This was the final rehab hike for the photographer before we headed overseas. While I wanted to up the challenge somewhat, I did not want to risk causing any strain to her healing Achilles tendon. Specifically, I wanted a trail with some terrain change and perhaps uneven footing -something to prep her for the cobblestones and stairs of Europe, but nothing that would put her participation in our future outings in France at risk.
We headed to the east side of Cincinnati into the watershed of the Little Miami River, to Loveland, Ohio – an outdoor mecca of hiking and biking. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect, but the quality of the bridge at the trailhead let me know that money and effort were put into this preserve.
We crossed the small Bares Run Creek and were greeted by a blanket of Euonymus in a deeply shaded wood. Such is life in the Midwest – a never ending battle with invasive plants. Amongst the Euonymus we could see native plants, like Wild Ginger, battling on.
It was clear that efforts were being made to control invasives, as told by the stacks of Bush Honeysuckle that had been removed.
Perhaps at this time it would be best to give the reader a lay of the land. From the parking area we entered the preserve on a new entrance trail that I have marked in red in the photo below, which did not appear on the map. Once in the preserve we turned left, heading north toward O’Bannon Creek, a tributary of the Little Miami River. The creek is named for John O’Bannon, a Virginian that had surveyed many land parcels in Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky during the late 1700s, including the 500 acre tract that would eventually become Loveland, Ohio.
We were impressed by the signage along the trail which commented on the history and ecology of the property. But what really struck us was the durability of these signs. As can be noted in the photo below, they were sponsored by Cinergy, the regional gas and electric supplier that was acquired by Duke Energy in 2005. These signs were at least twenty years old and, other than the occasional bird poop, were in outstanding shape and easily read. Truly a gold standard for trailside signage.
We eventually got our first glimpse of O’Bannon Creek.
One of the trailside signs that illustrated how the water from O’Bannon Creek will eventually end up in the Gulf of Mexico, points out the absurdity of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Clean Water Act only applied to navigable waters. The fact is, all flowing water will eventually end up in a navigable waterway, and therefore should be protected. (The photographer, who usually pleads with me to not bring politics into my essays, strongly encouraged me to include this comment).
Along the northern border of the preserve the trail mirrored the stream and wove through a mature wood that hosted a surprising number of trophy size trees.
Me with a towering Cottonwood and a large Bur Oak.
This is a shot up into a Sugar Maple that had outstanding branching architecture and a tremendous spread.
On several occasions side trails led to views onto the peaceful O’Bannon Creek,
or offered the opportunity to step down to the creekbank to enjoy vistas, as noted in the title photo and below.
As we worked our way along the trail we would see isolated specimens of wildflowers in sunny spots on the forest floor or on the bank of the stream.
Ageratum – it is sometimes also called Blue Mist Flower. We grow this in our garden and it reaches 2.5 feet in height. It is great for pollinators.
Woodland Sunflower occurred in swathes on the creek bank, or as isolated plants on the woodland floor.
Meadow Phlox was noted in the area of a prairie restoration.
Joe-Pye Weed was finishing its bloom.
Plant of the Day – not because it is glorious, but rather because you want to avoid contact with it. Stinging Nettle is common on flood plain landscapes. As compared to poison ivy, which will take a day or two before it becomes symptomatic, Stinging Nettle will let you know of your contact with it almost immediately when you develop a burning discomfort. In late summer, when it is at its peak, the non-descript flower panicle is its identifying feature. The flowers never really get more showy than they are here. Note the bristles, the cause of the stinging discomfort, on the stem in the second photo.
In summary, our morning visit to East Loveland Nature Preserve was an excellent experience. Yes, they are battling invasive Euonymus and Bush Honeysuckle, but their presence does not dampen the experience of the beautiful O’Bannon Creek and the majestic trees. When we were there we also noted an outstanding population of woodpeckers and anticipate returning in the winter when they can be better appreciated.
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Photo credits to Peggy Juengling Burns.
Overview:
Location – 227 E Loveland Ave, Loveland, OH, 24 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati.
Parking – asphalt lot for 20 cars.
Facilities – none noted.
Trail Conditions – bare dirt.
Print Trail Map Link – https://www.lovelandoh.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1894/East-Loveland-Nature-Preserve-Hiking-Map?bidId=
Benches – many.
Picnic Tables – none noted, but many nearby along the Loveland Bike Trail.
Kids – Kids 4 and over will do well on the trail.
Dogs – welcomed on a leash.
Craft Beer – Loveland has an abundance of places to enjoy a craft beer and lunch. That day we dined at Paxton’s Grill.
Paired Hiking Trails – Simpson Forest Nature Preserve is about 1 mile away and will be featured in a future Footpaths article.
Links:
https://www.lovelandoh.gov/434/East-Loveland-Nature-Preserve