"Is there anything better than October in Ohio?\n\nBlue Hen Falls and the adjoining Buckeye Trail are on my list of 'Must visit parks of Northern Ohio.'\n\nThis is my favorite time of year for hiking around the local parks. The air is scented and crisp, the changing leaves are gorgeous, and there are no mosquitoes!\n\nThe Blue Hen Falls are a quick walk from the parking area. There is a charming wooden bridge that crosses the creek on the way. The falls are beautiful. There is something very romantic and idyllic about this spot. When I first found the falls I felt as though I stumbled upon a hidden gem. Though there are bigger falls nearby, the Blue Hen is very secluded compared to the much more visited, Brandywine falls.\n\nBut don't stop there. The Buckeye Trail, which starts to the left of the bridge, is awesome. It is rated Difficult, because it is pretty hilly. I do not find it extreme at all. It is fairly east to navigate. The trees are spray painted with light blue blazes and trail is very obvious.\n\nMy favorite part is about a mile in. As you start to decline down the trail, the trees change, the maples on the of the hill fade into pine and other conifers. The air becomes cooler and more moist, it gets a little darker, and the forest floor becomes blanketed with ferns. It is such a pretty transition. \n\nThen the trail leads to a crystal clear creek that is dripping in sunshine. The shallow creek winds around big rocks and a large cliff. The creek is a great place to bring a dog for a romp. Mine loves to splash through the water and jump down the creek's natural shale steps. This secluded little valley has a magical feel.\n\nThe trail continues from here. But this is usually my turn around spot as I'm not really up for another hill ascension. It took me about an hour and fifteen minutes from the car to the creek valley and back, with plenty of time spent splashing with the dog. Lastly, I really recommend waterproof footwear for this hike. My Wellies were perfect."^^ . "2011-10-05T00:00:00"^^ . . . "5"^^ . "1"^^ . "1"^^ . "0"^^ . .