Hueston Woods State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hueston Woods State Park |
|
|---|---|
Hueston Woods Covered Bridge
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Butler and Preble counties, Ohio, United States |
| Area | 2,936 acres (1,188 ha) |
| Elevation | 938 ft (286 m) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Administered by | Ohio Department of Natural Resources |
| Designation | Ohio state park |
| Website | Hueston Woods State Park |
| Acton Lake | |
|---|---|
Acton Lake
|
|
 Acton Lake
Location in Ohio
|
|
| Location | Southwestern Ohio |
| Coordinates | 39°34′19″N 84°44′53″W / 39.57194°N 84.74806°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2.3 mi (3.7 km) |
| Max. width | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) |
| Surface area | 625 acres (253 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 860 ft (260 m) |
Hueston Woods State Park is a fun state park located in southwestern Ohio. It's found in Butler and Preble counties, about five miles (8 km) northeast of Oxford. This large park covers almost 3,000 acres. It even has a big man-made lake called Acton Lake, which is 625 acres! A special part of the park is its beech-maple forest. This forest is so important that it's been named a National Natural Landmark.
Contents
Park History: How Hueston Woods Began
The state of Ohio bought the land for Hueston Woods in 1941. However, the park didn't officially open until 1957. Before it became a park, the land was used for other purposes. In 1956, a dam was built on Four Mile Creek. This created Acton Lake, which was named after Clyde Acton. He was a member of the Ohio government who helped get the land bought for the park. In 1967, Hueston Woods was recognized as a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very special natural place in the United States.
Discovering Ancient Life: Fossils at Hueston Woods
The rocks at Hueston Woods are made of limestone and shale. These rocks show that a shallow sea once covered Ohio a very long time ago! You can find many fossilized remains of ancient sea animals here. People from all over the world come to Hueston Woods to look for these fossils.
Types of Fossils You Can Find
You might discover many different kinds of fossils, including:
- Bryozoans (tiny colonial animals)
- Brachiopods (shellfish)
- Pelecypods (like clams and oysters)
- Horn corals (ancient corals)
- Cephalopods (like ancient squids)
- Gastropods (like snails)
- Crinoids (sea lilies)
- Trilobites (ancient sea bugs)
- Mollusks (animals with shells)
Cool Structures: The Covered Bridge
Hueston Woods is home to a special covered bridge. This bridge is located in Preble County. It was finished and opened in June 2012. The bridge is 108 feet long and crosses over Four Mile Creek. It's built to last for over 100 years!
Amazing Animals: Wildlife in the Park
Many different mammals live in Hueston Woods State Park. If you're lucky, you might spot some of these creatures:
- Beavers
- Mink
- White-tailed deer
- Foxes
- Eastern coyotes
- Bobcats
- Opossums
- Muskrats
- Cottontail rabbits
- Skunks
Fun Things to Do at Hueston Woods
Hueston Woods State Park offers many exciting activities for visitors. You can enjoy:
- Boating on Acton Lake
- Camping under the stars
- Fishing for different kinds of fish
- Swimming in the lake
- Hiking on 12 miles of trails
- Horseback riding on 18 miles of bridal trails
- Mountain biking on 20 miles of trails
- Staying in cabins or at the 96-room lodge
- Playing golf on the park's course
