Great Parks of Hamilton County and volunteers will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of National Trails Day on June 4, 2022 by extending a picturesque nature trail at Woodland Mound. Volunteers and staff members will work at the current terminus of the Hedgeapple Trail, extending it by clearing the trail corridor and removing invasive species along the way.

The Hedgeapple Trail winds over a forested hillside toward a pair of small ponds. Salamanders and frogs lay their eggs in the ponds, and painted turtles relax on the logs there. Hikers can also spot owls, warblers, cardinals and other bird species along the moderate 0.6-mile path. The trail is named for the many nearby hedgeapple trees, also known as osage orange trees, visible along the way.

National Trails Day was first established in 1993 and serves as a day for trail service and advocacy. Throughout the country, hikers and agencies come together to maintain and clean up public trails like this one at Woodland Mound.

Great Parks staff and volunteers will gather at 9 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, starting at the Weston Overlook Shelter in Woodland Mound, 600 Nordyke Rd., Cincinnati.

Advance registration is required and available on the Great Parks One-Day Volunteering webpage.