JIM MORRIS
This is perhaps the greatest time of the year to be outdoors. The air is crisp, but without any of that nasty white stuff floating around.
While you are breathing all of that fresh air, why not get some exercise in a place where the fall colors are spectacular?
You don’t have to go far to accomplish that. I asked Dave Nolin of Five Rivers MetroParks, an avid hiker, to list his 10 favorite fall-color hiking places in the MetroParks. Here, in his words, is his list:
Germantown MetroPark
• Drive the scenic drive and loop through the park off Conservancy Road. Stop by the restroom and take a very short walk to the scenic Valley Overlook (200-yard walk).
• Park at the end of Old Mill Road, off Conservancy Road. Follow the Twin Valley Trail all the way to Ohio 725. Then turn around and go back the way you came. You’ll see beautiful overlooks, mature forest, colorful prairies, Twin Creek and a landscape more like southern Ohio. 4 miles.
Twin Creek MetroPark
Drive down scenic Morningstar Road through Twin Creek MetroPark. After one mile, park at the parking lot on the right side. Take a short stroll to the accessible pier to a scenic pond (100-yard walk).
• Enter the park at the Eby Road entrance. From there, see the panoramic view of the Twin Valley by the High View shelter. Hike the 3-mile yellow trail to see mature woods, scenic Dogwood Pond, meadows and Twin Creek.
Englewood MetroPark
• Enter the park at the east end of Englewood Dam off U.S. 40. Drive through the park and park at the trailhead parking area near Patty’s Shelter. Hike the 0.8-mile yellow trail to the new boardwalk through the swamp forest there. See big trees and maybe an owl.
Dull Woods Conservation Area
• This woods is a small (9 acres) but spectacular swamp forest. See huge trees and pretty colors. Park at the small lot for the Wolf Creek Rail Trail off U.S. 40 northwest of Brookville. Walk south along the paved trail for 1/4 mile. The entrance to Dull Woods will be on your left.
Sugarcreek MetroPark
• Park at the entrance off Conference Road. Hike the 3.1-mile green trail and see beautiful Sugar Creek, mature woods, prairie, thickets and lots of color.
Hills and Dales MetroPark
• Park at the PawPaw shelter off of Deep Hollow Road. Follow the Adirondack Trail through the Wetlands Boardwalk, around Dogwood Pond and back (0.5 miles).
Taylorsville MetroPark
• Park at the entrance of U.S. 40 north and east of the dam. Hike the 3.5-mile orange loop trail past rock outcrops, mature woods and a scenic overlook, along the Great Miami River.
Carriage Hill MetroPark
• Park at the Red Wing Shelter parking area off Shull Road. Hike the 1.8-mile yellow trail by Cedar Lake, through the wine-colored prairie and around beautiful North Woods Pond and back.
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