The 282-acre Baker Preserve, previously owned by the family of Dr. John Calhoun Baker, former president of Ohio University, was donated to the university in 2023. It is managed as a nature preserve under a conservation easement held by Athens Conservancy. The preserve is located near the intersection of US-50 and OH-690 and includes frontage on the Hocking River. The Hocking River Commission has a river recreational access point on the property along County Road 24A (South Canaan Road), under an agreement with the Conservancy.
Trail Descriptions:
The Conservancy maintains a five-mile trail system (see map below), on which visitors can enjoy scenic bluffs surrounded by woods. Much of the forest is estimated to be around 100 years old and is home to a diverse flora and fauna. The trails are for pedestrian use only. Bicycles, horses, and recreational motor vehicles are prohibited. Off-trail walking is permitted, but please be respectful of the many species of plants and small animals that live here.
Liar’s Ridge Trail (2.3-mile loop; difficulty – hard). Although much of the trail is easy, there are obstacles and stream crossings that will be difficult for some visitors, so we rate this trail as hard. A detailed description can be found here.
Mythical Tree Trail (difficulty – moderate): This 0.95-mile trail begins and ends on Liar’s Ridge Trail. It includes some steep slopes, but there are also long level stretches. It passes through relatively old forest the whole way, except when crossing the gas line clearing, which offers splendid views of the surrounding hills. The northern half of the trail suffered damage in the May 26, 2019 windstorm but the forest is still attractive. We particularly recommend a 1.7-mile loop that combines the Mythical Tree and the contiguous part of the Liar’s Ridge Trail.
Cockatiel Ridge Trail (difficulty – moderate): This 0.5-mile trail begins and ends on Liar’s Ridge Trail. It climbs steadily from east to west. The eastern 0.3 mile follows a service road, which is steep in places and often muddy. This section offers attractive views of a wooded valley to the south before turning abruptly right (north) and climbing sharply to cross the gas line clearing. The western 0.2 mile offers an easy, gradual climb through mature oak-hickory forest with very little understory. At the upper end of the trail, where it meets Liar’s Ridge Trail, there is an adjacent hilltop with limestone bedrock and a Shumard oak, a species that is rare in southeastern Ohio.
Sheltered Valley Trail (difficulty – easy): This 0.65-mile trail begins and ends on Liar’s Ridge Trail. Most of it passes through relatively young forest with a dense, shrubby understory. It provides good bird habitat, and the abundance of fruiting spicebush in the fall attracts migrating thrushes. The limestone bedrock underlying the portion of the trail that runs on the ridge top supports a population of blue ash, which is uncommon in southeastern Ohio. This species is less susceptible to the emerald ash borer than our other ashes, but many of the blue ash trees on this ridge eventually succumbed to this non-native beetle. Nevertheless, some young blue ashes persist (as of 2022). Blue ash is easily recognized by its four-angled twigs (square in cross section).
Broken Jug Trail (difficulty – easy): This 0.35-mile trail begins and ends on Liar’s Ridge Trail. It offers a way to circumvent one of the steepest parts of the Liar’s Ridge Trail and avoid climbing over fallen trees. The eastern end of it, where it crosses a tiny stream, is often muddy, but the trail is otherwise easy to walk.
Hunting of deer is allowed on the preserve by permission. Hikers should wear bright orange during deer-hunting season.
Access to this property is primarily via a trailhead off Ohio State Route 690. To reach this trailhead from Athens, take US-50 east from US-33 5.1 miles to OH-690. Turn left on OH-690 and go 0.5 mile to the gravel parking area on the left. Carsonite signs and paint blazes guide visitors on the trails.
More information can be found in this PDF version of the Baker Preserve Brochure.
Use iNaturalist to help document plants, mushrooms, insects, birds, mammals, and more in the Baker Preserve!
Volunteer Preserve Steward: Aimee Delach
