Fall Color Hike at AOA’s Genevieve Jones Preserve, Scioto River Flyway Corridor, Pickaway County
October 27 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Free
Enjoy the colors and crisp cool weather this pre-Halloween weekend – hike AOA’s beautiful Genevieve Jones Preserve along the Scioto River, decked out for fall on what will be the peak color weekend this year. Check out the amazing rewilding of the former golf course that has been shepherded by AOA for the last 2+ years.
This ~337-acre property is situated at the confluence of the Scioto River and Walnut Creek, protecting over 1.6 miles of riparian corridor. Genevieve Jones Preserve is a keystone component of AOA’s Scioto River Flyway Conservation Corridor Initiative which seeks to protect water quality and wildlife habitat along the Scioto River.
It is supplemented by an additional 25 acres that AOA transferred to the Pickaway County Park District. The Park District moved their offices into the old clubhouse and will manage a network of publicly accessible trails on portions of the Preserve site.
This Preserve honors the legacy of Genevieve Jones – a 19th century Circleville amateur ornithologist and initial author of what became the Jones Family’s monumental publication, Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio.
AOA is in the process of converting the former highly manicured golf course features into a nature preserve with new and enhanced wetlands to safeguard Scioto River water quality. Learn about the Preserve and AOA’s wetland creation and restoration plans to be underway shortly.
We will hike through wetlands and on top of the Circleville Esker, a prominent Pickaway County glacial feature, for a birds-eye view of the Scioto River and environs. Lucky hikers will see the resident bald eagles, great white egrets and/or herons, or at least view the bald eagle nests and heron rookeries along the Scioto River.
The Fall Color hike and other AOA events are free and open to the public. This event will be held rain or shine – so please come prepared and dress appropriately for the weather.
Time: Meet at 10:00 a.m. This hike will last approximately two to three hours. Participants can stay as long as you like.
What to Bring: Binoculars to view the many 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.
Location: Genevieve Jones Preserve is located on the west side of Highway 23 just south of the Village of South Bloomfield, about 12 miles south of the 270 loop. The Google address for the Genevieve Jones Preserve is 16405 US-23, South Bloomfield. Look for AOA signs / cones at the entry drive. Park in the Pickaway County Park District parking lot in front of the old clubhouse building.