Trails
[ Note: these descriptions are from the year 2010 when Richfield Heritage Preserve was an active GS camp. Many of the trails are still in existence, but the names may have changed ]
The Full Moon Trail
The Full Moon Trail, about 2.5 miles long, makes a complete circuit around the camp, passing many of its major landmarks. We'll describe the hike starting at the southern parking lot, although obviously, it can be picked up at any point. From the south parking lot, head west down the road. Just past the lower pasture, pick up Hilltop Road on your right. This becomes a steep hill just below Hilltop House, then it flattens out. It passes Windy Hill tent unit, the road to the stable, and High Lea shelter. Just after High Lea, the road narrows into a footpath. It crosses a narrow stream. The bridge is out, but as long as the water is not too high, you can easily pick your way across on large stepping stones. Arrive at the Gas Cut. Angle slightly left (west) across the Cut. You will see an indentation in the forest edge, and the beginning of the Storybook Forest Trail ( currently marked with orange ribbons). The trail heads more or less straight North through a pine forest. There is very little undergrowth and the ground is carpeted with with soft needles (for full description, see Storybook Forest Trail ) Leave the forest at Gemini Road and turn right. Look for blackberries along the edges of this road. Yummy! Follow the road past Gemini cabin. The main road will bend to the right, but you stay straight. The road becomes a grassy (often wet) path, bending sharply left onto the Twig Trail, which was named for the red twig dogwood shrubs dotting the way. Look for the Cresent Trail on the right. The Cresent Trail takes you past the old playing field, and back through a small patch of pine forest, across the creek, through the mint patch and along a grassy track between Far Away Pines and Last Chance. Turn right at the main road. Stroll along the Main road, passing the Adirondack unit, Chagrin Valley Cabin, and Coach House on your right. Just after Coach house, the road bends and dips into a shady dell, then swoops out and up to cut in front of Amity House. Continue down to the northern parking lot and Gund Hall. Turn right at Gund and follow the main road through the woods, past the Gas Cut near the archery field, Wonken Tonken, Mabel Smith Shelter and meadow, and Hickory Hill and Beechcliff tent units. At Beechcliff the road drops down a short, but very steep, rutted hill. At the base of the hill is the famed Garfield Hall and the dining hall bell. The road then follows the western edge of the lower lake very closely until it passes Cricket's Corner on the left and Kirby House on the right. At Kirby House, the woods open out again into a rolling meadow. The Mill, swinging bridge, and sundial are on your left. A few more steps bring you back to your starting point.
Northern Half Moon Trail
Southern Half Moon Trail
Same as the Full Moon Trail, but halve your distance by dipping through the Gas Cut to pick up the trail again on the other side. The best place to cross the creek at the bottom (until the bridge is replaced) is along the southern side, where there are numerous stepping stones.
Deer Leap Trail
The original trailhead just below the Lake Linnea dam has become too overgrown, so the trail is currently accessed by following the path beyond the Seely Cabin outhouse. The trail follows the stream, becoming more mossy and garden-like as the elevation descends. Just before the reaching the level of the stream, the trail swings hard left, making a steep climb up the hill, winds a short way through the woods, and ends partway up the gas cut. Deer Leap Trail has been recently refurbished by Junior Troop 1980 of North Olmsted.
Highland Trails
Highland Trails includes several connected paths branching off the Innisfree road. Some may have been paths used by early Girl Scouts. The more defined ones are probably game (as in animal ) trails.
Innisfree Road
The biggest challnge at the moment is finding the entrance from the main road! Starting at the sundial below the mill, walk along the edge of the brush betwwen the creek and the main camp road. You will come to a break in the brush that is screened from the camp road by another line of brush, which is what makes the opening so hard to see when you are standing directly across from it. This wide, grassy path was the original driveway of the Kirby estate. It was a favorite bridle trail when Crowell HIlaka had horses. It crosses a sturdy wooden bridge over the gurgling, rock-strewn creek, and heads up an easy grade to the Kirby gateposts. From the gateposts it makes a sharp left turn and becomes steeper. The lake can be glimpsed off to the left, and a pine forest rises on the right. The road passes in back of Robinson Shelter and shortly becomes a barely visible track. It turns left, approaching the Lower Lake Trail but veers off right and ends at an old brick firplace. This was the site of the Innisfree unit, the first tent unit established at Camp Julia Crowell in 1937.
Ithilien Trail
From the main camp road, take the Crescent Trail between Far Away Pines and Last Chance. Cross the creek. Just as you can see the Crescent Trail bending left, the Ithilien Trail springs off to the right. There is a fairly unobtrusive wooden sign marking the trail. So unobtrusive, in fact, that you probably can't even see it until you are already on the trail. It was handmade by Flicker by burning the wood by focusing sunlight with a magnifying glass. The trail follows a ridge. Scattered along the ridge are a couple of groupings of small boulders and a couple of large piles of cobblestones. One theory for their existence and placement is that the pioneer farmers who worked this land in the early to mid 1800's tossed all the field stones out of the way of their plows and onto the more-difficult-to-farm ridge. Another theory is that they are old tip-up sites. A tip-up occurs when a large tree falls over, and the weight of the branches and trunk rips part of the massive root system out of the ground. Eventually the dirt falls away from the roots and is washed away. Eventually the tree itself deteriorates. All that is left is a pile of the rocks that had been held in the root soil. Whatever the origin of these mysterious nests of rock, the trail was named for the secret outpost of Ithilien in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings". At the point where the ridge descends to the floodplain of the creek, the Ithilien Trail splits into two branches: the Last Chance Loop and the Northwest Passage.
Last Chance Loop
Coming from Ithilien Ridge, this trail curves right to the East, and winds around the floodplain. It crosses the creek almost as far upstream as it is possible to go and still be in camp. Many times during the year, there appears to be no visible water in the very rocky streambed! Shortly afterwards it crosses a small, muddy tributary, then rises with the hillside and curves into Last Chance tent unit.
Northwest Passage
The name is a nod to the early explorers of North America. When Christopher Columbus' route to the riches of Asia turned out to be nothing but a navigational roadblock, other ship captains became determined to find a way through. They were certain that the fabled "Norhwest Passage" must exist somewhere between the North Canadian islands. Many an expedition was mounted trying to find it, and many a life was lost. Now, ironically, with the warming of the climate and the thinning of the ice caps, such a passage may be making an appearance. Our own Northwest Passage is not nearly so arduous! Coming down off the Ithilien ridge, it cuts left to the West, crosses a small seasonal creek, then climbs into hardwood forest to the northern camp boundary. From there it passes near to Angel Swamp and crosses high meadow wetlands. It ducks back into the forest and emerges behind the backboard of the playing field.
Lower Lake Trail
As the name implies, this trail simply skirts the lower lake. It is arguably the most beautiful trail in camp. The eastern portion climbs swiftly up from the front of Garfield to a cliffside view of the mill across the lake. Frosty green pillows of moss carpet the ground under beech trees at Beaver's Bluff. The remains of the old challenge course are superimposed on the even older ruins of the old Fernwood tent unit. The unit shelter and outhouse are still functional, so it's a great wayside stopping place. The trail then dips down to lake level. On the right is Cattail Point, a small peninsula, sprinkled with its namesake plants. There is a wooden footbridge across the top of one of Mr. Kirby's intake dams built in the early 1920's as part of his patented Clearwater lake system. As you cross, notice the stand of bamboo-like horsetails growing on the south bank on the incoming creek. The trail rises, but becomes muddy from the springs flowing from upslope. At the top of the hill, deciduous forest blends into conifer forest and Robinson shelter stands as a great resting spot with a great view. There is NO water or outhouse at Robinson shelter. The trail continues high above the lake and then eases down to the swinging bridge adjacent to the mill. [If anyone in your group feels unable to handle to swinging bridge, backtrack up to Robinson shelter, walk a shortways south (away from the lake), and you will hit Innisfree Road. Turn right and follow it down the hill. The bridge on this road is more traditional, but it will take you several minutes out of your way. It leads back to the main road. Turn right to return to the mill.] After visiting the mill, walk across the earthen part of the dam (NOT on the concrete wall). This places you in front of Kirby House. Just across the road from Kirby house is Cricket's Corner, a combination picnic shelter and boat landing. From its floor you can look back up across the lake to the hills you just came down. Continuing on the road, you will see the tiny nature hut above and to your left, and a small boat shelter, like a busstop. Then you are back to the starting point at Garfield Hall.
Pine Lake Trail
From North House, take the road heading Northwest to the bridge. Just upstream of the bridge is a small dam. The top of the dam is about at a child's eye level, so she can lean on the railing and watch the water spilling over the top and down the face. The central, concrete portion was built over a much older cobblestone part. We don't know when this was done, but indications in the Richfield Historical Society archives where they have old photos of the double dam indicate it was probably during Kirby's time. Cross the bridge. The Pine Lake Trailhead is on the left. The colorful sign was placed by Troop 598 when they cleared the trail. Pine Lake Trail follows the stream as it flows into Lake Linnea, and continues along the lake's " hypotenuse" side. The first half of the trail is exceptionally lovely. Girls can observe the rock faces of the creek bank, and the plants supported on the vertical surfaces. The woods are an inviting combination of beech, hemlock, spruce, and white pine, with an undergrowth of spice bush and much tiny partridge berry. As the path descends to lake level the water-loving plants are in abundance on the lake side: cattail, willow, flag, and arrowroot. There is a tulip tree that fell into the water long ago and has since grown a new truck from one of its former branches. There are trees and tree stumps shaped by beaver when they spent a few seasons on the lake. But the farther one goes, the more the native species have been replaced with barberry, honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and most of all: buckthorn. There is a side path that comes in from the right and leads the short distance up to the Paddler Unit. It is reccomended that hikers take this path. After this side path, the trail following the lake edge becomes almost impenetrable, and there is lots and lots of poison ivy. This second part of the trail is the site of the trail and native species restoration project. Hidden under the buckthorn are red oak, sassafrass, and a host of other native species that have been almost entirely crowded out by the "invaders". By removing the invasive species, the natives will have a fighting chance. If there are pockets that have completely overcome, native species will be re-planted.
Storybook Forest Trail
Leading from Gemini road to the gas cut, this trail is a short stroll through the Forest of the Lost Green Cathedral. The straight rows of pines show that this was a deliberately planted forest. Yet, the deep green shade looks like the perfect setting for a fairy tale; hence the name. Novice hikers will be reassured by the calming scent of natural pine all around them, and the openess of the forest floor. Or they will be once the trail has been restored and cleared.
In addition to the named trails, there is the memorial trail, which is a hunt for the the names of those honored by the girl scout family for their contributions to Girl Scouting.
There are also hikes available outside of camp, including the Buckeye Trail along the western edge of camp, and a very pleasant hike to Whipp's Ledges.
The Full Moon Trail, about 2.5 miles long, makes a complete circuit around the camp, passing many of its major landmarks. We'll describe the hike starting at the southern parking lot, although obviously, it can be picked up at any point. From the south parking lot, head west down the road. Just past the lower pasture, pick up Hilltop Road on your right. This becomes a steep hill just below Hilltop House, then it flattens out. It passes Windy Hill tent unit, the road to the stable, and High Lea shelter. Just after High Lea, the road narrows into a footpath. It crosses a narrow stream. The bridge is out, but as long as the water is not too high, you can easily pick your way across on large stepping stones. Arrive at the Gas Cut. Angle slightly left (west) across the Cut. You will see an indentation in the forest edge, and the beginning of the Storybook Forest Trail ( currently marked with orange ribbons). The trail heads more or less straight North through a pine forest. There is very little undergrowth and the ground is carpeted with with soft needles (for full description, see Storybook Forest Trail ) Leave the forest at Gemini Road and turn right. Look for blackberries along the edges of this road. Yummy! Follow the road past Gemini cabin. The main road will bend to the right, but you stay straight. The road becomes a grassy (often wet) path, bending sharply left onto the Twig Trail, which was named for the red twig dogwood shrubs dotting the way. Look for the Cresent Trail on the right. The Cresent Trail takes you past the old playing field, and back through a small patch of pine forest, across the creek, through the mint patch and along a grassy track between Far Away Pines and Last Chance. Turn right at the main road. Stroll along the Main road, passing the Adirondack unit, Chagrin Valley Cabin, and Coach House on your right. Just after Coach house, the road bends and dips into a shady dell, then swoops out and up to cut in front of Amity House. Continue down to the northern parking lot and Gund Hall. Turn right at Gund and follow the main road through the woods, past the Gas Cut near the archery field, Wonken Tonken, Mabel Smith Shelter and meadow, and Hickory Hill and Beechcliff tent units. At Beechcliff the road drops down a short, but very steep, rutted hill. At the base of the hill is the famed Garfield Hall and the dining hall bell. The road then follows the western edge of the lower lake very closely until it passes Cricket's Corner on the left and Kirby House on the right. At Kirby House, the woods open out again into a rolling meadow. The Mill, swinging bridge, and sundial are on your left. A few more steps bring you back to your starting point.
Northern Half Moon Trail
Southern Half Moon Trail
Same as the Full Moon Trail, but halve your distance by dipping through the Gas Cut to pick up the trail again on the other side. The best place to cross the creek at the bottom (until the bridge is replaced) is along the southern side, where there are numerous stepping stones.
Deer Leap Trail
The original trailhead just below the Lake Linnea dam has become too overgrown, so the trail is currently accessed by following the path beyond the Seely Cabin outhouse. The trail follows the stream, becoming more mossy and garden-like as the elevation descends. Just before the reaching the level of the stream, the trail swings hard left, making a steep climb up the hill, winds a short way through the woods, and ends partway up the gas cut. Deer Leap Trail has been recently refurbished by Junior Troop 1980 of North Olmsted.
Highland Trails
Highland Trails includes several connected paths branching off the Innisfree road. Some may have been paths used by early Girl Scouts. The more defined ones are probably game (as in animal ) trails.
Innisfree Road
The biggest challnge at the moment is finding the entrance from the main road! Starting at the sundial below the mill, walk along the edge of the brush betwwen the creek and the main camp road. You will come to a break in the brush that is screened from the camp road by another line of brush, which is what makes the opening so hard to see when you are standing directly across from it. This wide, grassy path was the original driveway of the Kirby estate. It was a favorite bridle trail when Crowell HIlaka had horses. It crosses a sturdy wooden bridge over the gurgling, rock-strewn creek, and heads up an easy grade to the Kirby gateposts. From the gateposts it makes a sharp left turn and becomes steeper. The lake can be glimpsed off to the left, and a pine forest rises on the right. The road passes in back of Robinson Shelter and shortly becomes a barely visible track. It turns left, approaching the Lower Lake Trail but veers off right and ends at an old brick firplace. This was the site of the Innisfree unit, the first tent unit established at Camp Julia Crowell in 1937.
Ithilien Trail
From the main camp road, take the Crescent Trail between Far Away Pines and Last Chance. Cross the creek. Just as you can see the Crescent Trail bending left, the Ithilien Trail springs off to the right. There is a fairly unobtrusive wooden sign marking the trail. So unobtrusive, in fact, that you probably can't even see it until you are already on the trail. It was handmade by Flicker by burning the wood by focusing sunlight with a magnifying glass. The trail follows a ridge. Scattered along the ridge are a couple of groupings of small boulders and a couple of large piles of cobblestones. One theory for their existence and placement is that the pioneer farmers who worked this land in the early to mid 1800's tossed all the field stones out of the way of their plows and onto the more-difficult-to-farm ridge. Another theory is that they are old tip-up sites. A tip-up occurs when a large tree falls over, and the weight of the branches and trunk rips part of the massive root system out of the ground. Eventually the dirt falls away from the roots and is washed away. Eventually the tree itself deteriorates. All that is left is a pile of the rocks that had been held in the root soil. Whatever the origin of these mysterious nests of rock, the trail was named for the secret outpost of Ithilien in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings". At the point where the ridge descends to the floodplain of the creek, the Ithilien Trail splits into two branches: the Last Chance Loop and the Northwest Passage.
Last Chance Loop
Coming from Ithilien Ridge, this trail curves right to the East, and winds around the floodplain. It crosses the creek almost as far upstream as it is possible to go and still be in camp. Many times during the year, there appears to be no visible water in the very rocky streambed! Shortly afterwards it crosses a small, muddy tributary, then rises with the hillside and curves into Last Chance tent unit.
Northwest Passage
The name is a nod to the early explorers of North America. When Christopher Columbus' route to the riches of Asia turned out to be nothing but a navigational roadblock, other ship captains became determined to find a way through. They were certain that the fabled "Norhwest Passage" must exist somewhere between the North Canadian islands. Many an expedition was mounted trying to find it, and many a life was lost. Now, ironically, with the warming of the climate and the thinning of the ice caps, such a passage may be making an appearance. Our own Northwest Passage is not nearly so arduous! Coming down off the Ithilien ridge, it cuts left to the West, crosses a small seasonal creek, then climbs into hardwood forest to the northern camp boundary. From there it passes near to Angel Swamp and crosses high meadow wetlands. It ducks back into the forest and emerges behind the backboard of the playing field.
Lower Lake Trail
As the name implies, this trail simply skirts the lower lake. It is arguably the most beautiful trail in camp. The eastern portion climbs swiftly up from the front of Garfield to a cliffside view of the mill across the lake. Frosty green pillows of moss carpet the ground under beech trees at Beaver's Bluff. The remains of the old challenge course are superimposed on the even older ruins of the old Fernwood tent unit. The unit shelter and outhouse are still functional, so it's a great wayside stopping place. The trail then dips down to lake level. On the right is Cattail Point, a small peninsula, sprinkled with its namesake plants. There is a wooden footbridge across the top of one of Mr. Kirby's intake dams built in the early 1920's as part of his patented Clearwater lake system. As you cross, notice the stand of bamboo-like horsetails growing on the south bank on the incoming creek. The trail rises, but becomes muddy from the springs flowing from upslope. At the top of the hill, deciduous forest blends into conifer forest and Robinson shelter stands as a great resting spot with a great view. There is NO water or outhouse at Robinson shelter. The trail continues high above the lake and then eases down to the swinging bridge adjacent to the mill. [If anyone in your group feels unable to handle to swinging bridge, backtrack up to Robinson shelter, walk a shortways south (away from the lake), and you will hit Innisfree Road. Turn right and follow it down the hill. The bridge on this road is more traditional, but it will take you several minutes out of your way. It leads back to the main road. Turn right to return to the mill.] After visiting the mill, walk across the earthen part of the dam (NOT on the concrete wall). This places you in front of Kirby House. Just across the road from Kirby house is Cricket's Corner, a combination picnic shelter and boat landing. From its floor you can look back up across the lake to the hills you just came down. Continuing on the road, you will see the tiny nature hut above and to your left, and a small boat shelter, like a busstop. Then you are back to the starting point at Garfield Hall.
Pine Lake Trail
From North House, take the road heading Northwest to the bridge. Just upstream of the bridge is a small dam. The top of the dam is about at a child's eye level, so she can lean on the railing and watch the water spilling over the top and down the face. The central, concrete portion was built over a much older cobblestone part. We don't know when this was done, but indications in the Richfield Historical Society archives where they have old photos of the double dam indicate it was probably during Kirby's time. Cross the bridge. The Pine Lake Trailhead is on the left. The colorful sign was placed by Troop 598 when they cleared the trail. Pine Lake Trail follows the stream as it flows into Lake Linnea, and continues along the lake's " hypotenuse" side. The first half of the trail is exceptionally lovely. Girls can observe the rock faces of the creek bank, and the plants supported on the vertical surfaces. The woods are an inviting combination of beech, hemlock, spruce, and white pine, with an undergrowth of spice bush and much tiny partridge berry. As the path descends to lake level the water-loving plants are in abundance on the lake side: cattail, willow, flag, and arrowroot. There is a tulip tree that fell into the water long ago and has since grown a new truck from one of its former branches. There are trees and tree stumps shaped by beaver when they spent a few seasons on the lake. But the farther one goes, the more the native species have been replaced with barberry, honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and most of all: buckthorn. There is a side path that comes in from the right and leads the short distance up to the Paddler Unit. It is reccomended that hikers take this path. After this side path, the trail following the lake edge becomes almost impenetrable, and there is lots and lots of poison ivy. This second part of the trail is the site of the trail and native species restoration project. Hidden under the buckthorn are red oak, sassafrass, and a host of other native species that have been almost entirely crowded out by the "invaders". By removing the invasive species, the natives will have a fighting chance. If there are pockets that have completely overcome, native species will be re-planted.
Storybook Forest Trail
Leading from Gemini road to the gas cut, this trail is a short stroll through the Forest of the Lost Green Cathedral. The straight rows of pines show that this was a deliberately planted forest. Yet, the deep green shade looks like the perfect setting for a fairy tale; hence the name. Novice hikers will be reassured by the calming scent of natural pine all around them, and the openess of the forest floor. Or they will be once the trail has been restored and cleared.
In addition to the named trails, there is the memorial trail, which is a hunt for the the names of those honored by the girl scout family for their contributions to Girl Scouting.
There are also hikes available outside of camp, including the Buckeye Trail along the western edge of camp, and a very pleasant hike to Whipp's Ledges.