California Junction Trail

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California Junction trail sign. Photo by Maribeth Kiefer Lind.

Fall colors. Photo by Patricia Hutchinson.

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Designated as a National Recreation Trail in 19881.1 miles in California Woods Nature Preserve is managed and maintained by Cincinnati Parks. The preserve is open daily from dawn to dusk. It is the first trailhead on your left as you are entering the preserve on the park road. The closest parking is past the trailhead on your left. Additional parking is by the nature center. The trail makes a short climb up a hillside and then makes a large loop. Most of the loop follows a large bend of the old Cincinnati, Georgetown, and Portsmouth (CG&P) railroad, and this part is very level. Part of the trail passes by an area of old-growth forest in Trillium Valley, and there are several trees over 140 feet tall visible from the trail, and two over 150 feet tall. The foundations of the old train trestle over Kellogg Avenue can be seen from the trail. Where the old train trestle joined the current trail was California Junction. Some evidence of the old station building can be seen near the trail. Old crossties, coal, gravel ballast, and a piece of rail can be seen also. Most of the trail passes through mature woods of large trees with abundant spring wildflowers, and part of the trail goes through a honeysuckle jungle. Much of the deep glacial outwash/loess soil along the trail is very sandy, which is unusual for this area. You can see cliffs of yellowish loess soil from the trail. The next trailhead on the park road is also a National Recreation Trail and is called Trillium Valley Trail.

Allowed Uses:

Other Activities

• Snow, snow play general
• Wildlife viewing / observation

• Certified as an NRT
  Nov 9, 1988