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Spring Valley Nature Preserve

Updated: May 25

Spring Valley Nature Preserve

Lower Shelter House at Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville Ohio
Lower Shelter House at Spring Valley Nature Preserve
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“Time spent among trees is never time wasted.” Anonymous

Spring Valley Nature Preserve

Spring Valley Nature Preserve is made up of 45 acres. It is wooded except for a large open field at the entrance. The entrance to the central Ohio nature preserve sits just before the Johnstonwn / Newark road sign. If you aren’t paying attention, you could easily miss it.


Entrance into Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville Ohio
Entrance into Spring Valley Nature Preserve

The Trails

There are several trails that lead off the main trail. All the trails are narrow and natural. The trails are marked, but it is easy to mistake areas as part of the trail when they are not. Also, there are makers setup stating that some trails are private.


Footbridge at entrance to trail at Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville Ohio
Footbridge at Trail Entrance

The beginning trail is Robert’s Ridge. You first cross a small footbridge that leads to a private tennis court. Past the court is a set of stairs.


Steps located near the trail entrance at Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville Ohio
Winding Steps Located near the Trail Entrance




Once you get to the top of the stairs, you can follow Robert’s Ridge to the right or take Song Bird Trail to the left. We chose the Song Bird Trail. This trail is very steep and winds back and forth. It seems to go on forever.


Trail markers at Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville Ohio
Trail Markers

From there we took Flower Pot Trail. This trail was easier to walk and gave our legs a break from the steep climb. There were a lot of downed trees in this area. Nature preserves always leave nature to take its course. But there was an excessive amount laying everywhere. It seemed a little odd.


Winding trail at Spring Valley Nature Preserve in Granville Ohio
Winding Trail

We came upon another trail marker and decided to walk the Owl Gulch Trail. Again, this trail didn’t have too much elevation change. It was a peaceful walk that winded through the woods. It met back up with Flower Pot Trail.


Trail markers at Spring Valley Nature Preserve located in Granville Ohio
Trail Markers

Continuing on Flower Pot Trail, we spotted a red squirrel, American Robin and a Brown Creeper.

From Flower Pot Trail we took Daniel’s Way. This trail had a slow decline that made its way back to Robert’s Ridge Trail. Robert’s ridge went left and right. We chose to go right and continued to head downhill.


Trail markers located at Spring Valley Nature Preserve located in Granville Ohio
Trail Markers

Not far down Robert’s Ridge, we came upon another trail that branched off to the left. This trail was Proposal Tree Trail. This trail also takes you to the exit.


Trail markers located at Spring Valley Nature Preserve located in Granville Ohio
Trail Markers




This trail is rather short and leads to a small bridge that crosses Salt Run Creek.


Footbridge over Salt Run Creek at Spring Valley Nature Preserve Located in Granville Ohio
Footbridge Over Salt Run Creek

The end of Proposal Tree Trail comes out into a large open field. To the left is a large shelter house with several picnic tables and trash cans. Across the field, up on the hill is another shelter house. To get to it, you must climb a long staircase.


Steps leading to upper shelter house at Spring Valley Nature Preserve located in Granville Ohio
Steps Leading to Upper Shelter House

On the far end of the field is the parking lot.

Of all the trails we took, we walked 1.97 miles.

Birding

When we visited the nature preserve, we didn’t see many species of birds. However, according to eBird there have been 93 species recorded.


Brown Creeper bird spotted at Spring Valley Nature Preserve located in Granville Ohio
Brown Creeper

Our Thoughts

If you live in the Granville, Ohio area, Spring Valley Nature Preserve is a nice place to get some fresh air and exercise. However, we wouldn’t recommend that you make a special trip.

There are several benches set up along the path, which is a positive. Many places that we visit don’t have any seating available.



If you have older children, this would be a nice place to visit. Depending on the trails that you choose to hike, you can get through the Ohio nature preserve pretty quick. And once you are done, you could enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the shelter houses. Take into consideration that the shelter houses may be rented out.





What You Can Expect at Spring Valley nature Preserve

Please note that park rules and regulations can change at any time. The following information was in effect for Spring Valley Nature Preserve as of March 2020. We were unable to locate any park rules or regulations at the preserve or on the Granville Recreation Website.


Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

There was one porta potty.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

According to eBird there have been 93 different species identified.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

A couple small footbridges.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Concealed carry is permitted in Ohio State Nature Preserves. However, this Ohio Nature Preserve did not have any information regarding concealed carry.


Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Pets are prohibited in Ohio State Nature Preserves. However, this Ohio Nature Preserve did not state if dogs were allowed.



Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Many different elevation changes.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Blacktop parking area. Parking spaces are not marked. There is probably enough room for 10-15 cars.



Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

There are picnic tables located in both shelter houses.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

There is NO playground available.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

A decent amount of seating is available along the trail.





Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

There is plenty of shade.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

There are 2 shelter houses.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Trails are marked and easy to see. However, there were a few trails that looked as though they went one way, but went another.



Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Trails are natural.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

There were trashcans located at the lower shelter house.



Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Salt Run Creek winds through the Nature Preserve.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

ADA parking is not available.




Spring Valley Nature Preserve Granville Ohio

Coon Creek Platform Tennis Club






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