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Celebrate National Fossil Day

by

For Immediate Release

October 10, 2014

 

Media Contact: Tammy York

tammy@landsharkcommunications.com

 

Celebrate National Fossil Day October 15, 2014

with a Fossil Filled Hike

Cincinnati, OH—Go for a hike in the Greater Cincinnati area and you’ll likely be stepping over fossils some 450 million years old. The Greater Cincinnati region is a unique land area, referred to as the Cincinnati Arch. In fact, the Greater Cincinnati is world renowned for Ordovician fossils.

If you want to go fossil hunting, where can you go and what are the collecting rules?

In Ohio, you can go to the following state parks and get a collection permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center at the respective park you are visiting. Rules are typically the same from place to place.

  • No tools are allowed in the spillway. No breaking of rocks or hitting of one rock against another.

  • You may keep fossils (or rocks containing fossils) that fit in the palm of your hand. Larger specimens should be left for others to enjoy. You may photograph, draw, or take rubbings of larger specimens.

  • Fossils may only be collected in the emergency spillway. Collecting in any area other than the spillway is not permitted.

When you go park in the designated areas in the emergency spillway. Parking on the shoulder of the road is prohibited. Don’t be tempted the climb the walls. The walls are crumbly and unstable and the rocks have sharp and often jagged edges. 

What should you bring with you to collect fossils? Water to drink, sunscreen, old pillow case, hat, and a good pair of gloves for each person. The shale and limestone where fossils are found is usually sharp and will tear through plastic bags.  Also, you won’t find any restrooms or shade in the wide open spillway.

Places to discover fossils but collect only with a permit and in designated areas:

Caesar Creek State Park: Collecting rules apply. A permit must be obtained at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center. Collecting is only allowed in designated areas. This is a great visitor center that also has a display of fossils found at the park. For more information about fossil hunting at Caesar Creek, call (513) 897-1050. You can hike and see the geology of the area by heading out on the Caesar Creek Nature Preserve trail.

East Fork State Park: Collecting rules apply. A permit must be obtained at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center. Collecting is only allowed in designated areas. For more information, call (513) 734-4323. Take the Prairie Trail or the Cedar trail when hiking with little ones.

Hueston Woods State Park: Collecting rules apply. For more information, call (513) 523-6347. Collecting is only allowed in designated areas. The Sugar Bush, Blue Heron, and Big Woods trails weave through the Hueston Woods Nature Preserve. Wipe your boots to remove any possible weed or invasive seeds before you enter this stunning sugar maple forest.

Stonelick State Park: Collecting rules apply. For more information, call (513) 734-4323. Collecting is only allowed in designated areas. Hike the many miles of trails at Stonelick State Park especially the Red Fox Trail.

A local park is Trammel Fossil Park in Sharonville. For more information, call (513) 563-2985. You can keep what you find and there are several informative educational signs. Nearby, is Sharon Woods which has the lovely Gorge Trail with views of several waterfalls created from the small layers of limestone and shale seen at Trammel.

Need help figuring out which fossils you have?

The Cincinnati Dry Dredgers is an association of amateur geologists and fossil collectors.

Good fossil books include:

The Cincinnati Fossils book is an Elementary Guide to the Ordovician Rocks and Fossils of the Cincinnati, Ohio, Region.

Fossils of Ohio

A Sea without Fish: Life in the Ordovician Sea of the Cincinnati Region (Life of the Past)

Press Release: 5 Cincinnati Fall Hiking Destinations Inside of the I-275 Loop

by

For Immediate Release

October 3, 2014

Media Contact: Tammy York, author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati

 

5 Fall Hiking Havens

By: Tammy York, author 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH – As the leaves start to change color and cool weekends beckon us outdoors, it is good to know that you don’t need to travel far to find a great place to hike in the Cincinnati area. Be prepared for your hike: wear comfortable sneakers or hiking boots and good water wicking socks. Bring at least 8 ounces of water and, of course, a snack. And, follow Leave No Trace Principles by packing out what you packed in.

Great Parks of Hamilton County’s Winton Woods and Sharon Woods feature paved pathways that allow greater access for all levels of mobility. Winton Woods Kingfisher Trail meanders through a wooded area, wetland, and near a stream before heading up hill and returning to the start.

Sharon Woods paved trail includes the fitness trail as well as the trail that encircles Sharon Lake. This is an easy place to hike with kids whether they are on foot or in a stroller. Photographers will find a plethora of fall photo opportunities.

Cincinnati Parks’ Caldwell Preserve trails zigzag and loop under the forest canopy of old growth and new plantings. Treading up and down the hills is a decent workout. A paved section of trail near the nature center is accessible so everyone has a chance to enjoy the woods. Several stopping points allow for you to step off the trail and take in the beauty of the forest.

Another Cincinnati Parks is Ault Park with trails that weave up and down hillsides and along a stream corridor. Catch a glimpse of some of Cincinnati unique geology as well as taking time to wander around the gorgeous gardens and pavilion.

Mount Airy Forest, a Cincinnati Parks’ property, is an enormous greenspace with 1,459 acres of woodlands waiting to be explored via the extensive network of trails. Maps and a good sense of direction will help you a lot here. Plenty of hills and steps to climb make for a fantastic workout.

Remember trail safety begins with you. Always tell someone you trust where you are going and when you expect to be back. Pack plenty of water, a snack, trail map, mobile phone, and a small first aid kit. Know what the weather is and never go hiking if there is severe weather. Know your limitations and don’t over exert yourself. Take time to enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air.

DSCN8470
Tufted titmouse seeking seeds.
Ault Park (3)
Chipmunk at Ault Park.

Tammy York, author of 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati, is a seasoned professional naturalist, hiker, and writer.