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Amenity: Paved Trail

Ashland Fire Company Nature Cabin

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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.

Byers Woods

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Byers Woods is an 215-acre park, in a repurposed landfill, where visitors will find over three miles of well-maintained trails looping through a wide variety of habitats – including forest, grasslands, wetlands, fishing ponds and more. This site hosts a tremendous diversity of birds and wildlife.

In the middle of Byers Woods are two fenced-in retired 50-acre landfill mounds, which are off limits to the public until the 30-year EPA closure is completed in 2030. The cold-season grasses on the landfill mounds are a great habitat for birds and deer.

There are 50 acres of hardwood forest, which includes a large variety of native species attractive to wildlife including oaks, maples, hickories, and beech trees. Most notable are the massive and majestic swamp white oaks that stand in the heart of the forest.

Thanks to the Ashland County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, there are 75 acres of grasslands containing five species of prairie grasses and many native wildflowers. A state of Ohio Clean Ohio grant also provided another 40 acres of grassland in December 2019. These fields are home to jumping mice, prairie voles, dozens of butterfly species, and grassland nesting birds. Most notable of these birds is the endangered bobolink, which lives and nests in the park in large numbers. Because of this, the Mohican Audubon Society (GMAS) holds a well-attended “Bobolinks and Butterflies Festival” every year in June. GMAS has identified 161 different species of birds!

There are four fishing ponds in the park. These ponds provide fun for sportsmen and families alike – catching bass, bluegill, and catfish. There is no fishing license required, although all fishing is catch-and-release only. These ponds are also especially attractive to dozens of unique and beautiful species of dragonflies – attracting naturalists and photographers.

In 1971, Ashland County bought 180 acres of farmland that became the Ashland County Landfill. This landfill was in service for 26 years and ceased operation in 1997. Required environmental monitoring and regular maintenance are done each year by the county solid waste district.

Byers Woods was named in honor of the late State Representative Eugene Byers and longtime County Commissioner Marilyn Byers for their service and dedication to Ashland County. In 2004, Ashland County Park District was given a 99-year lease to operate Byers Woods as a county park.

Thanks to the levy, the park district completed several capital improvement projects at this park.  A beautiful 1.1 mile paved trail was added as well as paved parking lots, an accessible playground, an accessible restroom, a restroom, and a pavilion. The paved trail starts at the front parking lot, travels around the middle pond and finishes the loop around the east mound. The 50×40 playground and 12×20 pavilion is easily accessable from the front parking lot as well.

Hurdle Waterfowl Park

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This 66-acre wooded park was originally designed to attract waterfowl. Today, it is ideal for hiking and bird watching. In addition to two miles of hiking trails, the site contains a 4.5-acre fishing pond, a 12-acre shallow pond complex, and a 2.5-acre duck pond. The park also has mature woods and a small buttonbush marsh. A large observation tower overlooking the park is temporarily closed for maintenance.

In 2019, a second parking lot was installed just 500 feet north of the main parking lot for quicker and easier access to the fishing pond. The original corn crib was also converted into a picnic shelter. Two interior walls were removed along with the garage doors, the concrete pad was replaced, and picnic tables will be installed. In 2023, a paved trail will be added and both parking lots will be paved.

Freer Field

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This 78-acre park lies near the heart of the city of Ashland. Freer Field has two miles of hiking trails, including a one-mile paved loop that seems to be in constant use every day of the year by hikers, runners, bikers, strollers, and more. These trails travel through several habitats. There are 30 acres of woods – half of which are magnificent stands of hickories, oaks, and other hardwoods – and the other half a peaceful pine forest full of holly bushes.

The trails also travel through grassy meadows that draw birds and butterflies with the variety of native grasses and wildflowers. The trail circles a large grassy area that offers opportunities for kite flying, frisbee throwing, and other family fun.

This park is a popular site for community events such as BalloonFest. There is a historic barn at Freer Field and a unique playground that was designed to be used by children of all abilities. Parking is available by the barn and off of Park Street.

Freer Field was donated to the Park District in 2008 by the Ashland County Commissioners to remain as open green space and to never be developed. Today, the park still benefits kids and their families. The new visitor center provides a space for families to picnic in the open air pavilion, reserve the community room for any occasion, and utilize the public restrooms. These restrooms and lobby are open from dawn to dusk year round. The visitor center also provides office space to staff which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to Noon Monday through Friday.

The park district has provided a new program “Everybody Rides” at Freer Field which provides hadicapped or disabled adults and children access to adaptive bicycles to ride on the paved trail. The bikes were purchased for the Park District by the Samaritan Foundation and a private interested citizen. These bikes available to the extent we have citizen volunteers to help us with the program. Citizens interested in volunteering should call the Park District office at 419-289-3524.