Date: 05/17/2020 – Distance: 5.8 mi – Elapsed Time: 3.25 hr – Ascent: 413 ft – Descent: 449 ft – Difficulty: Medium
Infirmary Mound Park is a 317 acre park located south of Granville, Ohio on SR 37. It features a Hopewell mound and is also historically the site of a Poor House prior to 1850, then became an Infirmary until 1919 when it became a County Home. The grounds surrounding the “Infirmary” are vast and open with occasional woodlands. In addition to the over 7 miles of trails. there is a lake called Mirror Lake which allows fishing, several picnic areas with shelters, and a large dog park. The park is also popular with horses. Horses are allowed on most of the trails, and there is even a couple large open areas around the “mound” on the southeast corner called the Dressage and Horse Arenas. I saw several horses on this 80 degree day, but most of the trails are plenty wide enough to be shared, and I didn’t have any spooky horse episodes. Some of the horses even had to stop and greet me and get a rub on the nose.
I began by parking at a picnic area (shelter 5) near the horse trailer parking lot. I then headed toward the lake.
Mirror Lake from the east shore looking toward the picnic area on the west shore.
There’s a small wetland area on the north shore which feeds into the lake.
Philadelphia Feabane
After rounding the north end of the lake, I headed into this prairie toward a woodland.
Common Teasel
The intersections are marked with these numbered posts corresponding to numbers on the map.
I’m heading toward the Wildflower Trail.
The Wildflower Trail is also setup to be the “Fairy Trail”, which is geared toward kids.
Apparently Fairies live in these woods.
I was yelled at by a “grown up” for going the wrong way. He had to show me the sign telling me so. The sign, which I didn’t read, because it was disguised as part of the Fairy Trail, wasn’t so clear. But I just thanked him for pointing it out and went with the flow.
Jack in the Pulpit
Baneberry aka Dolls Eyes (very poisonous)
Wild Strawberry
Yellow Rocketcress
Glacial Erratic
Someone forgot their fish keeper.
Looking back, I’m switching over to the Blue Trail now.
Waypoint post 15 from post 3.
Waypoint post 3 on the White Trail.
Speedwell. The flowers are about 1/8″.
Beautiful Scarlet Buckeye tree at shelter 4.
Also called a firecracker plant.
This prairie is where the Green Trail is.
I’m heading to the Yellow Trail in those woods to the left.
There is an access trail to the Yellow Trail behind the picnic shelter, however it was closed due to erosion.
So I found another access to the Yellow Trail at Waypoint post 22.
There was caution tape here but it is crossable.
The Yellow Trail is narrower than other trails in this park. I was hoping I didn’t run into a horse coming the other way.
There is an interesting ravine here.
White Dame’s Rocket
From Waypoint post 20. That’s Infirmary Mound at the top of the hill.
Approaching Waypoint post 19 where I will take a right to follow the Yellow Trail.
Trail turns right here.
Finally back into some woods…
The trail to the left is just a shortcut. I continued straight.
This is near Waypoint post 18. I continued on the Red Trail straight.
Those horses just passed me.
I turned right here.
These Osage Orange trees are always interesting to look at.
Squirrels have been busy here.
Back on the Red Trail. From here I returned back to the Shelter 4 parking area.
From Shelter 4 parking, I wanted to do one last trail, the Green Trail.
Good views of the hills on this trail.
Valerianella Locusta aka Corn Salad
Dewberry? Could be raspberry.
Looking down into the ravine I was in earlier on the Yellow Trail.
Leave a Reply