It was a mild March day in southeast Ohio as I was halfway through my drive to Athens. I wanted to stretch out my legs and took a short detour off of US33 to hike the homestead trail at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.
In the early 1900s, this Appalachian mountain ridgeline was once home to the American Chestnut tree. Over the years, this species has nearly disappeared due to an Asian fungus that took out nearly three billion trees.
Shortly into my hike, I approached remnants of the former settlement that was built here around 1936.
The park is abundant with Blackhand sandstone and was hewn to help create the nearby canals in the early 1800s. This land is said to have been second homes from nearby residents of Columbus, one of which was Dr. Edward E. Campbell. Named Far View Farm, not much remains of the house except for its foundation.
In addition to spectacular views of the valleys, the area was a perfect location for planting fruit and nut bearing trees, gardens and vines. Ohio’s state native fruit, the PawPaw can also be found here.
I continued along the trail which began to grow thick with oak, hickory and ash trees providing the perfect home for wildlife. 
Walking along the boardwalk, I happened to notice a white furry animal scurry along a group of fallen down trees. I followed it for about five minutes when it reappeared standing still in its tracks. I was so excited to realize that it was an albino squirrel. I was even more excited when I realized I was close enough to photograph him.
In addition to the walkway, there are a couple of viewing platforms – one for taking in the Columbus skyline.
Before the trail reached the parking lot, I once again noticed another albino squirrel. Again, taken by surprise, I had to photograph him. Could this possibly be the same squirrel?
I had shortly reached the parking lot and the park ranger just happened to have been parked there as well. To answer my question, I approached him to ask about the albino squirrel. I was surprised when he confirmed that there were a total of three albino squirrels at Chestnut Ridge.
So while I was not able to find an American Chestnut tree, there was no shortage of albino squirrels.
What to See and What to Do:
Chestnut Ridge Metro Park
8845 Winchester Road, NW
Carroll, OH 43112
Telephone: +614 208 4298
- Admission Fee: There is no admission fee.
- Hours: The park is open each day from 6:30AM to 9PM (April 1 – September 30) and from 6:30AM to dark (October 1 – March 31)
- Scenic View: The valleys and hills of the Appalachians, bird watching and scenic view of the Columbus skyline.
- Length of Visit: 1 – 2 hours
- Tips for Your Visit: Wear comfortable shoes for hiking. Look for albino squirrels at this park.
Where to Stay:
Hampton Inn & Suites Canal Winchester
700 W Waterloo Street
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Telephone: +614 953 2204
Where to Eat:
Canal Wigwam
4 South High Street
Canal Winchester, OH 43110
Telephone: +614 837 0202
This eatery has been serving homestyle food since 1899. Check out their daily specials. My favorite was the Chicken Noodles over mashed potatoes.
What to Read:
- Chestnut Ridge website
- Chestnut Ridge Trail Map
- Chestnut Ridge MetroPark Events Calendar
- TrekOhio: An Overview of Hiking Trails in Fairfield County
- TrekOhio: Fairfield County Parks and Nature Preserves
- American Chestnut, by Wikipedia
- ABC News: Reviving the Chestnut Tree
- American Chestnut Restoration Project, by US Forest Service
- American Chestnut Seedling, by the US Army Environmental Command