Cedar Bog Orchid Walk/Hike AOA’s New Preserves on Cedar Run

Start summer with a visit to Ohio’s spectacular Cedar Bog Nature Preserve and get a first look at a AOA’s new Preserves on Cedar Run in Champaign County.  Cedar Bog is a wetland fen habitat that harbors a very rich diversity of native species including many that are listed as rare, threatened, and/or endangered.  It is one of the crown jewels of Ohio’s natural landscapes and Ohio’s first Nature Preserve.

Walking through the preserve on the boardwalk we will travel through many of the unusual habitats found there including the cedar swamp, savanna, and sedge meadows.  We will see a variety of native flora adapted to the wetland habitats.  The highlight will be the showy lady’s slippers, the large pink and white orchids which should be starting to bloom.  Increasingly rare due to habitat loss and collection, this orchid is now limited to a small number of counties in Ohio.

Following the Cedar Bog boardwalk visit we will take a short hike to see two of AOA’s newest Preserves, located adjacent to the northern border of Cedar Bog Preserve.  These sites contain the headwaters for Cedar Run and help buffer Cedar Bog habitats.   AOA is working with numerous collaborative partners to convert these sites from agricultural fields back to wetland habitats which will be reintegrated into the Cedar Bog ecosystem.

This and other AOA events are free and open to the public.  There is a $5 entry donation to access the Cedar Bog Preserve boardwalk.  This activity will be held rain or shine – so please come prepared and dress appropriately for the weather and hiking in potentially wet areas.

Time:  Meet at 9:30 a.m.  The event will last approximately two to three hours but stay as long as you like.

What to Bring:  Drinks, snacks and/or lunch of your choice.  Preferred insect repellant is recommended during tick season.  Sunscreen may be desirable as there will be some sun exposure.  Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended for AOA hikes.

Location:  We will meet at the Cedar Bog Nature Center which is located on Woodburn Road south of Urbana.   The Google map street address is 980 Woodburn Road, Urbana, OH 43078. It is just west of Highway 68.  Park in the Nature Center Parking lot and look for the AOA signs designating our assembly area.

Google Map Link: 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/980+Woodburn+Rd,+Urbana,+OH+43078/@40.05559,-83.792317,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x883f45da25eeff97:0x52fa71868caf3005!8m2!3d40.05559!4d-83.792317