Winter's beauty lives here

Fronting more than a mile of the Grand River, with lush forests and meandering streams, Lake Metroparks’ newest park is a fitting homage to the evergreen tree horticulturists praise for its graceful, sweeping beauty — the hemlock.

Mimi caught up with Lake Metroparks park biologist Megan Hart for a scouting report on Hemlock Ridge Park in Leroy Township.

“The distinctive deep green color of hemlocks stands out starkly against pristine, snow-covered branches, making it seem like the magical forest within this park has been torn from the pages of a book,” Megan says.

She points out that the eastern hemlock is the only species native to Ohio and that it is very slow-growing, taking up to 40 years to produce cones.

“These sentinels of the Northern and Appalachian forests can live up to 800 years,” she says. “Hemlocks help regulate the microclimate in areas where they grow, keeping them cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They also provide habitat for more than 100 species of birds.”

Within the new park, visitors will find a nearly one mile loop trail, with additional loop trails planned. These loops will offer options for short treks or long hikes and sweeping views of the Grand River from steep bluffs.

If you would like to experience the magic of a hemlock forest, there are many great options to choose from in Lake Metroparks. There are 17 parks with hemlock forests that are open to the public, including Penitentiary Glen Reservation, Jordan Creek Park, Indian Point Park, Girdled Road Reservation and Hell Hollow Wilderness Area. On the next snowy day, take a walk and enjoy the majesty of a hemlock forest.

With a mission of conserving and preserving the natural resources of Lake County, Lake Metroparks provides more than four million visitors each year with educational and recreational programs and activities. Hemlock Ridge Park is located at 5800 Vrooman Road in Leroy Township. For more information, visit LakeMetroparks.com.