Everything you need to know before you hike:
You are Entering a highly protected nature preserve. Regulations exist to protect natural communities from the impact of public visitors. Please follow these regulations to leave Samson/Obrist as beautiful as you found it. Remain on trails at all times and walk single file to protect bulbs of native wildflowers bordering the trail. Do not disturb, pick, or collect flowers, plants, rocks, or wildlife. Hunting, caving, fishing, trail biking, rock climbing, wading, campfires, and swimming are prohibited. Click here for a list of full regulations.
Dogs are not permitted at Samson/Obrist Woods. Please see Hiking Arc Preserves for dog-friendly trails.
Address: 717 Posey Ridge Rd, Beaver, OH 45613.
Directions from Piketon to Samson/Obrist Woods parking: Drive south on US-23 from Piketon. Turn onto the OH-32/OH-124 ramp and follow OH-124 East for 10.7 Miles. Turn right onto OH-335 South and follow for 3.4 miles. Turn left onto Posey Ridge Road and follow Posey Ridge Road for .6 miles. The trailhead parking lot will be on your right.
Interpretive Kiosk: An interpretive kiosk is located at the trailhead. We encourage you to take a picture of the trail map with your phone before hiking the trails.
Samson/Obrist Woods hiking trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Please note parking lots are not winter-maintained, and the trails are not safe to hike during periods of heavy rain, ice, and snow. Trails are closed during our annual Deer Management Hunt which takes place on the 1) Monday through Sunday following Thanksgiving, and 2) Saturday and Sunday before Christmas.
Hiking Trails’ Difficulty - moderate. Although the trail follows undulating terrain, ascents and descents are mostly gradual. The steepest changes in elevation are improved with steps. This region supports an inscrutably high population of ticks and chiggers in the summer and fall. Regulations require visitors to stay on the trail, and your comfort demands it. Our favorite natural insect repellant is a spray bottle of rose geranium oil mixed with rubbing alcohol in a 1: 10 ratio.
Samson/Obrist Woods Trail:
The Cinnamon Fern Trail - 1.3 mile loop - offers a variety of features, including rich and abundant ferns and acidic soil-loving plants, a hemlock grove, and towering black oak trees. A large natural recessed sandstone cave is the scenic highlight of the trail. The trail descends toward the recessed cave, where seasonally a small 20-foot waterfall cascades over its edge, then follows along the rich banks of McConnell Creek, where large verdant cinnamon ferns grow in profusion. As the seasons shift into fall, the ferns change into a brilliant yellow, along with the vibrant colors of fall forest foliage.