The Gorge Trail was Plan C. We started our morning thinking that we would hike Culberson Woods State Nature Preserve in Clarksville, Ohio. I was interested to see what spring ephemeral flowers lived in the “Wet Beech Forest”. We had hiked there in the summer of 2022 and knew that it was a quality old-growth wood, but no on-line resources commented on its spring wildflower offerings. I had been out of the region for the eight days prior and had not paid attention to the local weather. This is what greeted us – a spring ephemeral pond on the entry trail. My previous experience here told me that this was not the only low spot on the path. Plan A was aborted.
Plan B sounded like a good choice – Horseshoe Falls Trail at the nearby Caesar Creek State Park. Perhaps spring ephemerals with a side dish of a nice waterfall view. I was overly optimistic. Nothing about this trail through a progression landscape suggested spring ephemerals wildflowers. Plan B was aborted.
To be honest, Plan C was in the back of my mind all along. We had hiked in Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve two winters ago, on a loop trail that passed through the western section of the gorge, and had a great experience. That outing left me hoping for a hike through the remainder of the gorge. My research suggested that the adjoining Caesar Creek State Park possibly had a trail that entered the gorge from the east, but on-line resources were not clear.
For clarification, Caesar Creek State Nature Preserve is a small, quiet parcel on the western section of the gorge. Caesar Creek State Park, by contrast, is a busy, 3741 acre state park that abuts the preserve and includes the eastern section of the gorge. The similarity of the names is confusing.
As we stumbled through Plan A and then Plan B, I noted on Google Maps an apparent trail entering the gorge in Caesar Creek State Park and it was where I anticipated finding the trail that I was hoping for. So during a lunch in Waynesville, I sold the photographer on the possibility. She is usually looking for more certainty than possibility.
Once in the parking area, which is shared with the “Fishing Pier”, the photographer gained comfort when we noted the trail included a repurposed,1920’s railroad bridge to cross Caesar Creek. A little bit of history goes a long way with the photographer.
As we crossed the bridge we were serenaded by a Eastern Phoebe in a tree on the far side.
This was the view from the bridge as we looked downstream. The foam on the water was due to the turbulence from the Caesar Creek Dam spillway which was just behind us. The fishing pier is on the right bank of the creek.
The Gorge Trail itself was very inviting – a well maintained gravel path running parallel to the stream.
Down the path a ways the stream turned to the right and we were enticed to take an informal, bare dirt path that remained on the bank of the stream, as the gravel path continued straight. While the trail gave good views onto the creek and the bluffs of the gorge, it was indeed a dead end, only meant to take sport fisherman to locations where they could fish from the bank.
I confidently told the photographer that the gravel path was just somewhat to our left, and if we followed a creek bed filled with stone, we would find it. I was wrong. We worked our way south, where I found a game trail, and climbed a muddy grade where the photographer slipped to the ground. We then headed east, crossed a massive creek ravine, and found the original gravel path which had ended at a substantial stair climb heading south, up out of the gorge, and away from the stream. Yes, we had completed a big circle, but I reassured the photographer that I knew exactly where her van was. She had enough adventure for the day.
But our toil was not without reward as we had an excellent outing viewing spring ephemerals. For this article we thought that it would be interesting to show species from a distance and close up to celebrate their beauty.
Woodland Phlox – it was only after looking at this photo that I realized the the phlox flower anatomy is somewhat unusual. Neither the anthers or pistil, the reproductive structures of flowers, are visible. I would have to assume that they are housed in the long neck of the flower (see arrow in the second photo). That explains why they are pollinated by “long tongued” species such as Swallowtail butterflies, Skippers, Hummingbird Moths, and Bumblebees.
Cutleaf Toothwort – the name arises from the finely cut nature of its leaf, and the tooth-like projections that arise off its primary root.
Spring Beauty – its flowers range from all white to pastel pink, but the striped peppermint coloration is the most striking.
Dutchman’s Breeches – the nectar is deep inside the flower and can only be reached by the tongue of Bumblebees. Honeybees will visit however to collect pollen.
Hepatica – a single bronze leaf from last season can be seen above and behind the flowers in the left photo. Soon it will wither away. Leaves for this season will appear in May and remain through next winter. The hairy, green bracts behind the flower are an identifying feature.
Rue Anenome – it is one of the longer flowering ephemerals, frequently blooming into June. Its preferred habitat is a woodland slope.
Trout Lily – named such because the mottled leaf resembles a Brook Trout. It takes 5 years of growth before a plant will produce a flower.
Bloodroot – in the photos you can see that the flower is well into its display but the single leaf of each plant is just unfolding.
Hairy Buttercup – the shiny, waxy appearance of the flower petals is notable. This flower has probably just opened as the stamens and anthers are still folded down onto the pistil. They will eventually be more open like those in the Bloodroot above.
Spring Cress – with 4 white flower petals shaped like a cross, it is easily confused with Toothwort, but the cress’s leaves are not finely divided.
Additional fun sightings on this outing included:
A Toadshade Trillium that is soon to bloom and expose its maroon flower.
A bee visiting a Bloodroot blossom.
We saw numerous Ramps. Ramps are a cousin of onions, garlic, and leeks and a favorite of foragers. They are slow growing. Unfortunately, incorrect and over harvesting threatens their wild population. Three rules for the ethical foraging of ramps is to never do so in a public park or preserve, and only take one leaf from each plant, and never dig up the bulbs. The maroon leaf stem is the identifying feature.
These Bloodroots have finished flowering and you can see their developing seed capsules held high above the foliage.
New Plant of the Day – Eastern Leatherwood. This was a photographer find. It is one of the earliest blooming shrubs of the spring with yellow, bell-shaped flowers. Its name refers to the tough, fibrous bark which Native Americans used for cordage and basket weaving. All parts of the plant can cause skin irritation.
Finally, this short jaunt demonstrated the wide variation in the color of Hepatica flowers. The flower in the title photo is also Hepatica.
In summary, our perseverance did pay off as we ultimately had an excellent afternoon viewing a number of spring ephemeral species. Amazingly, we saw more flowering Hepatica specimens on this one outing than we have seen in total during our 5 springs of writing Footpaths. Unfortunately, my hope that the state park Gorge Trail would link up to the trail from the neighboring state nature preserve does not occur, and therefore the middle section of the gorge remains closed to the public. In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that since this hike, further study on the Outer Spatial app, which hosts the hiking trails for Ohio State parks and Nature Preserves, clearly shows the route of the Gorge Trail and that it does not hook up with the preserve in the western section of the gorge. Lesson learned. Ohio has fully embraced the use of Outer Spatial and the most up to date and complete trail information is available there.
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Photo credits to Peggy Juengling Burns.
Overview:
Location – the state park address is 8570 E. State Route 73, Waynesville, OH 45068, about 43 miles from downtown Cincinnati.
Parking – asphalt lot for 20 plus cars.
Trail Conditions –gravel and bare dirt. The portion of the Gorge Trail that we did not take involves a long segment of stairs that climbs out of the gorge.
Print Map Link – https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/parks/parkmaps/caesarcreektrailmap.pdf
Benches – none.
Picnic Tables – at the parking area/fishing pier.
Facilities – yes.
Kids – four and over should do well on the gravel section of trail that runs along the stream.
Dogs – allowed on the trails in the state park if on a leash.
Suggested Paired Hikes – There are many trails in Caesar’s Creek State Park.
Links:
https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/plan-a-visit/find-a-property/caesar-creek-state-park