Date: 03/28/2021 – Distance: 3.4 mi – Elapsed Time: 2.0 hr – Ascent: 180 ft – Descent: 240 ft – Difficulty: Easy
Stage’s Pond State Nature Preserve is a 64 acre park with 3.5 miles of trails north of Circleville, OH. It is a glacial depression caused when the glaciers melted during the last ice age. There are two ponds which support a wide variety of waterfowl and many wildflowers. A diverse landscape supports woodland, wetland, and prairies.
Entrance at 4792 Hagerty Road.
This trail leads to the trailhead just off the SW corner of the parking lot.
Dedication plaque from 1974.
You quickly arrive at the trailhead.
To the right is the Moraine Trail heading north.
Straight is the Meadow Trail and to the right of that is a observation blind for Kettle Lake.
Map of the trails at the trailhead kiosk. Hint: there’s a better one later.
These kiosks are always a wealth of information.
I took the Moraine Trail.
Notice the invasive bush Honeysuckle. This stuff kills forests by smothering out saplings and starving mature trees of nutrients. It can be seen all over right now, because it’s usually one of the first signs of green in the woods.
White Trout Lily is found in the woodlands throughout the park. These delicate flowers open on sunny days.
They are only three inches tall, so you have to look close.
Hickory Nuts all over the place.
Some of the muddy sections have been “improved” with limestone.
The trails are well marked and my plan had me coming back to the Kettle Lake Trail, so I went right.
Cutleaf Toothwort.
Went straight.
The Boundary Trail would have taken me back to the parking lot, so I went straight here.
Various educational signs scattered on trails are always a welcome sight.
I went straight here.
Some old fallen trees have been here for many years and provide homes for wildlife.
I didn’t see any Bluebells here.
Purple Cress.
Turkey Tail fungus.
Another invasive, Multiflora Rose. Watch out these will reach out and grab you, and they can puncture clothes.
Lots of wildflowers here.
I was looking at the Waterleaf. Still a while before the onion like ball flower arrives.
Cutleaf Toothwort.
Arrived back at that branch I was at easier. Went right.
Sometimes benches are well placed.
The lake is Stage’s Pond. I’ll get closer to it later.
The Trout Lily’s are everywhere, including the trail. They’re hard to see.
Another invasive. Garlic Mustard.
Hackberry tree.
Left here would take me back, but I wanted to see Kettle Lake.
Immediately the woodland area changes.
To a vast open meadow with a lake.
The trail changes too.
These vines are killing this tree.
This sign leads to a blind on Stage’s Pond.
Approach slowly and silently.
Stage’s Pond is larger of the two ponds on this property.
Two herons flying over the pond.
Back to the meadow.
This place is surprisingly big.
This tree is covered is galls. Usually caused by insects or disease.
Gall closeup.
Coming back to the trailhead.
One last side trail to a blind overlooking Kettle Lake.
Is a cool place.
Tall White Pines.
White Pine.
There are some cool educational placards in the blind. This one shows the various waterfowl you might see.
Anatomy of a duck.
The birds in flight.
View of Kettle Lake from the blind.
Kettle Lake.
Something is chewing up the blind.
Remember to always look on the other side of kiosks. Sometimes there is more information.
One response to “20210328 – Stage’s Pond State Nature Preserve”
jamie
love your pics and all the info provided in the captions. My friend Tony told me about your site. Thanks for what you do, maybe we will meet on a trail someday.
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