Date: 02/12/2023 – Distance: 4.9 mi – Elapsed Time: 2.5 hr – Ascent: 753 ft – Descent: 786 ft – Difficulty: Medium
Just a few minutes south of Lancaster, Ohio is Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve. It features many species of wildflowers including a couple endangered ones, as well as a 250 feet high towering overlook called Jacob’s Ladder. There are a couple loops to hike on totaling around 5 miles of trails. I have been here before, but on this beautiful winter day, I was in search of signs of early spring wildflowers.
Sign at the entrance on Meister Rd SW.Parking has room for about a dozen vehicles.Some good information on the kiosk. No pets allowed in State Nature Preserves.Map of the trails.You have to walk about a half mile down Oil Mill Rd to get to the trails.There is no parking allowed on Oil Mill Rd.One of the endangered species may be seen in the summer along the road.If you know what to look for, you may see early spring wildflowers. Skunk Cabbage blooms.It’s a strange flower. The leaves come up later, but the plant can produce heat around 50F to melt the ice so it can come up early.It’s illegal to hike off trail here to protect the delicate species.Follow the markers.The trail starts at this gate near this farmhouse. Please be mindful of the private property.Still no parking here either.No collecting of plants and stay on the trails.Another kiosk.Trails are clearly marked.Arney Run Creek borders the east side.You can barely see Jacob’s Ladder through the trees.This left climbs up to the overlook.It’s the toughest climb in the park.Some Mountain Laurel near the top.There are a couple overlooks here.And it’s a big drop, so be careful.The views are worth the climb. Looking toward the Hocking Hills Region.Amazing shot.You can see farms in the distance.The trail continues along the contour of the ridgetop. At this sign it turns right. Again, please obey the signs.It begins to descend back toward the valley.And comes back to the main trail.Not far from where the first loop comes back to the main trail, is this left to the second loop. However, I took this one in the opposite direction.The trail continues left, but there are signs of an old road crossing Arney Run.About this time, I decided I needed some electrolytes. These are awesome!Chew two with water.The woods here have a good variety of hardwoods and pines.This is last year’s leaf from a Puttyroot Orchid.Striped Wintergreen.More pines and Mountain Laurel on the ridge on this side of the park.This old trail goes out to an old area of the park and is now closed.Tree growing on sandstone outcropping.The intricate curves are iron deposits.Another huge tree growing right on the rock.The cliffs are quite intricate.And colorful.Back to the main trail.A little blowdown from recent winds.
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