By Maureen Wilson —
Miami’s Middletown Campus has had a long history of public service, even before it was formed. Prior to the campus’s inception in 1966, Armco Park occupied the acreage. Developed from Cooch’s Woods, its beginnings weren’t easy as it was considered a public dump, choked with weeds and sullied to the point of cheapness. However, George M. Verity, founder and then president of Armco, decided that his involvement could be a way to give back to the community, so he bought the land. After going public in 1921, it became a beloved park and was praised as one of the best in Ohio at the time. To this day, it continues to be a natural site of interest for students and visitors alike, partly because of its enduring legacy.
A massive part of this reputation is the nature trail that loops around the campus, established in 1978 under the guidance of Campus Director C. Eugene Bennett. The trail contains five distinct paths for hikers to traverse, each having different lengths and trail conditions. Its entirety is marked by the orange trail, which is roughly 1.3 miles long itself. Most people complete this within forty minutes, but that ultimately depends on your pace.
The typical starting point is the red trail, one of the shortest among them (0.4 miles); it’s found at the east entrance of the campus. Despite its length, there’s plenty of benches and bridges to cross as red arrows guide you through. There’s no steep incline to contend with unless you’re deviate from the path, but make sure to watch out for the overgrown roots that intersect the walkway. The end of the red trail exits to the middle of the MUM parking lot and marks the beginning of the blue and green trails.
Although the blue and green trails start at the same point, they diverge completely. You can differentiate the two by the colored markings on the trees. The blue trail is slightly longer (0.6 miles) and cuts deeper into the woods, but both are similar in scenery, with branches curving around the path that offer a uniquely beautiful shade. Overgrown roots are not a main concern on this route but rocks are. Luckily, the hike gets easier as it moves into a nicely paved portion with some new bridges that were constructed following the pandemic. For the blue and green trails, you’ll exit near the tennis court and the Bennett Recreation Center’s parking lot respectively.
The entrance of the purple trail loop and the final third of the orange trail is across the tennis court, outlooking the fields. This path contains the most intense incline but levels out halfway through. You’ll know you’re reaching the end when the plants get taller and the shade disappears. From there, you’ll exit onto the Levy Hall parking lot.
Overall, the nature trail is rich with history and sights that offer the best of Middletown. It has earned a couple awards and some honorary achievements: a certificate from the second annual Aullwood Green Valley Award committee in 1983, and a nomination from the SEAL Club when it was designated by the Natural Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat in 1993.
Many clubs, natural science classes, and scout groups make sure to visit because of its accessibility and general atmosphere. There’s also nearly 125 different wood species one can identify in the area, like flowering dogwood, American sycamore, and Norway maple. Autumn is arguably the best time to go, as the leaves cascade in warm hues, acorn shells and osage oranges decorate the forest floor, and the air grows crisper. Bring along a friend or your leashed dog, wear a good pair of hiking boots, and enjoy the season while it lasts on this trail.