TrekOhio Highlights of 2015

It’s time once again for our annual highlights article, so without further ado, the highlights of TrekOhio 2015:

Favorite Photo

Deb: I took the photo below while hiking in the Hocking Hills at Winter’s End.

Bob: My favorite photo for the year was a picture of Deb in front of Horseshoe Falls at Caesar Creek State Park.

Best Hike of the Year

Deb: My favorite hike was Canby’s Mountain Lover Trail and Keyhole Arch at Fort Hill. Passing through the keyhole was a great way to start the hike. We had no idea what lay ahead until we exited the arch.

Bob: I enjoyed our fall hike at Shawnee State Forest on the new segment of the day hike trail and the white connector trail. The prior hike at Shawnee had been very strenuous and I was barely able to complete it. After losing 40 lbs, I had more stamina and energy and found the hike much more enjoyable.

Best Critter

Deb: While hiking in Zaleski State Forest, I believe that I saw two cinnamon-colored black bears at a distance. Since they were departing the area, I only got to see their behinds. And no, I didn’t get to take a photo (which brings to mind the saying, “Pictures, or it didn’t happen!”) However, if it did happen, it would have looked a lot like the photo below.

Bob: The luna moth we photographed on a tree stump at Tar Hollow State Park.

Favorite Flower

Deb: Pink Lady Slipper photographed at Wahkeena Nature Preserve. Featured in Deb’s Spring Wildflowers 2015.

Bob: The flower of the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Best Meal at a Park

Deb & Bob: Thanksgiving dinner at Lake Hope Dining Lodge. We also stayed at cabins at Lake Hope State Park for both July 4th weekend and Thanksgiving.

Honorable mention: Malabar Farm Restaurant at Malabar Farm State Park. We stopped for a meal after our hike at Crall Woods.

Most Hidden Preserve

Deb & Bob: Raven Rock State Nature Preserve – a permit-only preserve. We later learned that you can get a one day permit (and a map) at the Park Office of nearby Shawnee State Park.

Best Vista

Deb: The vista at the end of Buzzardroost Trail at the Edge of Appalachia.

Bob: I’d have to pick Seneca Rocks – which is in West Virginia. For Ohio, I’d pick also pick the vista on the Buzzardroost Trail.

See Ohio’s Scenic Overlooks for a list of Ohio’s overlooks that we’ve visited.

Best Waterfall

Deb: Blue Hen Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Although there’s obviously a trail to the falls, from the observation area it looks like it’s hidden in the forest.

Bob: Brandywine Falls in Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Both of the above photos were from our post, Cuyahoga Valley National Park: Brandywine and Blue Hen Falls.

We have also compiled a list of Ohio waterfalls that we’ve visited in the post, Waterfalls!!!

Best Prairie

Deb: Although we visited several wonderful prairies this past year, I picked Milford Center Prairie State Natural Area because we were there during peak bloom, and because it is so close to a major urban area (Columbus).

Bob: Lynx Prairie at Edge of Appalachia

Best Geological Feature

Deb & Bob: Tie – Keyhole Arch at Fort Hill and Thompson Ledges

Web Site Milestones

The past year has been one of dramatic growth for TrekOhio. Here’s a few statistics about our site:

• Visitors to site in past year: 491,973
• Page views in past year: 778,711
• Likes on Facebook: 2,672
• Most viewed article: Snake Species of Ohio at a Glance
• Most viewed park / preserve review: Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve

We’re very proud of our Ohio park / preserve guide (choose from the tab at the page top) which is organized by region and county now lists over 900 sites around the state. This year we opened the TrekOhio store which offers calendars, mugs, T-shirts, and other TrekOhio gear. I’d also like to remind readers that we are an Amazon affiliate and feature outdoor related items on our page.

We’d like to take a moment to thank the park and preserve professionals and volunteers. Without you we wouldn’t have the wonderful Ohio parks and preserves to visit. We’d like to also thank our readers, without you there’d be no point writing for this site. Have a great 2016 and keep on trekking!

P.S. Check our Ohio Winter Hike Calendar to find organized winter hikes in your area.

More Annual Highlights from Other Years

• TrekOhio Highlights of 2016
• TrekOhio Highlights for 2014
• TrekOhio Highlights for 2013
• TrekOhio Highlights for 2012