With a myriad of tourist attractions ranging from forest preserves to breweries, Delaware County, Ohio is an ideal place to spend a vacation. Located directly north of Columbus in west-central Ohio, Delaware Country attracts thousands of individuals every year to its many premium locations. One of the most popular locations is the Gallant Woods Preserve, a 231-acre area comprised of woods, meadows, prairies, and wetlands.

Hiking

The Gallant Woods Preserve is well known for its numerous hiking trails, 5 in all, all of which are flat and have little or no change in elevation. Dogs are allowed on all 5 trails but must be on a leash at all times. The Acorn Trail is a relatively easy .4 mile path that traverses a wetland woods full of deer, rabbits, coyotes, and foxes. The Pheasant Run Trail is a 1.1-mile path that travels around a meadow, with regular sightings of indigo buntings, ring-necked pheasants, and meadowlarks. The Tree Frog Trail is a very short .3 mile trek that connects the Acorn Trail and Pheasant Run Trail and is known for several different species of butterflies, crickets, and grasshoppers. The Primitive Trail is the longest hiking trail located at the Gallant Woods Preserve at 1.3 miles, and runs along the western portion of the Gallant Woods, traveling next to both wetlands and vernal pools. Finally, the Farm Connector Trail is the shortest trail at the preserve, with a .25 mile length that travels along the meadow, woodlands, and prairie, eventually leading to Gallant Farm.

Picnic Shelter

Another great aspect of the Gallant Woods Preserve is its picnic shelter that has a capacity of 60 people. It is a perfect setting for both casual social gatherings as well as business-related events or meetings. The shelter itself contains electricity, six picnic tables, a charcoal grill, restrooms, a drinking fountain, a playground, and a horseshoe pit. All official gatherings or meetings at the picnic shelter must be reserved in advance either online or over the phone.

Miscellaneous Info

For those who love winter-related recreational activities, a sledding hill is also available during the winter months. A structure known as the Interpretive Gateway provides individuals with detailed information about wetland habitats, as well as the efforts of the preserve to fully restore the farmland area to its original state as a wetland habitat. Lastly, the efforts of the preserve have succeeded in bringing in many species of birds not common to the area including the lesser and greater yellowlegs and the solitary, least, and spotted sandpipers, providing a great opportunity for dedicated bird watchers.

https://preservationparks.com/parks/gallant-woods/

For some evening entertainment, visit the Little Brown Jug

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