This beautiful 300-acre park contains woodlands, farmland, 80-acres of wetlands, a fabulous fishing pond, a historical barn, and is crossed at the corner by the Jerome Fork. The park district plans to preserve the barn and farm the land since part of our mission is to preserve our agricultural heritage. This park was officially opened to the public in the fall of 2022. A drive way, parking lot, and perimiter trail was created. More development will continue in the future.
This wonderful donation was made by the Taylor family on behalf of Louaine Leisching, which owned the land for the past 50 years. The barn on the property is the oldest documented barn in Ashland County, and was built in the early 1820s shortly after the land was granted to the original owners in a deed signed by President James Monroe. The barn includes hand-cut stone at its base, and hand-hewn beams that were enlarged and raised (made taller) in the 1880s.
The Tom Kruse Wildlife Conservation Park consists of approximately 80 acres with significant wildlife habitat, gently rolling meadows, a wooded ravine, and a pond. There will be public access for fishing, hiking, bird watching, nature study and more. This park is situated in Montgomery Township and ideally located near the heart of Ashland at the intersection of State Route 60 and County Road 1754.
This beautiful park was acquired on December 16, 2019 from the Ashland County Commissioners. A State of Ohio Clean Ohio grant funded the land transfer. This park was named after the current commissioner, Tom Kruse, who has played a major role since the establishment of the park district in 2002. Construction has been completed to enhance the pond, construct a handicap accessible fishing pier, and the addition of trails. The Ashland County Park District is proud of the partnership they’ve forged with the Ashland County Commissioners and that they can continue to keep its promises to the great citizens of Ashland County.
On May 7, 2025, the Ashland County Park District held a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the newly built Davy McClure Outdoor Education Center.
Tupelo Bottoms is a 41-acre park in Sullivan Township located just north of Sprinkle’s Serenity and across the road from Hurdle Waterfowl Park where parking is available. Visitors can park in the Hurdle parking lot. There are plans for a loop trail, but there is only a short “trail to nowhere” into the woods. The park is open to the public, but, at this time, because of the thick undergrowth and the mixture of wetlands and vernal pools, it is not ideal hiking especially in the springtime. However, for ambitious and dedicated hikers, the reward will be a fascinating hike encountering a mixture of unique habitats and an immense diversity of plants and animals.
Tupelo Bottoms has over 250 identified plants including tupelo, Freeman’s maple, swamp cottonwood, Shumard oak; many unique wetland wildflowers including cardinal flower and small wild orchids; and dozens of species of sedges, grasses, and shrubs. The park also supports a wide variety of birds, mammals, insects, and amphibians including leopard frogs and four-toed salamanders. In springtime, the park is filled with the songs of these many different frogs and toads.
This 32-acre park offers easy access to the city of Ashland for those interested in light hiking or use of a charming facility for small or medium size events in a wooded location.
Ashland Fire Company purchased the property and built the cabin as a retreat for its members and as a location for community events. When the fire company disbanded in 2012, it donated the cabin and property to the Ashland County Park District. The company built this comfortable cabin using 150-year-old barn beams, and offers both a furnace and wood-burning stove for winter events. Some of the memorabilia left behind by the Fire Company is on display.
The cabin is opened for private use only, but the park is always available for hiking. There are several short hiking trails though a beautiful hardwood forest and over a deep ravine. In addition, there is a 1/4 mile paved trail. Picnic tables available where you can relax and enjoy the scenery or a picnic lunch. In 2024, the fire cabin completed a full interior renovation, boasting a new kitchen and reception area, new flooring, new ADA compliant restroom, and upgraded front and back porch.
Enjoy our cabin and sheltered picnic area for any occasion! The cabin is complete with a updated kitchen, with sink, refrigerator, microwave, and plenty of counter/cabinet space. A wood stove, electric, indoor ADA compliant restroom, 8-8ft tables and 50 indoor chairs. The cabin also is equipped with a gas grill, 5 picnic tables, AC/heat, and a large outdoor fire pit.
Cool Springs Wildlife Conservation Park is comprised of 192 acres situated on the Jerome Fork of the Mohican River. Featuring hilly terrain with areas of grassland, forest, and marsh, there are also a number of natural springs on the property as well as a five-foot waterfall. Three spring-fed ponds provide fishing opportunities. Approximately 50 acres of the park is actively farmed.
The park is split by County Road 37 with roughly 100 acres on each side of the road. Thirty acres of mature woodlands are found in both the east and west areas of the park. The west side crosses the Black Fork River which is accessible to the determined hiker. Much of the land is wetlands, low brush, button bush swamps, and inhabit- ed by beaver, muskrat and, no doubt, deer. There are two wetlands divided by a dike.
The woodlands on the west side of the road include trails on the perimeter of a farm field next to beautiful stands of oaks and hickory. There is an abundance of wildflowers in the spring. The east side of the road includes trails going from the picnic area through a stand of beautiful white oaks and meandering back to the many springs that feed the creek. In the near future, a picnic pavilion will be added to this beautiful area. Hop across the swinging bridge for a different trail destination. One historical highlight of the park is that Johnny Appleseed once had a small apple tree plantation on the property.
Much of the park is open to seasonal public hunting with the exception of the picnic area located near the spring-fed ponds. Cool Springs is located at 2159 County Road 37, Jeromesville, OH 44840.
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.
Most of this 215-acre park was acquired in 2007 through the efforts of the Greater Mohican Audubon Society and a grant from the Clean Ohio Fund. The park was dedicated and opened in the spring of 2009.
The park lies east of a large cattail marsh that is a short walk from the parking lot. A 250-foot boardwalk was built across the marsh, and is the only access to the main body of the park. In 2019, the original boardwalk was replaced due to deterioration. The new boardwalk was increased to 300-foot to prevent flooding, includes railings, and was raised 3 foot higher. Beyond the boardwalk are two short 0.5 mile loops and a 1.5 mile loop around the edges of the park, which contain five bridges that cross over old river channels. Gravel trails wind through woods, meadows, wetlands and along the Jerome Fork River.
Since the Jerome Fork River flows through the park, there is a great deal of ecological diversity to explore. There are riverbanks, old river channels, and over 100 acres of swamp oak maple forest lying in the floodplains on both sides of the river. Several wetlands are present, including a rare sweet flag marsh, a high quality greater burr reed marsh, and a buttonbush marsh. These low areas are home to a great many spring wildflowers, including green dragon, and other unusual species. There are scattered dry uplands throughout the park where a wide variety of wildflowers thrive throughout the summer and fall. Many species of trees populate the park – including swamp white oak, hickory, and pawpaw. The park is also home to a vast array of sedges.
The ecological diversity of Audubon Wetland Preserve includes a variety of habitats. The wetlands provide breeding grounds for salamanders, peepers, frogs, and toads – all which fill the spring air with sounds. The Greater Mohican Audubon Society identified over 96 species of birds, including Sora, Virginia rail, common gallinule, and sandhill cranes. There is even a Blue Heron Rookery near the river and a Bald Eagle’s nest on the preserve.
With all of the colors and sounds of the season, an autumn walk in Audubon Wetlands Preserve can be a memorable experience. Winter is splendid with the silence, the silhouetted trees, the ice covered wetlands, and the tracks in the snow of wildlife. Enjoy our picnic pavilion which overlooks the swamp and newly renovated 300-foot boardwalk. We hope you find the time to walk and experience this vast and wonderful park.
Note: Insect repellant is advised during summer months.
Located along the Black Fork River bordered by the Ashland University wetlands, the property contains 76 acres. The site is mostly floodplain forrest. Also, a buttonbush swamp and a marsh are found here.
A large beaver dam flooded almost 20 acres to create the buttonbush swamp where muskrats, beaver, and a variety of waterfowl live. At present, there are limited trails for walking and hiking. While a full trail loop has yet to be developed, there is still am- ple opportunity to enjoy the wetlands, upland forest, and river bottom forest. The dedicated hiker will find summer and fall to be the best time to hike when the mosquito population diminishes. The property is also popular for seasonal hunting and fishing. Access to the area is of off of Crider Road underneath the I-71 bridge.
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.
This 127-acre property previously belonged to Tom and Pat Gordon. The Ashland Chapter of Pheasants Forever purchased the land from the Gordons in 2006 and donated it to Ashland County Park District with the condition that the site be maintained as a public hunting area and park.
The park contains several unique habitats including swamp forest, marsh, grassland, and upland forest. The bottoms area of the park is swamp forest where green dragon, a rare wildflower, can be seen. The marsh habitat is home to a variety of native plants including an aquatic carnivorous plant, the bladderwort, and also serves as a breeding ground for waterfowl such as Canada geese and the endangered trumpeter swan. Muskrat lodges dot the marsh and provide nesting platforms for waterfowl.
The grassland is former farmland that has been replanted and now supports a variety of animals including rabbits, deer, and grassland birds. The upland forest contains many native trees including oak, shagbark hickory, sugar maple, and American beech. The front area of the park is primarily grassland that is maintainted as an area for upland game hunting. There’s also a 12×20 pavilion that overlooks the smaller prairie near the paved parking lot. The back half of the park is primarily forested with two large marshes created by beaver dams. Park visitors can enjoy two miles of hiking trails.
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.
