The goal of the hike was straight forward – we were hoping to capture some fall color. I had Googled “best leaf color hikes Butler County Ohio”, an area where Footpaths had not spent much time, and Rentschler Forest was the most recommended venue.

The Ohio River Valley has been experiencing months of drought and forecasts called for less leaf color as a result. When trees experience drought they drop their leaves earlier in an effort to stem moisture loss, and less leaf pigments are produced including those that cause the reds and yellows seen in the fall. This was noticeable on the trail with even the sugar maple leaves being somewhat brown, rather than their usual vibrant orange and yellow.

At Rentschler Forest we did a collection of trails to make a 2 plus mile loop that took us through much of the park. We utilized the Pumpkin Vine, Tall Pines, and Cascades trails.

We started on the Pumpkin Vine Trail at marker #5 on the above map and went through a young wood.

This led to the Tall Pines Trail which wove through a wood that consisted of tall White Pines. As the trees were in lines and uniformly spaced one would suspect that perhaps at some point it was a Christmas Tree farm.

Midway along the Tall Pines Trail we came upon this – a whitewash of bird feces on the plants of the forest floor.

I expected to look up and see a hawk or owl nest in the tree tops, but none was seen.

But in the next tree down I saw these guys perched high in the tree – vultures. In total there were eleven in two of the White Pines. I suspect that they made a habit of roosting in these tree tops, and depositing their waste below.

Interestingly, both Turkey and Black Vultures were in the grouping. The Turkey Vulture has a red face, while the Black Vulture’s face is black. The Turkey Vulture has a more brown hue to its feathers while the Black Vulture is a uniform black. I have since learned that this mixed grouping is not uncommon and is mutually beneficial. Turkey vultures have a better sense of smell for finding carrion and black vultures have a better ability to tear open tough hides to access food.

One of the vultures in this photo had retracted its head down into its neck to help lessen heat loss on this somewhat brisk morning. Looks a little like me in a hoody on a cold morning walk.

Vultures are an under-respected part or the ecosystem. Perhaps because they generally eat dead or injured things. There is just not a lot of glamour in that role.

Soon we transitioned from the Tall Pines Trail onto the Cascades Trail which was to run alongside a creek. We suddenly found ourselves in a mature deciduous wood.

The trail glided down a mild slope where we found this artful stone bridge – reminiscent of our hikes in Great Britain.

The trail doubled back, heading up a slight grade alongside the stream.

With the drought in the Ohio River Valley the creek had diminished flow and the “Cascades” were “Cascades Light”.

Soon we came upon this – a cabled bridge above a moderate ravine. The movement and groaning of the bridge did not endear the experience to the photographer, who clearly prefers to have her feet placed firmly on the ground.

Soon we found ourselves back on the Pumpkin Vine Trail. Finding abandoned antique farm implements is actually not uncommon on hikes, and at times adds an element of sadness for me. I ponder the sweat and toil that someone put into nurturing the property a generation or three ago, and for all of it to be lost.

Nearby we saw what appeared to be a barn foundation, much of it still intact. This was not a small barn as it appeared to have both an upper and lower entry.

And then this – a side walk to no where. By the looks of things, it was probably the path from the barn to the homestead – which nature had reclaimed. When we stumble on to these kinds of things along a trail it gets us to pondering. When was this last a working farm? How many kids did they have and where did they relocate to? What did they grow here – perhaps pumpkins given the name of the trail.

The last turn along the Pumpkin Vine Trail brought us to an overgrown four foot depression in the terrain that ran parallel to the trail, and on the far side was a paved walking path that others were utilizing. A quick Google Maps search gave me my answer. We were looking at a remnant of the Miami & Erie Canal which was abandoned in 1913, and the walking path on the other side was a stretch of the Great Miami River Trail.

As we studied things further we saw additional evidence of the canal including this stonework that appeared to be part of a bridge abutment along the tow path.

The long straight away that we found ourselves on was probably the old tow path on the south bank of the canal as it headed east, with the dry canal channel just a few feet to our left. This trail segment took us back to the parking lot.

I mentioned earlier that the goal of this outing was looking for fall color. We had limited success with that but you take beauty where you find it.

A majestic Sugar Maple,

and a diminutive, but colorful, Virginia Creeper. Young Virginia Creepers leaves have three leaflets to their compound leaves, whereas mature vine leaves have five leaflets. With three leaflets they resemble Poison Ivy.

Lastly we will revisit a Frost Aster providing nectar to a Bumble Bee.

In summary, our visit to Rentschler Forest was a good outing. While the leaf color was less than dramatic, the trails had a lot to offer. Unfortunately, to date, my research has not turned up much on the history of the property. I did find out that the Rentschler family, for whom the park is named, were successful business people for generations and one of them donated 50 acres to start the park that now totals 400 acres. I suspect the Miami & Erie Canal will become my next “rabbit hole” as I try to find out more of its history and study how it wound its way through southwestern Ohio and impacted the communities.

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Photo credits to Peggy Juengling Burns. Video by Patrick Burns.

Overview:

Location – 5701 Reigart Road, Hamilton, Ohio, 30 miles from downtown Cincinnati.

Parking – asphalt lot for 30 cars.

Facilities – at several locations throughout the park

Trail Conditions – bare dirt with only mild grade changes. The trails are well marked but please note that the numbers on the map and the numbers on sign posts are off by one digit (for example the trailhead marked with the number 5 on the map is marked with a number 6 on the trail).

Print Trail Map Link – https://www.yourmetroparks.net/docs/default-source/park-map/park-maps-2024/rentschler-forest-metropark-map.pdf?sfvrsn=186d40ea_3

Benches – yes.

Picnic Tables – at several locations in the park.

Kids – Kids 4 and over will do well on the trail.

Dogs – welcomed on a leash.

Paired Hiking Trails – There is a 0.5 mile Wetland Trail that borders the shore of the Great Miami River

Links:

https://www.yourmetroparks.net/parks/rentschler-forest-metropark