Howard Collier State Nature Preserve

 

Image Courtesy of Destination Seneca County

Ohio is often regarded as being boring and offering nothing for people to do. I am here to combat that idea by showing off the natural beauty that is so often overlooked. 

In Seneca County, nine miles from Tiffin, Ohio, lies the next location on the list. The Howard Collier State Nature Preserve is located on the Sandusky River and is a great opportunity for local Tiffin students to explore the outdoors. 

In 1970, the Sandusky River was deemed a scenic river destination for tourists. Around that same time, the park was founded and named for Howard L. Collier, an Ohio budget director who helped fund Ohio parks during his time.

The 301 acres of land are characterized by floodplains, vernal pools, and wildflowers. Vernal pools are seasonal wetlands covered in shallow water for only part of the year, offering unique habitats to the animals living there.

The area is known for diverse spring flowers, including trout lilies, marsh marigolds, and native Ohioan violets. There are over 25 species of violets in Ohio, so being able to see multiple up close is a treat. 

The park itself is not dog-friendly and has signs warning visitors not to bring their pets, so it is only a walking area for friends or yourself. There are also only 12 parking spots in the lot, which means it could potentially get crowded once it warms up.

This park is not the most ADA-compliant, as it has stairs and steep hills right from the get-go. However, it is almost all boardwalk, which keeps visitors above the water when walking around near the vernal pools and river.

I will warn you that the boardwalk and stairs may become slippery when wet, which can be a problem for any visitor. Keep this in mind while traveling.

The trails take visitors on a simple hike over and around the water, with plenty of shade to keep it from getting too hot. However, there are no bathrooms or benches anywhere, which can put a strain on families or people who need to sit more frequently. 

Still, Howard Collier State Nature Preserve is highly rated as a hidden gem of Tiffin that has changing views all year round. The 1.5-mile loop is perfect for a nice stroll to take a break and relax.

I wouldn't recommend this park to people with mobility issues or those who need bathroom breaks frequently, but I do think Tiffin students can and should use this park for any needed breaks from the world. Come back next week for other recommendations and reviews of Ohio's natural beauty.

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2014/08/02/ohio-state-nature-preserve-known/10494619007/ 
https://www.destinationsenecacounty.org/places/howard-collier-state-nature-preserve

Comments

  1. Kristen HarrahDecember 11, 2023 at 9:56 AM

    Rowan! This was interesting to read. I grew up around the Tiffin area but had no idea that this little hidden gem existed! As an Ohio resident, there is not much to look at other than cornfields. But after reading your post, I definitely want to visit the Howard Collier State Nature Preserve. I also appreciate that you put info about the park in there such as slippery stairs, no bathrooms, and no place to rest. This post would help readers wanting to take a trip here. This was an entertaining read!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nate St. BernardDecember 12, 2023 at 9:18 AM

    Hey Rowan! I found this post very interesting! I actually live in Colorado and these sort trails are all over the place so it's really cool to know I can find the same experience only 9 miles from Tiffin! I like how you included the part about Ohio often being regarded as boring because I am guilty of this at times. With that being said it is clear that I just haven't been looking in the right places!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 12, 2023 at 10:42 AM

    I really enjoyed this blog post a lot because I really enjoy the outdoors a lot. A lot of people tend to look past Ohio when it comes to nature and how nice it really can be here. I think it was a great idea to base your blog around nature in Ohio because of these reasons since it tells people how nice it can be here. Overall I really enjoyed this specific post and think that Howard Collier State Nature Preserve sounds like a great place and I might have to check it out.

    ReplyDelete

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