Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve
"It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness." ~ Thomas Jefferson
Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve
Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve is a serene 607-acre preserve established in 2008. The mission was to provide a place for environmental education. Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve has a wide variety of plants and wildlife. The terrain varies throughout the park. It includes ridges, wooded areas, open fields, riverbanks, ponds, outcroppings, caves and waterfalls.
There are 3 trailheads:
· 7000 Beach Camp Rd (North Trailhead)
· 7100 State Route 664 (West Trailhead)
· 7793 Bremen Road (East Trailhead)
The Trails
Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve is a large park that has approximately 7 miles of trails. Some of the trails are not the easiest to hike. Throughout most of the state nature preserve, you are either going up or down. The trails are all-natural and well maintained.
At the North Trailhead, located at 7000 Beach Camp Road, there is a small gravel parking lot that has room for approximately 10 vehicles.
Leaving the parking lot, there is a short trail through the woods that opens into a field.
There is one large tree in the center of it. This would be a nice place to have a picnic if it was dry. However, when we visited the park, it was very soggy. The trail from N to B to C has little elevation change.
The West Trailhead also meets at B. The day we visited the preserve this part of the trail was closed.
From C you can enter the Pond Trail. The beginning of this trail is steep and grassy. At the top is a small pond. From the pond, you go left to continue on the trail. The trail was muddy in a few areas, but not as muddy as we thought that it would be. The area had quite a bit of rain before our visit. The Pond Trail may be difficult for some to climb.
From the Pond trail, you can either go left or right on the Buckeye Trail. The Buckeye Trail is the main trail through the preserve. The other trails branch off it. If you take the trail to the left, you will head back towards the North Trailhead parking lot. Going right, you make your way deeper into the park.
The Buckeye Trail continues from D to E. From there you can take the Ridge Trail. This trail is fairly flat and easy to walk.
There is a strange gas line that follows alongside the path. It seems out of place for a nature preserve.
The Ridge Trail ends at G. From G to H you are back on the Buckeye Trail. This area had a lot of ups and downs. The terrain was quite different than the previous areas. There were large rock outcroppings and small caves scattered about.
From H you can hit the Meadow Trail. This trail is grassier and more open, yet still has a lot of ups and downs. The “meadow” is surrounded by trees, and the birds are quite active in this area. There is also a lot of milkweed, so this should be a good area to spot monarch butterflies during the summer.
The Meadow Trail ends at F and you can get back onto the Buckeye Trail. You can either make a right and head back to the parking lot or go left to add another half mile to your walk. We headed left to G. This part of the trail had the same terrain as G-H. There are a few small waterfalls.
During our visit, it started raining while we were on this trail. Luckily, we were coming up on one of the small caves. There was a large rock in the cave that was perfect for a bench. We sat inside and enjoyed listening to the rain. It was peaceful and there was not another soul around.
We were running out of daylight and headed back towards the car. We took the Ridge Trail back to the Buckeye Trail (G-E). Instead of walking the Pond Trail again, we continued on the Ridge Trail (D-C). This area also had a few small caves at the beginning.
During our visit, we were hoping to explore the whole preserve. But time was not on our side. However, we were still able to get in 4.2 miles.
Not a Trail
This park is huge, and you need to pay attention to the trail signs. It is very easy to take trails that are NOT A TRAIL. There are quite a few Not a Trail signs along the paths.
Robinson Falls
Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve has a waterfall that can only be visited by obtaining a permit from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. We did not visit the waterfall during our visit. We are planning on checking it out during the spring when there is a lot of water flowing. The waterfall is not noted on the trail map.
Social Distancing at Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve
During this crazy time, social distancing is very important. Although the parking lot was packed, we encountered very few people in the park. It was very easy to stay away from other people.
For the most part, the people that we did pass were courteous and kept their distance. But there is always an exception to the rule. There was a group that had some members go off the trail. They were loud and obnoxious. To get back on the trail they tried to cross a creek by walking across a log. One guy decided to carry a small child. He fell, luckily the child was not hurt.
If you decide to visit any park, please stay on the trails. The trails are there for your safety and the safety of the natural plants and wildlife. There is plenty to see without tromping through the woods. To learn more about Trail Etiquette check out our previous post HERE.
Our Thoughts
We loved Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve and will make our way back one day to finish the trails and visit Robinson Falls. The Nature Preserve was well-kept, and there was very little trash.
The trails are not the easiest in some spots but are not the hardest trails around. They are great for getting in a good workout. The park was peaceful and quiet. We did not even hear any vehicle noise.
If you plan on visiting the park, we recommend that you wear a nice comfortable pair of waterproof boots. There were a couple muddy areas and a few water crossings.
What You Can Expect at Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve
Please note that trail rules and regulations can change at any time. The following information was in effect for Boch Hollow State Nature Preserve in Logan as of November 2020.
There are no bathrooms.
Bicycles are prohibited.
There was quite a bit of activity. It should be a great place for birding during migration.
Foot bridge.
Concealed carry is permitted.
Dogs are prohibited.
Trail surfaces are natural. The trails are steep in places. The trails are easy to mildly difficult.
West trailhead parking lot is blacktop. North and East parking lots are limestone. The North and East lots have room for approximately 10 cars. The West trailhead parking lot was recently redone, and we have been unable to visit.
No picnic tables.
No playground.
No benches.
A lot of shade.
No shelter house.
Trails are well marked with paint on the trees and signs.
No trashcans.
Pond, creeks and waterfalls.
No ADA parking spots.
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