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Black River Nature Preserve

All rivers, large and small, have to start somewhere.

The Black River, whose watershed encompasses 467 square miles in parts of five counties, has its headwaters in southwestern Medina County’s Harrisville Township. Medina County Park District is committed to protecting the water quality and rich habitats of one of Northeast Ohio’s great rivers, while providing visitors opportunities to explore and enjoy nature.

Black River Nature Preserve is comprised of three park district sites totaling more than 400 acres in the headwaters area: Hidden Hollow Camp (opened 1984), Bluebell Valley (opened 2020), and the future East Fork area. You can learn more about the open sites below.

The East Branch of the Black River is formed by the confluence of two tributaries that flow through these park sites: the East Fork and the West Fork. The streams come together just north of U.S. Route 42, flowing through Spencer Township and into Lorain County, where the Black River meets Lake Erie at Lorain Harbor.

Along the way, the Black River helps supply drinking water for some of the watershed’s 180,000 residents and provides high-quality habitat for several state-listed endangered or threatened plant and animal species.


Bluebell Valley

8500 Richman Road

Lodi, OH 44254
(Harrisville Township)

GPS Coordinates
North: N 41 02’ 28.77
West: W 082 02’ 4.1

TRAILS  
DOWNLOAD TRAIL MAP  
Gravel Trail (.5 mile – easy – orange diamond)  
Nature Trail (.65 mile – moderate – blue hexagon)  
ACREAGE
86.74 acres

Bluebell Valley is a quiet, remote area in which to enjoy nature. Visitors can expect to experience beautiful views of grasslands and woodlands, interesting walking trails, and lush habitat for butterflies and migrating birds. This area was part of a wetland mitigation and stream restoration project in 2002 that restored 8,000 linear feet of the Black River.

Phase 1 improvements included a 20-car parking lot, a 10-foot-wide, half-mile limestone loop trail (accessible for wheelchairs and strollers), and a .65 natural-surface primitive trail that travels through native grasses, woods, and close to wetlands.

Additional improvements planned for Phase 2 include a small picnic shelter and a restroom. Because the area is designated as a nature preserve, it will not include a playground or any paved areas. Leashed pets are welcome. Biking is not permitted.

Bluebell Valley Activities/Amenities
 

Take a Virtual Tour of Bluebell Valley

Hidden Hollow Camp

8672 Richman Road
Lodi, OH 44254 
(Harrisville Township)
Located on County Road 69 one
mile 
south of U.S.Route 224

TRAILS  
DOWNLOAD TRAIL MAP  
Nature Trail (1 mile – easy – blue hexagon)  
Nature Trail (.5 mile – easy – magenta oval)  
ACREAGE
178.50 acres
BODIES OF WATER
1-acre pond

GPS Coordinates
North: N 41 02’ 13.368
West: W 082 02’ 04.302

Feeding Medina County Food
Distribution Site
- First Thursday
of each month from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

   

Hidden Hollow Camp is open to the public Mondays through Thursdays from 6 a.m. to one hour past sunset. The site will also be open to the public if there are no weekend reservations. In addition, the public is able to reserve Hidden Hollow Camp for overnight camping. Read more about these exciting changes HERE!

OPEN, RESERVED, or CLOSED
If you would like to know in advance if Hidden Hollow Camp is open, please click HERE to view a Google calendar.  Reservations ARE NOT made using this calendar. This is just a reference for visitation. See below for info regarding fees and making a reservation.

Hidden Hollow Camp features a beautiful one-acre woodland pond and two nature trails. In geographical terms, a “hollow” is exactly as it sounds – a small valley or basin in the land. At the bottom of Hidden Hollow is the West Fork of the East Branch of the Black River. The rich soil of its floodplain is home to towering sycamore, black willow, and black walnut trees -- along with a diverse array of wildflowers. The trees and thickets here provide ideal habitat for migrating warblers. Visitors should plan on bird-watching during spring and fall migration.

The enclosed building at Hidden Hollow Camp offers the perfect amenities for an “indoor camping” experience for up to 75 people, including a wood-burning stove, scenic wraparound porch, movie screen, electric range, food preparation tables, and a refrigerator. Alcohol is permitted inside the enclosed building only when reserved for day-use or camping.

Although there is no indoor plumbing, the frost-proof water spigots with potable water are easily accessible at two outdoor locations. A gray-water pit for disposal of dirty dish water is located adjacent to the toilets. The site includes a campfire ring surrounded with plenty of flexible bench seating and a parade ground area with a flagpole for scout ceremonies. There are turf areas for outdoor recreation activities and a team-building challenge course.

Day Use
The building may be reserved on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9 a.m. to dark for day-use events such as picnics, graduation parties, birthday parties, etc.

Overnight Camping Available to the Public
The general public has the option to overnight camp at Hidden Hollow Camp on Friday and/or Saturday evenings only. Neither RVs nor travel trailers will be allowed. Tent camping is permissible in addition to the use of the enclosed facility. Only one reservation is permitted per day.

Hidden Hollow Camp Information

Shelter Information
- Handicap accessible
- Size: 32.5’ x 47’ concrete floor
- Tables: Six 8’
- Chairs: 60
- Grills: One 30” x 36”
- Benches: Nine 8’ outdoor picnic tables
- Serving shelves: Five 5’ stainless steel kitchen prep counters
- Misc.: Refrigerator, stove/oven, water hydrants, wood-burning stove (firewood not guaranteed), projection screen, camp fire site
- Outlets: Electric
- Capacity: 75 people
- Restrooms located outdoors; no flush toilets

Internet hot-spot access is available upon request on a first-come, first-serve basis for $25.

Items subject to change; call for verification

Fees:
fees

Click HERE to make a reservation.

The key/cleaning deposit for Hidden Hollow Camp is $50. The key must be picked up at the park district headquarters one or two business days before your reservation. For weekend reservations, you must pick the key up either Thursday or Friday as the park office is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is closed weekends and holidays. The key must be returned in person to the park district office. Please wait at least two business days to return the key to allow time for office staff to receive the building inspection report. Please do NOT mail the key. The key/cleaning deposit will be refunded provided the key is returned, and the building is left clean and undamaged. If the key is lost, $25 will be retained from the deposit for replacement. Should damage to the facility occur at a cost that exceeds the maintenance deposit, the patron will be billed the difference.

Hidden Hollow Camp Activities/Amenities

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Medina County Park District
6364 Deerview Lane
Medina, Ohio 44256

(330) 722-9364
(844) 722-9364 (toll free)

Park Police
Emergencies: 911
Non-emergencies: (330) 725-6631

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