Davis Memorial

Davis Memorial

Peebles, Ohio

In the midst of a beautiful nature preserve are well-maintained hiking trails. Rarely are any sounds of civilization heard so it feels as if one has stepped back in time to early Ohio. This site is a joint venture between the Ohio Historical Society and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

In a short distance are many varieties of trees, plants and geological phenomenon. Not being a botanist or geologist, I’m sure I did not value the flora and geological varieties, but I could appreciate the natural beauty of the place. The most interesting I found were the White Cedars which grow right out of the limestone cliffs.

During the hike we saw quite a few butterflies. Seeing them was easy, but taking a picture of them was the challenge!

The hike is less than an endurance trail but more than a casual stroll so good walking shoes should be worn. The Buckeye Trail runs through the preserve and there are two ½ mile loops, the Agave and the Sullivanti. We parked by the Agave where we walked half the loop to the Buckeye Trail which took us to the other loop. In an hour we had walked approximately 2 ½ miles with frequent stops to admire the scenery. Part of the trail goes along the Cedar Fork Creek.

This trip is probably best planned for spring when the wild flowers are in bloom or in fall when the leaves are turning. My friend and I went for the hike on a humid summer day making the tour more tiring. Being the seasoned hikers we were though, we did bring our own bottles of water. There are no facilities at the site so come prepared with what you need.

The site is off the civilized path including a gravel road so use the following directions from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources:

• From the junction of State Rte 32 and State Rte 41 south of Peebles, follow State Rte 32 approximately 1 mile east to Steam Furnace Rd.
  
• Proceed south on Steam Furnace Rd 1/2 mile to Davis Memorial Rd.
  
• Go left (east) on Davis Memorial Rd for 2-1/2 miles until reaching the parking lot on the right.

A visit to the Davis Memorial can be combined with a trip to see the Serpent Mound, only a few miles to the north. Visit the Adams County tourism web-site for more ideas to enhance your stay in the area.




Upcoming Exhibits and Events –
N/A






Age Appropriateness –
Young Children – low
School Age Children –medium
Teens –high
Adults –high
Senior Friendly – low

Physical vs. Mental –
This site is for physical hiking. There are helpful signs explaining the nature and geological points of interest.


Time to Allow for Visit –
Allow an hour for a nice paced hike.


Additional Information –
Gift Shop – no
Food – no
Picnic – no
Multilingual – no

Approximate Travel Times –
Cincinnati – 1 ½ hours
Cleveland – 4 hours
Columbus – 2 hours

Handicapped Accessibility –
This site is not handicapped accessible.

Volunteer Opportunities –
N/A


Helpful links:
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw02/
http://www.adamscountytravel.org/
http://www.ohiodnr.com/location/davis/tabid/934/Default.aspx
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/contentbe/EPIC_shim.php?story=dispatch/travel/stories/adams_county_wildflowers.html&adsec=travel