BLACKLICK WOODS
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A place where we are often to be found
(usually on early mornings) is Blacklick Woods Park, a
delightfully beautiful park in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, only
a "hop, skip and a jump" from where we live. We consider
ourselves very fortunate to live so close to such a
wonderful park; one that is ideally suited to our myriad
interests. Here, one will find abundant
wild life, flowers, birds, and very well maintained
trails.... enough to hold most anyone's interest as the
gradually changing seasons alter its beauty over the
seasons. Weather changes, as well as the seasons, can
produce some striking effects as one walks thru what,
otherwise, would be "familiar territory". Even the time
of day will make for some fascinating changes; changes
which can be quite spectacular! Take, for instance, this
picture, taken early one morning along the Maple Loop. |
(Click) |
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And there
are views to please the late risers, too!
This one taken on the Southeastern or "Loop" portion of the
Multi-purpose Trail.
Click on the picture above to see a larger view. |
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Within its 632 acres, Blacklick Woods has a number of trails. How
many trails there really ARE depends on how one defines a “trail”.
Most count four or five. The path or trail up by the Beech-Maple
Lodge, we call the "Beech-Maple Trail" or, sometimes the "Ashton
Pond Trail." It has an adjoining trail to its South; completing
still another "Loop", referred to as the "Maple Loop".
The longest trail (4.1 miles) is called the "Multi-purpose Trail".
It accommodates joggers and bikers as well as
walkers and hikers with relative ease because of its generous width
and nice even surface. (There’s even enough space to accommodate a
dawdling old photographer and his wife! :o)
The "far end" of the
"Multi-purpose Trail" loops back
onto itself rejoining the
Northern portion up by a little
“feeder” trail that goes to the
Nature Center and, thence, to
the Buttonbush Trail...... This
trail continues around and thru
a portion of the "Swamp Forest"
where it loops back, returning
hikers to the Nature Center from
whence the Buttonbush Trail
commenced. A wooden "walk-way"
makes traversing the "swampy"
areas a snap, so, you can leave
your canoe and/or water-wings at
home! Besides, in the late Fall,
as Winter is approaching, there
usually isn't a whole lot of
standing water. Spring?
Well......That's another matter!
:o) |
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Nature Center |
The Swamp |
The Boardwalk |
"Click" on over to "Flowers"
to view photos of wild flowers we've seen along the way while on our
early morning hikes. And/OR, you can continue to scroll on down
where you will see a bit of Ashton Pond..... and some of the
pictures taken on the other trails. Maybe this'll give you some idea
as to why Helen and I love to go for our morning walks in Blacklick
Woods Park ~ our "Fav'rit" place for a morning walk and spending a
bit of leisure time. .............and, this is IT! ~ Ashton Pond,
the park's "Aquatic Studies" Pond.
And NO! It isn't upside down! You're looking at one of the rare
mornings when neither fish nor fowl . . . not even frogs are
disturbing the pond's reflectivity. (Maybe they're not awake yet???)
At the pond's edge, there is a small wooden "dock" with a couple of
benches where one can sit, rest a bit and enjoy the tranquility of
early morning. After THAT shot of the pond, we took a
walk on the "Buttonbush" trail, then returned to the pond to see if
"Charlie" (a very large blue Heron, "named" by the park Rangers)
had shown up.
NOPE! No "Charlie" but Helen spotted this "princely" little guy . .
. sitting on his lily pad awaiting a kiss from a fair maiden to
remove the curse (placed on him by the wicked witch) and turn
him back into a Handsome Prince! (I think he's still waiting, girls!
Do you need a map to Ashton Pond? Just Click "Contact Us" on the
Home page and ASK! :o)
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