Top 10 Tips to Stay Safe & Have Fun Outdoors
From tick protection to binoculars, here's how you can stay safe and have fun in nature all year in Ohio.
Whether you’re looking for a breezy lakeshore, a flowering prairie, or a forested hike with a view of the rolling Appalachian foothills, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Ohio has you covered for outdoor adventuring. With several preserves throughout the state, you have your choice of diverse habitats to explore and wildlife and plants to spot.
Getting outside and connecting to nature is one of the best ways to stay healthy, improve mental health and have fun. But, before you pick your next outdoor adventure, there are a few things you should know and do before lacing up your hiking boots or slipping on your life jacket. Here are our Top 10 recommendations to ensure you have an amazing time in nature.
1. Do your research.
Before hitting the trails or waterways at a preserve you’ve not visited before, be sure to read up on it—including downloading or printing any trail maps that are available.
Look at the listed trail lengths and conditions so you can make the best plan for your day. For instance, do the trails go through wetlands or boggy areas? Are the trails well-marked? Hilly? Wheelchair accessible?
In addition to assessing the trails, look at what the preserves themselves offer. Are there restrooms? Are there recommendations on what to look for or when to go?
Each of our TNC preserves in Ohio have their own web pages with trail information, preserve rules and overviews on what to expect. Be sure to check out those pages as part of your prep.
2. Keep your pet(s) safe.
If you’re planning to hike with your dog or other pets, check to make sure they’re allowed at the preserve. Some of our preserves allow pets, but some do not.
For instance, while Big Darby Headwater Preserve welcomes dogs and other pets, Brown’s Lake Bog and Herrick Fen Preserve do not allow pets of any kind.
Keep your dog or pet leashed throughout your hike. This not only keeps your dog safe, but ensures that wildlife and other hikers are safe and comfortable, too.
Don’t forget the baggies—cleaning up after your pet and taking it to the nearest trash receptacle is required. It keeps the trails clean for others and protects wildlife and their habitats.
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3. Pack in and pack out.
Many natural areas don’t have trash services on site, so plan on keeping anything you bring with you for your entire hike. For instance, if you have a snack while hiking, store the wrappers or containers back in your backpack. If you’re hiking with a pet, be sure to carry baggies with waste in them out of the preserve.
The other side of pack in, pack out is to leave what you find. Whether it’s a stone, a plant or something else, all natural items in a habitat have a role to play. Moving or taking something from a preserve can damage the ecosystem or harm wildlife.
Leaving what you find is also kind to others who are hiking. If you leave what you find, you allow others to have their own wonderful nature discovery, just as you did.
4. Leave wildlife and plants alone.
Chances are that you’ll spot some wildlife or cool plants while hiking at TNC preserves. If you happen to see a wild animal, give it plenty of space and leave it alone. This is especially true in the spring when many wildlife babies are around.
Wildlife moms, like white-tailed deer or Eastern cottontail rabbits, will leave their young alone for long stretches while they go forage for food. If you see a wildlife baby, assume its mom is nearby and coming back.
Many of our preserves, like Herrick Fen Nature Preserve or the Cedar Falls Trail at the Edge of Appalachia, have orchids, spring ephemeral wildflowers or carnivorous plants within their boundaries. While we encourage you to take photos and admire any plants you see, please leave them alone where they grow.
Finally, know which plants to avoid when you're outside! Plants like poison ivy or wild parsnip can hurt you if touched or disturbed. Learning which plants can be harmful and where they grow is important so you can easily avoid them.
Downloading a picture of noxious plants on your phone can serve as a handy reference to make sure you’re identifying the correct plants.
Avoid These Plants
Plants like these below can cause rashes or even life-threatening reactions if disturbed. Learn what they look like and where they grow so you can easily avoid them in your outdoor adventures.
Poison Ivy
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a very common plant found throughout Ohio.
How can I identify poison ivy?
There are several different species of poison ivy and the plant itself can grow as a small shrub or climbing vine. A key identifier is to look for clusters of three leaves that alternate with each other along the stem. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or jagged and their surface can be glossy or dull.
Why should I avoid it?
Poison ivy produces an oil called urushiol, which can cause an itchy and often painful rash to develop when it comes into contact with the skin. The oil is easily passed from plant to skin, so even brushing by the plant can cause an uncomfortable reaction.
While the oil is irritant for humans, it helps the poison ivy plant retain water, which helps it survive in a wide variety of habitats.
Is there anything good about it?
Poison ivy also serves an important purpose in its habitats. Many species of wildlife, from deer to insects to birds, eat the leaves and berries the plant produces. Small mammals and other animals will also use the plant for shelter and cover.
Poison Sumac
Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is much rarer to run into than poison ivy. It prefers to grow in wet and boggy areas, so it's an important plant to learn to identify if you're going to hike in wetlands, bogs or swamps.
How can I identify poison sumac?
Poison sumac grows as a small shrub or tree, growing to about 20 feet tall. It has red or brown stems, each with about seven to 13 leaves and a single leaflet on the end of the stem.
The leaves are elongated oval-shaped, with a V-shaped point at the end. They grow in pairs directly opposite of each other on the stem. In the spring, the leaves are bright orange, become dark green and glossy in the summer and turn deep red-orange in the fall.
Why should I avoid it?
Like poison ivy, poison sumac produces urushiol, an oil that can cause an itchy and often painful rash to develop when it comes into contact with the skin. However, poison sumac produces more urushiol than poison ivy and is considered to be more toxic. Urushiol even remains active in dead poison sumac plants.
Is there anything good about it?
Like poison ivy, poison sumac serves as shelter and a food source for wildlife in its habitat.
Wild Parsnip
Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is not a native plant to Ohio. However, it grows and spreads quickly and is now established in the state. It's an adaptable and fairly hardy plant, growing well in both dry and wet soils.
How can I identify wild parsnip?
Wild parsnip is a member of the carrot family and its leaves resemble celery leaves (another member of the carrot family). Its leaves are yellow-green and compound with three to five leaflets. The plant's stems are hollow, grooved and hairless.
Beginning in May or June, wild parsnip will produce flat clusters of small yellow flowers that resemble the flowers of another relative, Queen Anne's Lace.
Why should I avoid it?
Wild parsnip contains chemicals that make your skin burn and blister severely if exposed to sunlight. This reaction can also cause your skin to be discolored and more sensitive to sunlight for several years.
Is there anything good about it?
While wild parsnip is an invasive plant in North America, in its native habitat in Europe and Asia, wild parsnip is an important part of the environment.
Additionally, its roots have been used as a vegetable for humans since ancient times. That's how wild parsnip came to North America—European settlers brought the plant with them as a food source.
Poison Hemlock
Like wild parsnip, poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is not a native plant to Ohio. In fact, these two plants are often found growing together, typically in damp or wet habitats.
How can I identify poison hemlock?
Poison hemlock grows four to 10 feet tall and has smooth, hairless, hollow stems that have red-purple streaks or splotches. It has compound, fern-like leaves that taper to a point; they're arranged opposite to each other along the stem.
Beginning in May, poison hemlock begins to flower out with small white blooms in umbrella-shaped clusters. Its flowers look very much like those of its relative, Queen Anne's Lace. You can tell the plants apart by looking at the stems—only poison hemlock stems will have red-purple streaks.
Why should I avoid it?
True to its name, every part of poison hemlock is highly toxic to people and most animals. All parts of the plant contain compounds that can cause respiratory failure and be fatal if eaten in any amount.
The plant's poison can also enter the body through the eyes or nasal passages, which is why you should avoid touching or handling the plant.
Is there anything good about it?
Poison hemlock is not native to North America; it was introduced as an ornamental garden plant by European settlers. In its native habitat, it serves as a host plant and food source for some species of butterflies and moths.
5. Protect Yourself.
It’s an unfortunate fact, but anywhere you hike in Ohio, you’re likely to run into ticks and biting insects like mosquitos. While spring, summer and fall are the peak seasons for tick and insect activity, some ticks, like blacklegged ticks, are active year-round.
Ticks in Ohio
There are about a dozen species of ticks in Ohio, but the three species below are the ones that you're most likely to encounter and that pose risks for tick-borne diseases.
American Dog Tick
Also known as the wood tick, the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) is found throughout Ohio, mostly in grassy fields and other areas without much tree cover.
They're active from April through September, feeding on a variety of animals and people. When they attach to people, they typically try to climb to the top of the head.
The adult forms of this tick are the most likely to attach to people, with males attaching briefly (one to two days) and females attaching for a week or more to fill themselves completely.
American dog ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Blacklegged Tick
Also called a deer tick, blackegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are found throughout Ohio and are active year-round. Adult blacklegged ticks are most active in the spring, fall and winter, while the nymphs and larvae are active in the spring and summer. Basically, if the temperature is above freezing, you could encounter blacklegged ticks outside.
Unlike American dog ticks, blacklegged ticks are mostly found in forests and wooded areas. However, they can also be encountered in tall grasslands and shrubs that border wooded areas. True to their alternate name, deer tick, these ticks are found wherever white-tailed deer roam.
To find their next meal, blacklegged ticks will wait on the tips of branches and other plants about knee-high, grabbing onto a host as it walks by. While adult males will bite humans, adult females and the nymph stages of this tick are most likely to attach to people.
Blacklegged ticks are known to transmit several tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease and babesiosis.
Lone Star Tick
Lone Star ticks (Ambylomma americanum) are found throughout Ohio but are most commonly seen in the state's southern half. They're active from April through September in woods with dense undergrowth.
Female Lone Star ticks are easily identified by the single white spot in the center of their brown body. Males have white streaks or spots on the edge of their bodies.
Both male and female Lone Star ticks will bite people and will do so in all life stages (larvae, nymph, and adult). Adult females will remain attached for a week to 10 days to fully feed before dropping off to lay eggs.
Nymph and adult Lone Star ticks can transmit ehrlichiosis.
Here are a few tips to protect yourself from ticks and other insects:
- Use insect repellents approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency for use on human skin. Typically, these repellents will last for several hours when applied correctly.
- Stay in the middle of the trail when possible and avoid hiking through wooded and brushy areas with tall grass.
Wear long sleeves, pants and socks when possible. Tucking your pant legs into your socks and shirt into your pants will help keep ticks outside of your clothing.
Wearing light-colored clothing can make it easier to spot ticks or insects that might have hitched a ride on you.
Treat your clothing and any gear, such as backpacks or tents, with 0.5 percent permethrin. This repellent can be found for sale online and in many outdoor shops. Permethrin-treated clothing stays protective through several washings but always follow the product’s label and recommendations for use.
Check your body, clothes, and any gear for ticks before going inside. To add an extra layer of protection, put your hiking clothes in a dryer for 10 minutes on high immediately after coming inside OR wash them in hot water first, then dry them on high. Bathe or shower as soon as possible after your time outside and check your body thoroughly for ticks.
If you find a tick on you, remove it as soon as possible. If it’s attached, use tweezers to grab the tick close to your skin’s surface and then pull straight back, away from your skin, with a steady, even pressure. Once you remove the tick, dispose of it by placing it in alcohol, a sealed bag/container or flushing it down the toilet. Before disposal, safely take a clear picture of the tick for identification if you’re concerned about tick-borne diseases.
7. Dress for the weather and the season.
From kayaking in the summer to hiking in snow-covered forests in the winter, Ohio is well-suited for year-round outdoor adventuring.
Before you head out, check the local weather report for where you’ll be hiking and dress appropriately. Bring spare clothes and shoes to change into in case you get wet or muddy.
Wondering what to wear for your outdoor adventure? We have a few tips:
- Wear good, sturdy shoes that are closed-toe and waterproof/resistant no matter the season or the weather. Good shoes will help you avoid blisters, prevent falls and protect your feet from anything on the trail. Avoid wearing sandals, flip-flops or similar shoes.
- Avoid wearing cotton if you can. Cotton absorbs sweat and holds it close to your body, which can cause chafing. In cooler weather, damp or wet clothes can also cause a sudden drop in your body temperature, which can lead to hypothermia. Opt for clothing that is sweat-wicking to keep your body dry.
In the summer, wear light, loose, and sweat-wicking clothes. Wearing a hat is also a great call to protect your face and neck from the sun. In the height of summer, avoid the dangers of heatstroke by hiking early in the morning or later in the evenings.
In the spring and fall, when the weather is more variable, bring along a poncho or compact rain gear. If the preserve or trail you’ll be hiking has a water crossing, make sure the crossing is safe, especially if there has been a lot of rain or snow melt recently. Be prepared to turn around if the water at the crossing is moving too rapidly or is too deep.
In the winter, dress in three layers: a base layer of sweat-wicking materials close to your skin; an insulating mid-layer, such as fleece, to keep your body heat in; and an outer layer that’s waterproof/resistant to protect you from snow or rain. Keep your feet warm and dry by wearing wool or synthetic socks and good-fitting, waterproof-resistant hiking boots. Bring an extra pair of socks in case yours get wet. Wear a warm hat and lightweight or midweight gloves to keep your hands warm. As you move through the day, remove or add back layers to stay comfortable and avoid overheating. If you get wet while winter hiking, change into dry clothes as soon as possible.
9. Bring water.
Like any other form of exercise, hiking and other outdoor activities can dehydrate you, especially in the hotter months of the year.
Signs of dehydration include feeling thirsty, having a dry mouth and feeling tired. Severe dehydration can give you muscle cramps, headaches, dizziness or nausea. The minute you notice you're feeling thirsty, stop to drink. You're already dehydrated.
To prevent dehydration:
- Drink water before you head outside to make sure you're starting your nature adventure hydrated. This is especially important if you're hiking in the morning, as you'll be dehydrated from sleeping through the night before.
- While you're outside, drink small amounts frequently to make sure you stay hydrated throughout your time outside.
- Use a refillable and reusable water bottle to reduce waste. An insulated one will help keep your water cool, too.
- Make sure your water is easy to reach and not buried in your backpack.
- Drink water no matter what the weather is like. If you're hiking in winter, getting dehydrated can make you cold faster.
- After your time outside, drink water as you head home to replenish any water lost from sweating or exertion.
- If you're hiking with your pet, bring a collapsible water dish or a water bottle with a dish attached so they have water to drink while outside, too.
10. Bring binoculars and/or a camera.
All of our preserves offer gorgeous natural views. Having a camera with you will help you capture memories of Ohio’s natural beauty. Binoculars are also a must to have on hand if you want to do some wildlife spotting or birdwatching.
In the spring and fall especially, Ohio is a birder’s paradise as many migrating species stopover in the state as they make their long journeys from south to north and back again.
Preserves like Sandhill Cranes Wetland offer a chance to see the state-listed sandhill cranes and other wetland-loving birds and wildlife. Colorful warblers and other migratory songbirds can be found throughout the different areas of the Edge of Appalachia Preserve system.
Along with binoculars, having a field guide or app on your phone to identify birds and bird songs can add extra depth and wonder to your time outdoors. (If you’d like more birdwatching tips, we’ve got you covered here!)
Explore More in Ohio
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From the small, inconspicuous blooms of mayapples to the showier displays of blue lupine, discover the amazing diversity of Ohio wildflowers and learn where you might find them at our open preserves.