The eastern edge of the reserve abuts John Bryan State Park and Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve. To the west is the village of Yellow Springs and elsewhere it is surrounded primarily by row crop agricultural fields. The primary habitat in Glen Helen is mixed mesophytic hardwood forest. The reserve is drained in the northern portions by Birch and Yellow Springs Creeks, and in the southern portions by the Little Miami River. While most of the reserve is forested, there are some open areas associated with educational facilities as well as a few old fields, spring-fed wetlands, and a small restored tall grass prairie. (1)
The Pine Forest in Glen Helen Preserve was originally planted by the Ohio State Forestry dept. The first plantings of Scotch Pines began in 1926 when the land was still part of John Bryan State Park (it became Glen land in the late 1930s). It had previously been farmland, so the first purpose was simply reforestation. It became known as the School Forest starting in the late 1940s with six principles in mind:
1. Lab facility
2. Outdoor recreation
3. As a source of income
4. As a source of Christmas trees
5. As a model for tree growing
6. For leadership training in conservation and maintenance.
Additionally the area is populated with Red and White Pines and Spruce. While one cannot conclusively say what the average age of the forest is, given that 1926 date, it is obviously a fairly young growth. (2)
Hurricane Ike was the third costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States. On September 14, 2008, after becoming extra-tropical and enhanced by an upper level shortwave trough, a major wind event took place across the lower and middle Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes. Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported to the east of the center across parts of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania with significant wind damage including structural damage to buildings and trees. (3)
Hurricane Ike's after-effects resulted in a considerable amount of damage evidenced by a number of toppled trees in Glen Helen's popular Pine Forest. The Pine Forest's cathedral like canopy has long been a favorite destination at the 1,000-acre nature preserve. The Pine Forest at Glen Helen is a popular venue for weddings and can be rented by couples wishing to have outdoor weddings. Because of the forest's popularity among hikers, naturalists, and romantics, efforts are underway to ensure this fragile ecosystem is protected to that it can be enjoyed by future generations.
RULES TO ABIDE BY WHILE AT GLEN HELEN
This 1,000-acre preserve is administered by the Glen Helen Ecology Institute of Antioch University in Yellow Springs.
While at Glen Helen, please respect the rules and guidelines (
visit link) of the preserve and follow the "Leave No Trace" outdoor ethic. Please stay on-trail at all times. No specimen-collecting is permitted, and no swimming or wading is allowed. Well behaved, leashed geodogs (and cats!) are welcome with their responsible human friends.
HOW TO GET THERE:
If your time is limited, park near the entrance to the parking lot of the Trailside Museum & Visitor Center and the Glen Helen Building and Nature Shop on Corry Street. The trails start immediately by the Museum.
If you are hiking from Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve through John Bryan State Park to Yellow Springs, follow the road that begins at the wooden gate on John Bryan Road. The road soon becomes a footpath. This footpath will lead you to the Pine Forest. The entrance will be on your left at the fork.
The following article can be accessed to obtain additional information. Dayton Daily News, Online Edition, "Glen Helen forest restoration is more than a dream," 31 October 2009, retrieved 20 October 2010 -- (
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References:
1. Bradley, Richard A.; Hickman, William L., Article from: The Ohio Journal of Science, "Spiders (Araneae) of the Glen Helen Nature Preserve, Greene County, OH. (Report)," dated 1 April 2009, posted on HighBeam Research Website, under Articles > Journals > Applied Sciences journals > The Ohio Journal of Science articles > April 2009, retrieved 20 October 2010, (
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2. Scott Sanders, Antioch College, e-mail message to Erin Crawford, 19 October 2010
3. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, "Hurricane Ike," last modified on 20 October 2010, retrieved 20 October 2010 (
visit link)