HEMLOCK FALLS REVISITED--

Deep in the forested hills of southeastern Richland County, this marvelous rock formation remains one of the area's top, geologic and natural, botanical attractions.

Back in 2007 ownership of the property was transferred from the Johnson family to the Richland County Park District via the Mohican School in the Out-of-Doors.

This means the 85 acre parcel of pristine, wooded land will be protected from commercial development in the future, forever.

Steve McKee, director of the Gorman Nature Center which also serves as headquarters for the park district said the Mohican School will continue to serve as gate-keepers for the falls property.

Visitors are asked to stop by the school office on Bunker Hill North Rd., to sign a release and obtain their written permission for a visit.  Parking for such visits is available in the grassy area across the road from the school's entrance.

Steve also shared with Fogeyisms plans are on the table for a new hiking trail which will originate in the Mohican State Forest and travel to Malabar Farm and through the Hemlock Falls property, connecting then with the bike trail in Butler.

Can you imagine someday taking a stroll from Mansfield's North Lake Park to Mohican's Lyon's Falls?

McKee said easements or permission to use over 90 percent of the proposed trail's land already have been obtained.

Fogeyisms was comforted to learn this likely will be done while I retain some capacity to enjoy such a hike.

Friends Mark and Nancy Meinzer are pictured with my lady Sue on the bridge below the falls and in the massive rock structures adjacent to the the two falls at Hemlock. 

That's Mark (left) wrestling for a vantage point of the larger water fall in the luxuriant foilage, in places containing plants rare to Richland County; some even rare for the state of Ohio, Steve points out.

A stunning place, indeed!