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Wildflower Hike at AOA’s Wylie Ridge Preserve, Hocking Hills Conservation Initiative
April 19 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Explore AOA’s relatively new 70-acre Wylie Ridge Preserve along Dunlap Road in Gibisonville. Wylie Ridge is part of our Laurel Run Preserve Initiative that protects water quality in the upper Laurel Run watershed. This area has been a long-term priority for AOA and includes AOA’s first conservation easement. To date, AOA has preserved 13 properties and over 1,300 acres within this area.
Wylie Ridge Preserve protects over a mile of stream corridor, including 2,100 linear feet of Dunlap Creek, a very high-quality Class 3B Coldwater Habitat stream. These streams lie in the upper headwaters of Laurel Run. Most of the property is covered in relatively mature mixed forest with steep gorges of exposed sandstone and shale bedrock along Dunlap Creek. The site includes outcrops of Blackhand sandstone and several stone-lined tributary corridors.
Portions of the upland areas of the site were previously utilized for a former golf course retired around 2010. They have since reverted to largely native grasses. AOA plans to return these upland areas to their original native forest habitat.
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.
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: Wylie Ridge Preserve is located in the small community of Gibisonville. It is at the end of the one block long Market Street, just off the north side of Highway 678. Drive straight back onto the property via the driveway aligned with the road. Look for AOA’s green cones and signs. Staff will help direct you onto the property.
