As the weather gets warmer, many residents of Oxford will flock to Hueston Woods.
The park, about five miles outside of Oxford, has nearly 3,000 acres of land, a 625-acre lake and a forest deemed a National Natural Landmark.
The park is named after Matthew Hueston, a soldier who bought the land originally to build a farm in 1797. The state then bought it in 1941, and the park officially opened in 1957. However, the well-known Hueston Woods Covered Bridge did not open until 2012.
The park was temporarily named after Ickey Woods, the former Cincinnati Bengals player, during the Bengals’ Super Bowl run in 1988.
“Since I was younger, I have been going to Hueston Woods pretty frequently, especially during the summer,” said Savannah Evans, Miami University student and resident of Oxford. “It is a really nice spot just to relax and take your mind off stuff. I love it so much.”
Evans specifically loves the trails.
“As someone who loves to walk around in nature and stuff, the trails are the perfect place for me,” Evans said. “I also love the points in the trails that overlook the lake, like on mudlick trail, there’s an area with a bench where you can see the whole thing.”
Over the years, the park has faced some problems, according to park manager Kathryn Connor.
“Litter and driving through grasses are two of our biggest problems,” said Connor. “Both issues impact the park’s flora, fauna, and other visitors.”
However, Connor said she is certain that these issues will be addressed.
“We try to keep a positive attitude and be good stewards of the land we’re entrusted to care for,” said Connor.
Overall, Connor just wants the park’s guests to be better about being respectful.
“We would love for visitors to be conscientious while they’re here and to know that their actions have reactions,” said Connor.
Despite these problems, Hueston Woods is one of southwest Ohio’s more illustrious sites, with the popularity to match, with a 4.6-star rating out of over 4,000 reviews on google.
While there are no entrance fees, campsites cost between $25-$35, and the costs of their other amenities vary. Pet-friendly accommodations are also available. One of the more popular features of the park is the nature center, which is open seven days a week and is home to many different types of birds. These include a bald eagle, a golden eagle, a few red-tailed hawks, a rough-legged hawk, turkey vultures, great horned owls and barred owls. The nature center is free for all attendees.
For more information on the park as a whole, go to https://www.huestonwoodslodge.com/ for reservation information, accommodations, and more.
