Hiking in the
    Arc of Appalachia Preserve System

    The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System, headquartered in southern Ohio, exists to preserve the native temperate forest and associated ecosystems of the Eastern United States, and to provide forest education to the general public. The Arc is also pleased to offer wilderness trails to people who enjoy solitary hiking on simple, unimproved trails in highly protected natural areas. All visitors are asked to stay strictly on the trails.

There are three major visitor centers in our preserve system offering hiking opportunities:  

Appalachian Forest Museum, Highlands Nature Sanctuary - a beautiful educational center perched on the bluffs of the Rocky Fork Gorge, providing access to fourteen miles of trails in the 2000 acre preserve. Most of the loop trails are  2-3 miles long and offer stunning scenery. Please click title for admission fees and open hours.

Serpent Mound - primarily an archaeological site, this park offers a Museum and one short but beautiful hiking trail along the Ohio Brush Creek. Click title for parking fees and open hours.

Fort Hill - eleven miles of beautiful back-country trails, and an interpretive Museum that is usually open only on weekends during the warm season. Fort Hill is 1200 acres in size and offers the longest single trails in our preserve system. Fort Hill's trails are open every day of the year without fee or pre-registration, with the exception that the trails are closed during selected hunting season dates in early winter. Click title for more details.

There are three ways to enter the Arc's trail systems.

    One, is to become a Friends of the Arc member. We are offering memberships for the first time in the Arc's history. All members at the Custodian  or Guardian level will be provided with a car decal which serves as an annual pass, giving free entry to the Appalachian Forest Museum, waived parking fees at Serpent Mound State Memorial, as well as access to any preserve in the Arc system that has been developed with a public trail system.

    Two, is to visit as a paying guest during normal open hours at the Appalachian Forest Museum at the Highlands Nature Sanctuary or Serpent Mound. As a guest, you may access that particular preserve's trail system for the entire day or register for hiking in Back-country Preserves. See below.

    Three, is to register on-line for a day pass to Back-country Preserves at no charge. Back-country preserves are carefully regulated natural areas which have not been developed as major visitor destinations. At this time we do not have any Back-country Preserves open to the public, but several sites are currently under development. Watch for a registration link at this site, which will be published as soon as the first Back-country Preserve is ready for public access.

We are aspiring to open four new hiking trail systems in the second half of 2010.

Unless you are a member, you may register for a one-day pass  at no charge with at least a five day. The day-pass, trail maps, and orientation to the site will all be processed by email. Click on the title for more natural history information.

Kamama Nature Preserve, Adams County
Hikers will be able to enjoy 3-4 miles of trails leading into an extremely rare ecosystem -- the alkaline short-grass prairie unique in Ohio to Adams County. Peak blooming times are mid-April through mid-May, mid July, and mid August.

Spruce Hill, Ross County
An old farm lane leads up a long hill to the flat ridged top of Spruce Hill, rimmed with an ancient Hopewell-era rock wall enclosure. This 2000 year-old archaeological feature is hard to spot – so once we have our trails open, keep a sharp eye out to see it. Hillsides are rich with wildflowers in the spring.

Chalet Nivale, Adams County
Chalet Nivale will offer three loop trails winding through a dolomite-limestone gorge that in many ways is a sister site to the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. Beautiful scenery and many rare plants are found in this preserve.

Hope Springs Woods, Adams County
Adjacent to the renowned Hope Springs Institute retreat center, this 100 acre Appalachian woods will offer trails in a in  the heavily forested region of northwest Adams County.

Arc Preserves waiting for increase in operations budget for trail development:
Ohio River Bluffs, Plum Run, Gladys Riley Golden Star Lily Preserve, and Rock Run.

 Arc Preserves not on master plan for trail development at the time:
Boone, Samson Woods.

Other Trails to hike in the area.

Miller State Nature Preserve, Highland County
This preserve which adjoins the Highlands Nature Sanctuary is owned by the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Division of Natural Areas & Preserves. Miller boasts one of the most spectacular displays of shooting stars in the late April. All year long visitors can enjoy an excellent trail system that meanders along the dolomite cliffs and crosses small falls and riffles. Visitors must apply for a permit through The Division at least two weeks in advance of their stay. Miller's trail system is contiguous to the Highlands' Cedar Run Trail. Getting permits from both organizations can greatly enhance your hiking experience. Contact  www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnap/permitonly/tabid/863/Default.aspx  to obtain more information about Miller Preserve and www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/3/permits/permit[1].pdf to apply for the permit.
 

Please read before you come.
 

The hiking trails of the ARC are back-country in nature. Trails are usually two feet or less in width, and trailside vegetation is cut back minimally in order to maintain the trail so that hiking remains low-impact. Trails are otherwise unimproved, crossing small creeks without the help of bridges, and crossing the occasional downed log. Paths gently wind around the natural contours of the land, with frequent switchbacks on inclines in order to minimize erosion. Most trails are approximately two miles in length and are commonly loop trails. Hiking boots and long pants are recommended.

Philosophy of Harmlessness. The Arc of Appalachia was founded not only as a traditional nature preserve system, but as a place where humanity can learn to be gentle stewards of the land. Here native species are preserved not just because  they may benefit humanity someday in a tangible way but because each and every species as an irreplaceable thread in the magical tapestry of life.  All rules and regulations concerning the Arc's trails systems are interwoven with the basic requirement that those who come here, walk lightly and stay strictly on the trail.

Potential danger. For safety reasons, please be aware that most of the Arc's trails are narrow, primitive and unimproved. They may have slippery and uneven surfaces, and some of the trails  follow the rims of potentially dangerous vertical cliffs without railings. Children must be closely supervised and kept in close proximity to their parents at all times.

Common Questions:

What if I want to bring a group?
For organized children's groups, please call ahead at 937-365-1935. Because of our steep cliffs, we ask that every four to five children have an assigned adult guardian with whom they stay in close proximity at all times. Organized adult groups do not need to call ahead, but if you have more than 20 people, it is appreciated if you do so. Sorry, there are not group rates at this time.

Do you allow hunting and fishing?
The Arc of Appalachia Preserve system supports the recreational benefits of hunting and fishing, but does not permit these activities within the preserve boundaries. This is not a philosophical disagreement, but rather our organization's chosen role as a non-profit in the conservation field. Ensuring protection of our natural landscape requires a multitude of strategies. Nature Preserves, both public and private, are the make up the smallest acreage of all conservation lands. The greatest benefits that nature preserves usually offer  visitors is undisturbed scenery, highly-intact eco-systems, relatively low human attendance, access to rare and endangered ecosystems, and relatively high tranquility and peace. All forms of conservation are important, and we need all three types of conservation lands to remain in vital existence if we are to successfully meet the needs of our native plants, our wildlife, and the emotional, recreational and spiritual needs of our people.

Why can't I bring my dog? She's a wonderful dog, and I would keep her on a leash.
Being dog lovers ourselves, we know and appreciate the capacity of a dog to be friendly, quiet and to obediently stay on a trail. Unfortunately, not all dogs are so well trained, and a dog that has not been invested in by his or her owner can be a disturbance to the natural environment and other visitors. So, despite the fact that your dog may be exceptional, we must err on the side of caution and fairly administer our regulation equally to all.

I would like to do scientific research on one of your preserves. How do I get permission?
The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System welcomes scientific studies that have the potential of usefully advancing the protection of natural habitats and/or species, when the research is  associated with an established academic organization and the resulting data is publicly available. Please be aware that permits are not usually awarded to projects that involve permanent plant or animal collection, or undue disturbance or harm to habitats or entities. Please send your requests to director@arcofappalachia.org.