919)

Trail: Wetland Loop
Hike Location: Kroger Wetlands
Geographic Location: east side of Marietta, OH (39.41232, -81.42615)
Length: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2022
Overview: A short loop through urban wetlands with good bird-viewing opportunities.
Wetlands Information: https://www.mariettaoh.net/index.php/30-city-government/buildings-parks-cemetery-and-recreation/public-facilities/98-kroger-wetlands
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=924723
Photo Highlight:

Full Hike Video: 

Directions to the trailhead: Just north of the Ohio River, take I-77 to SR 7 (exit 1).  Exit, go west on SR 7, then turn right onto Acme Street at the first traffic light.  Drive Acme St. north just over 0.1 miles and park in the small signed gravel lot on the right.  This lot is located behind the Kroger store.

The hike: Sometimes hikes do not go according to plan.  While driving south on I-77 through eastern Ohio, I had planned to hike at Wolf Run State Park, which is only a few miles off of the interstate.  Shortly after I started that hike, the trail became completely overgrown with thorn-bearing bushes, thus making the trail more or less impassible to anyone without a suit of metal armor.  Disappointed, I continued driving south to my lodging and resupply point in Marietta.  While I was resupplying at the Kroger in Marietta, I noticed a small nature preserve with a signed trailhead behind the store.  I spent that day's last hour of daylight exploring that preserve, and I had a nice hike.

            Owned and maintained by the City of Marietta, tiny Kroger Wetland protects 20 acres of natural wetlands along Crooked Creek.  The wetland features mostly natural plant growth including arrowhead, water plantain, and cattails, and many animals and birds live in the wetland.  The area gets its name from the Kroger Corporation, which donated the land to the City after building their store on adjacent property.  A single short loop trail accesses the heart of the wetland, and that trail is the one described here.

Trailhead at Kroger Wetlands

            The trailhead is marked by a simple sign at the edge of the woods that says "Wetland Loop Trail."  The single track dirt trail heads into the woods and quickly splits to form its loop.  For no particular reason, I chose to stay right and use the trail going left as my return route, thus hiking the loop counterclockwise.

South arm of loop

            The south arm of the loop heads through some of the higher terrain in the wetland; silver maples are the most common trees here.  Cattails carpet the wetland area to the left.  Signs talk about birds commonly seen in this wetland, including the tree swallow and the yellow warbler.  Near 0.2 miles, you reach a spur trail that heads left to an overlook platform.  While you may be able to do some good bird watching here, this point lies close to I-77, and better wetland views lie ahead.

            Continuing around the loop, at 0.25 miles the Drayer Spur Trail exits right to head to a residential street.  Angle left to remain on the main loop and pass some osage orange trees.  The trail curves more left than right, and at 0.35 miles you reach a bridge and boardwalk near this wetland's deepest and most open water.  I saw a family of mallard ducks gliding across the water on the late afternoon that I came here.  Take some time to see what you can see.

The wettest wetland

Bridge over outlet to Crooked Creek

            Past the bridge, a few more hundred feet of level walking closes the loop.  Turn right to walk back out the entrance trail to the parking lot and complete the hike.