Wildflower Hike at AOA’s New Medford Preserve Laurel Run Headwaters Conservation Hocking Hills Conservation Initiative
Explore AOA’s new 35-acre Medford Preserve along Bigham Road in the headwaters of the locally important Laurel Run watershed. This impressive property packs a lot into a small site. It contains six headwater stream reaches with an estimated 3,930 linear feet of Coldwater stream habitat protected. Several small waterfalls and rock-lined sluices are located along the primary stream course.
The Medford site is punctuated by an imposing line of south and east-facing non-calcareous cliff habitat ledges along a deep central stream gorge. The property has a mixed forest canopy of varying age. We will hike down into the deepest part of the gorge then back out.
The Medford Preserve is part of our Laurel Run Conservation Initiative that protects water quality and aquatic habitats in the upper Laurel Run watershed. Conservation within the Laurel Run watershed has been a priority for AOA as part of our Greater Hocking Hills Conservation Initiative. To date, AOA has preserved 14 properties and nearly 1,400 acres within the upper Laurel Run watershed headwaters area that provides a critical habitat connection between Cantwell Cliff State Park and Crane Hollow and other ODNR conserved sites in the center of the Hocking Hills.
This hike as well as other AOA events are free and open to the public. We will meet rain or shine – so please come prepared and dress appropriately for the weather and hiking on slopes.
Time: Meet at 10:00 a.m. The trip will last approximately two hours. Participants can leave early or stay as long as you like.
What to Bring: Binoculars to view birds and wildlife. Pack drinks and/or snacks of your choice. Feel free to bring a lunch and eat along the trail. Bug repellant is recommended.
Locations: The Medford Preserve is located at 23531 Bigham Road, Rockbridge, OH, one mile west of Cantwell Cliffs State Park. Bigham Road can be accessed off Highway 180 via Big Cola Road. Use the street address or the Google map link below for directions. Look for AOA’s green cones and signs along the road at the entry. Staff will help direct you onto the property.