No matter what time of year it is, a visit to Alum Creek State Park is always worth it.

The Alum Creek area isn’t just a beautiful spot. It’s also historically significant. From the people of the Adena culture, who lived in the area over 2,000 years ago to the Delaware Indians who lived in several villages nearby, to frontier settlers in the 17th century, Alum Creek has been the site of human development for as long as humans have lived in Ohio.

Before and during the Civil War, The Sycamore Trail was a common path for enslaved people fleeing slavery in the south on their way to freedom in Canada.

The natural history of the park is just as intriguing. The cliffs found throughout the park were carved out as Alum Creek and other streams cut through the bedrock. When the glaciers that covered the region retreated nearly 12,000 years ago, the rich soil gave birth to a massive, beech-maple forest. Although that ancient forest is long gone, a second-growth forest is preserved in the park, and it’s home to some incredible specimens.

From wildflowers to wildlife, there’s so much to see while you’re exploring Alum Creek State Park.

Hiking & Biking Trails

The park offers a variety of trails for walking, hiking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding. From the smallest kiddos who will enjoy exploring the Storybook Trail to the most avid hikers who can take the moderate Rocks to Roots Trail, you could spend your whole visit exploring this beautiful park on foot, bike, or horse. To learn more about the trails, click here.

Birding

Birds call the area home all year long, but the best time to visit for birding specifically is Spring-Fall. In the spring, you might catch a glimpse of Bald Eagles or migrating flocks. In The summer, you can see Cliff Swallows, Ospreys, Cerulean Warblers, and even Common Loons. In the fall, you can see migrant waterfowl, Buff-breasted Sandpipers, American Avocet, and more. To learn more, please click here.

Paddling

If you have your own canoes, kayaks, or paddle boards, there are plenty of places to put in the water at Alum Creek. If you need to rent a watercraft, you’re in luck. The Alum Creek Marina offers hourly and daily rates, so once you decide which sort of paddling you’re doing and how long you want to do it, all you have to do is make your reservation. You can learn more about rentals by visiting the Alum Creek Marina website.

Swimming

The beach at Alum Creek…