With just four acres, Hopkins Landing is one of four Ashland County parks located along the Jerome Fork of the Mohican River. Ashland County has identified the Jerome Fork Valley as a natural corridor worthly of preservation in its comprehensive land use plan. The park offers a small loop trail. The primary use is river fishing access and a canoe/kyak connection to the river. An otter slide can be seen just south of the park.
Totalling 11-acres, River Walk Natural Area is nestled along the Jerome Fork of the Mohican River just south of Ashland and provides an opportunity to enjoy over 1500 feet of river access. Hiking, bird watching, spring wildflower viewing, are available along the 3/4 mile trail. The site provides canoeing/kyaking on the Jerome Fork.
Both the river and park are home to diverse communities of animals including turtles, river otters, wood ducks, herons, deer, and an impressive number of insects. Towering buckeye and walnut trees stand silent watch over the flood plain and wait patiently for your visit.
Note: Insect repellant is advised during summer months.
Containing 176 acres, Gilliom-Cherp Nature Park largely consists of floodplain forest along the Black Fork of the Mohican River. It is connected to Black Fork Bottoms Park by an easement across private land. The park also contains old field, upland and pine forests around the parking area and slopes down to interesting floodplain forests, wetlands and marshes along the Black Fork River. There are a number of vernal pools and small open marshes on the property. The river forms the southern border of the park.
This park was made possible by a generous donation from the Gilliom family. The family provided further support to the park through several projects including a bridge from the family. Donations from Pheasants Forever and the Division of Wildlife of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources provided additional suppor to the park.
Public hunting and fishing are the primary activities in this park. The site is also open to casual hiking and is home to abundant wildflowers. There is access to the Black Fork for canoeing and kayaking.
Situated along the Black Fork River, the 63 acres comprising this park hold a varitey of habitats. Twenty acres of seasonal wetlands constructed by the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife service (USFWS) host flocks of waterfowl during spring and fall migrations. Trails and bridges wind through grasslands, forests, and wetland meadows.
This park is best suited for summer and fall hiking since spring time often brings heavy flooding. For the ambitious hiker, bird watching is excellent. You can expect to see a wide variety of species from red-headed woodpeckers to sandhill cranes to prothonotary warblers. You might even have the opportunity to see eagles feasting on fish trapped in the basins left by the receding river.
In addition to the wetlands, there are a great many wildflowers that have been planted by USFWS for perfect viewing in the summer and fall. There are also a number of leopard frogs that grequent the wet areas. Access to boating and riverbanks is provided for fishing. Canoeing and boating is available to north and south, but log jams especially to the south, may require returning to Carpenter to complete your trip. Your canoeing/kyaking experience meanders through woodland meadows and farm country. Take a break near the parking lot and enjoy the picnic pavilion. Trips are best in the early summer before the river gets low. This area of the river is a popular fishing spot for pike in the spring time and catfish and red horse suckers in the summer and fall.