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20230311 – Spring Valley Nature Preserve

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Date: 03/11/2023 – Distance: 2.3 mi – Elapsed Time: 1.75 hr – Ascent: 366 ft – Descent: 222 ft – Difficulty: Medium

Spring Valley Nature Preserve is 45 acres of wooded valley with several miles of trails. It’s located in Granville, Ohio, off State Route 16 just south of where State Route 37/161 comes in from Columbus. The area has good wildflowers in the spring. I have been here several times, and being only 20 minutes from home, it’s a good option for something to do with little travel.

The sign at the entrance.
Parking is big enough for over a dozen cars.
Map of the trails.
Dedication plaque from 2007.
The front has a large prairie with a couple picnic shelters.
Trails are well marked, but you’ll want to take a pic of the map because it can be easy to get turned around here.
I began by heading toward the Valley Trail.
Trails are well maintained here.
There are a few shallow water crossings on the Valley Trail.
Lesser Celandine can be quite invasive.
Harbinger of Spring. You can see how it also gets the name Salt and Pepper.
Skunk Cabbage.
Skunk Cabbage flower.
There are a couple shale walls along the creek.
Christmas Fern.
Waterleaf.
There are plenty of options for hiking here.
There are stepping stones on this crossing.
The brush here is an invasive Bush Honeysuckle.
Maple Tree plantation at the opposite end of the valley.
Osage Orange split years ago, but still lives. The trail tunnels through it.
The final creek crossing has a bridge.
Club Moss.
More side trails, but I’m following the Roberts Ridge Trail (red).
Lots of Black Cherry Trees.
Black Cherry bark is flaky and dark and the trees usually lack branches until the top.
The trail climbs a side ravine to the top of the ridge.
Maple Tree flower.
Trail follows the edge of the ridge above the valley.
Spring Beauty.
Partridge Berry.
Spring Beauty.
Take a seat and enjoy the peace of the woods.
Cutleaf Toothwort.
Coming back to the parking lot.

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