Buckeye Trail Caesar Creek Section 5/29/2008

Saying goodbye to the bike trail for now (End of the Loveland BT Section)

Looking back at O'Neall Rd. from the other side

Caesar Creek Reservoir

Trail Miles: 8

Today was a perfect day for hiking. It was warm, but not hot. There were no mosquitoes, and only a few large bees that did not bother me. It has been a long wait for me to get back to the Buckeye Trail, and I couldn't have asked for a better day.

I started back in Oregonia, which is a couple of miles from the end of the Loveland section, that I started hiking on July 1st of last year. There are really no decent places to leave a vehicle, and I did not take the time to ask around. There are plenty of no trespassing signs in the area, which makes me think a lot of people that use the trail must like to park where ever they please. I decided the best place to leave a car was all the way up at Caesar Creek State Park.

I was looking forward to taking a break from the paved bike trails and road walking and getting my first chance at some good old dirt trails. When I got to the end of O'Neall Rd. at the guard rail, it looked like there might be a lot of vegetation to hack through, but once I entered the small opening by the guard rail, the trail was in good shape.

There was some heavy erosion in some areas, and I wouldn't walk it at night, but the trail was nice and clear. I continued on along Caesar Creek and crossed a bridge. I took an abandoned paved road up to a grassy mowed area that led to Clarksville Rd by the Flat Fork Recreation area. I continued on toward the visitor center, and then walked back to the Flat Fork parking lot to move my car up to the visitor center.

I had originally planned to camp at the horseman's camp further up along the reservoir, but tomorrow is one of my daughter's last day of school, and there is a school play I shouldn't miss. I hiked with my full pack anyhow.

After I moved my car up to the visitor center, I walked around a short loop trail that I originally throught was the Buckeye Trail. If I had read my map properly, I would have seen that the BT starts above the old farmer's pond. I walked back up toward the pond and continued down the right trail.

Since I was not going to camp tonight, I decided to not hike all the way to point 5 on the trail map, which is the Day Lodge near Middletown Rd. I walked about half way there and turned around and walked back to the visitor's center. The next time I come back to the trail, I will start from the visitor center again and continue as far as I can.

There was one stream crossing between points 4 and 5, which was not a problem, since the stream was low. I am sure the level gets much higher, so it is a good idea to have a plan for crossing streams in this area. I had some cheap sandals I bought that I could have used if I had to.

I could have gotten more miles in, but I did not have a way to shuttle the car again, and I did not feel like walking out and back the rest of the day.

I always like to read up on the history of the area. I learned that the Caesar Creek area was named for Caesar, who was a black slave captured by the Shawnee during a raid along the Ohio River. The Shawnee adopted Caesar and gave him the valley to be his own hunting ground. It is said that Caesar went on raids with Blue Turtle, who was the Shawnee war chief at the time.

To see a set of all my photos for this trip, go to:

http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/SteveHikes/Buckeye%20Trail%202008/

To get maps for the Buckeye Trail, please visit the Buckeye Trail Association website at:

http://www.buckeyetrail.org/

For maps and info for the Caesar Creek State Park, visit:

http://www.ohiodnr.com/parks/tabid/720/default.aspx

Miami Whitewater Forest: Badlands Trail Inner Loop 5/4/2008

First of all, the Oakleaf and Parcours trails are still closed at Miami Whitewater Forest for repairs. I posted a picture of the sign and fence in front of the Oakleaf Trail.

Oakleaf Trail Closed for Repairs

Today, I did not have a lot of time for walking, but decided to check out Miami Whitewater Forest again. I re-walked the inner loop of the Badlands Trail and went to check out the Oakleaf and Parcours trails, but both were still closed. The nearby restroom area was re-opened, though.

With the three kids in tow, I decided not to attempt the longer outer loop of the Badlands Trail, which is 1.6 miles. I want to get back here by myself someday soon, so I can walk the whole trail. The Badlands Trail is one of my favorites here.

The trail looks much like it did in April, when I made a post here after my walk then. It is a little greener now, and there are a few more animals and a bee here and there.

Winton Woods Great Oaks Trail 5/3/2008

The fork in the road....

My last trail of the day was the Great Oaks Trail at Winton Woods. It was looking dark in the west, and some more rain was on the way. I figured I could walk the 3/4 mile or so before it got too close.

This is one of those days when I did not expect to get out and walk, and I was not prepared like I should have been. One of the lessons I recalled from the Get Out More tour was to have your gear stored away for quick retrieval. This includes day hiking gear. I will have to work on how I
store my things.

Winton Woods Kingfisher Trail 5/3/2008

Map of the Kingfisher Trail

A view from the Kingfisher Trail

The stairs lead down

More of the Kingfisher Trail

The boardwalk

The Kingfisher Trail is a short 1 mile trail at Winton Woods, but I think it has to be my favorite one in the park. It has some ups and downs, and some nice scenery. It is a good little trail for a quick walking fix. I wish it was 10 miles long.

A link to mo0re information on Winton Woods from the Hamilton County Park District is at:

http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/winton.htm

A link to a map of the park is at:

http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/aboutus/ww_map.pdf


Videos from the Kingfisher Trail:










Video of the boarwalk area

Winton Woods Harbor Trail 5/3/2008

Winton Lake

The closed bridge

The bridge is closed ove the lake

Harbor Trail

Today was one of those unexpected days when you don't have any plans to go hiking, since the day is already filled up with a track meet, etc. Well, the heavy rain took care of the track meet, and someone volunteered to watch the kids for a couple of hours. All of a sudden out of nowhere, a rare window of opportunity.

I considered going to Miami Whitewater Forest, but I knew my time was limited. I settled on Winton Woods, since it is close, and I have not walked the wooded trails there yet this year. Hey, I know it's not the Buckeye Trail, and it sure isn't the AT, CDT or PCT, but when I have to walk, I take what I can get. I need to get my legs and lungs in shape for this summer when I am going to take some time to enjoy some longer hikes. These trails can be nice if you walk enough of them in a day's time.

I wanted to start with a nice walk around Winton Lake on the Harbor Trail. A sign told me that the bridge was closed for repairs. I walked up to the fence and snapped a picture. It looks like this will be closed for awhile. This splits the Harbor Trail in half for now. I walked one half of the Harbor Trail, and then I decided to go walk the wooded trails.