Hiking with Doc

20200413 – Lawrence Woods Nature Preserve

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Date: 04/13/2020 – Distance: 2.6 mi – Elapsed Time: 1.75 hr – Ascent: 374 ft – Descent: 410 ft – Difficulty: Easy

Lawrence Woods Nature Preserve, not to be confused with the State Nature Preserve of the same name near Kenton Ohio, is a small 29 acre park on Red Bank Road north of Columbus along Hoover Reservoir. You can park at the Twin Bridges Boat Ramp and enter through the gate on the other side of the road. There is a loop and a spike which leads to a church camp and follows a creek with a scenic ravine all the way to Harlem Road. Off of the spike, which is actually outside of the preserve, there are a few trails which explore the ravine.

Entrance to the preserve (the gate isn’t locked) across from Twin Bridges Boat Ramp.
Looking back at the parking area from inside the gate.
I went counter-clockwise.
The “spike” trail called the Lookout.
The Lookout.
There’s a pretty steep drop off.
It says “End of Trail” however the sign beyond it says “Nature Preserve” and it’s clearly marked Columbus Property and the church property is clearly marked “Private”.
The Blue Trail follows the ridge or drops down to the river.
And it has blue blazes.
Clearly this is still city property.
Toadshade Trillium and a couple others.
I don’t know what this strange formation is.
Dutchman’s Breeches.
Blue Phlox.
Large Flower Trillium.
Purple Cress.
Jack in the Pulpit.
If the creek weren’t so high, there is a crossing here. As alternative you can take this trail back to the top of the ridge.
The creek was too swollen to cross.
Bloodroot.
At the top of the ridge you see these blue markers stating private property for the church camp.
The public trail skirts along the between the ravine and the church property.
The trail goes straight for a bit longer. There’s also a trail to the right down to the river and stairs next to the picnic shelter leading up to the church property.
Virginal Bluebells
I returned to the original park and took the loop around the other side.
Looking down at Twin Bridges Boat Ramp.

Waypoints:

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