Black Swamp Nature Center

We enjoy hiking and for people who hike there's nothing like hiking to a place where you're completely surrounded by natural beauty. When we find such a place in our home state of Ohio, it makes the experience all the better.

On a cool and sunny day, we hiked a wilderness trail at Black Swamp Nature Center with our dogs Buddy and Monroe. 

Following the trails at the Black Swamp Nature Center, you will find this is a place of habitat retention and restoration. It is a designated wildlife area that is known for its waterfowl. There are ponds seen along Flat Rock Creek and here you'll find wetlands and a meadow too. This area provides a home to many species of birds, especially during the spring and fall migrations. 

We paused. I  readjusted Monroe's leash when our dog Buddy started to pull ahead. 

Buddy evidently heard something and wanted us to go in that direction. We didn't know where Buddy was leading, but it wasn't unusual for him to take us to a location where he could tree a squirrel. We decided to follow him. And on this day, it was a different journey

It wasn't a strenuous hike but we had to look at where to place our feet. The path along the creek consisted of a few displaced limbs, evidence of a recent storm that occurred in the area. We observed an uprooted tree not strong enough to escape gusty winds. There was a mud pool that the dogs ran through, while we jumped over it.  

Our hike was enjoyable and we were surrounded by natural beauty. Some trees were ablaze in color while others had already dropped leaves that crunched under our feet. We continued on through areas of full sun and some with dappled shade. 

After a mad dash, following a noise we recognized as running water, we all stopped. 

Buddy had led us to a breathtaking sight, the Old Sugar Beet Dam which was built in the early 1900's for the sugar beet factory. 

The four of us spent the afternoon here. Every so often a fish would leap up the dam, while we sat and listened to the melodies of different species of birds, enjoying the beauty around us.