By Mike Templeton
Being urban Appalachian has never kept us out of the woods. Many of us are avid hikers, campers, and hunters, and maintain links with homeplaces in the Appalachian region that remain wilderness areas. This is one reason why the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition pays close attention to the ways land and the natural landscape are being used in the Appalachian region. We are blessed with some distinctly wild natural preserves in Appalachian Ohio, and some that come right up to the border of greater Cincinnati. For those who are up for a day trip, the Appalachian woods become increasingly wild and resemble the ways Ohio might have looked a century ago. There is great news for everyone in who feels the pull of nature in Appalachian Ohio. The State of Ohio has just acquired a new preserve, and it is one of the largest in state history.
We have written previously about nature preserves in Ohio’s Appalachian Counties. The Arc of Appalachia system is one of the best kept secrets in Ohio (I’m going to go ahead and say the country) for hiking trails on land that has been set aside to return to natural flora and fauna. These preserves lie entirely within the Appalachian Counties, and they are all easily accessible from greater Cincinnati. The state’s newest addition is the rather astounding Joy Nature Preserve which encompasses over 3000 acres of natural land. This massive preserve lies in the Appalachian foothills in Southeast Ohio. This is one of the largest privately owned protected land tracts in the nation, owned by Betty Lowe whose family has owned the land for more than a century. In an agreement with the Athens Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy, this land is now open to the public.
The Athens Conservancy works for the preservation of natural spaces and promotes healthy local ecosystems and the biodiversity of our region of the world. They also protect mature forests which will be a good part of their involvement with the Joy Preserve. Much of their work is focused on fighting climate change and its harmful impact on the natural world. Betty Lowe donated the land to the local landbank in the area which is now working with the Athens Conservancy and other organizations to develop hiking trails and parking areas for public access. A tract of land like this is a priceless gift to the State of Ohio. The Nature Conservancy will oversee the land toward conservation and as the primary long-term protector. Around since 1951, the Nature Conservancy’s work is deeply invested in the preservation of natural landscapes with a long-term vision of protection and support.
People who are familiar with places like Hocking Hills and Wayne State Forest are well-aware of the magnificence of the landscape and natural surroundings of the region. Those involved in the acquisition of Joy Valley hope the preserve will take some of the pressure off these other more familiar destinations. Just over four percent of Ohio land is considered public lands, far less than most other states, and this preserve is a tremendous boost to our access to natural Ohio. The partnership between the Athens Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy is meant to ensure that this public land remains public and preserved in perpetuity. We should note that this comes as cuts to federal agencies meant to preserve and protect public lands and the national park system have compromised other natural and public land initiatives.
Joy Valley is covered primarily with hardwoods, white oak, black oak, sugar maples and the like, trees which form the canopy that once covered Ohio. The area is home to 26 species of birds, the endangered long-eared bat, along with bobcats and every other larger species known throughout this region of Ohio. There are several species of endangered and protected plants such as lance-leaved violets and netted chain ferns. The list of the flora and fauna that now have a permanent and protect home in the Joy Valley Nature Preserve is beyond what we can list here.
When the trails are open and we can begin hiking the preserve, do not expect the flat wide-open expanses we find in other parts of the state. Joy Valley has precipitous cliffs and hills, spectacular sandstone outcroppings, and recess caves. Vernal pools, ponds, and streams flow throughout the preserve. Expect to walk through some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of the United States right here in Appalachian Ohio. For now, the Athens Conservancy would like people to understand that there are no marked trails, and there is very little cell phone service in this area. While this may sound like something of a dream to some, it does present very real dangers so be advised.
The acquisition of the Joy Valley Nature Preserve is definitely some refreshing good news. The Joy Valley Nature Preserve will soon offer everyone access to a natural wonder that only exists in our own Appalachian Ohio. I know a great many of us at the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition are looking forward to exploring this corner of Ohio. It is worth noting that our advocacy work over the decades has been focused on environmental justice and preservation. It may have been industry that brought people from Appalachia to the cities, but that doesn’t mean we lost touch with the wilderness that feeds us both body and soul. With 3000 acres to explore, the Joy Valley Nature Preserve will provide enough to keep us going for many years to come.
Michael Templeton is a writer, and independent scholar. He is the author of The Chief of Birds: A Memoir published with Erratum Press and Impossible to Believe, published by Iff Books. He is also the author of Collected Apoems, forthcoming from LJMcD Communications and the awaiting of awaiting: a novella, with Nut Hole Publishing. Check out his profile in UACC’s Cultural Directory. He has published numerous articles and essays on contemporary culture and works of creative non-fiction as well as experimental works and poetry. He lives in West Milton, Ohio with his wife who is an artist.