Pool season may have ended, but hiking season NEVER ends!

Ashtabula County Metroparks is presenting a series of fall hikes just in time for everyone to enjoy our crisp autumn air, local native plant and animal life, and our amazing fall colors!

• Saturday, September 14 at 9:00 AM, meet in the Hatches Corners Metropark, State Rt 7 parking lot. Marc Hanneman, president of the Sam Wharam Nature Club will lead a leisurely Fall Bird Walk. (

• Sunday, September 15 at 1:00 PM, meet in the parking lot of Eyring Wetlands Preserve Metropark on Windsor- Mechanicsville Rd. Leah Wolfe, MPH & Community Herbalist from the Trillium Center will lead a gentle Ethnobotany Plant Walk and discuss fall foraging.

• Sunday, September 22, at 3:00pm, Metroparks will be leading a guided hike at the new Indian Mound Metropark, 431 Mill Road, Conneaut (off Welton Rd) as part of its joint Nature and Boater Safety Program with the Ashtabula YMCA.

• Sunday, October 6, Fall Color Hikes have been planned in 3 of the Ashtabula County Metroparks to ensure that EVERYONE has an opportunity to get outside and enjoy our fall colors!
• At Noon, meet in the Parking Lot at Camp Peet Metropark for a hike led by Leah Wolfe, MPH & Community Herbalist from the Trillium Center.   (405 Creek Road, Conneaut)
• At 2 PM, meet in the Parking Lot near the Ellsworth Pavilion at Harpersfield Covered Bridge Metropark for a hike led by Joyce Bond, Certified Landscape Architect. (1143 Old Harpersfield Rd  Harpersfield)
• At 4 PM, meet in the Parking Lot at Lampson Reservoir Metropark for a hike led by Larry Frimerman, Ashtabula County Metropark’s Executive Director.  1259 State Route 307, Jefferson Twp

In addition, Wednesday, October 9 at 2 PM, meet in the Parking Lot at Lampson Reservoir Metropark. Mark Meyer will discuss Preparing for and Feeding Our Winter Birds, followed by a leisurely hike led by Shari Bailey M.Ed., student naturalist.

Finally, mark your calendars for a fun-filled indoor Edible Ornaments Workshop!

On Monday, November 11 at Noon in the gymnasium at The Nature Center on Calendar Road in Rock Creek. Shari Bailey M.Ed., Student Naturalist, Kristy Belaney, Naturalist, and other Metroparks volunteers will demonstrate and assist participants in making outdoor edible ornaments to feed our winter wildlife when food sources become scarce. This program was a favorite with homeschoolers and attendees of ALL ages last year!

For further information on these or any of the Ashtabula County Metropark programs, or to register, call 440-576-0717