There are 19 nature preserves in Franklin County that are owned by Columbus Recreation and Parks. This is one that is quite small and not well known.  Old Beechwold is accessed from North High St. a little bit south of Graceland Shopping Center and Kenney Park, and is a neighborhood of stately homes,  mature trees (beech and others), and lovely gardens. This unnamed tributary is channelized at the east end (at Rustic Bridge) and flows into the Olentangy. It’s a small park, unmarked, with foot access at Rustic Bridge and on Riverview where it curves into Olentangy Blvd. The stream isn’t shown on USGS topography maps or on Google maps, but it was flowing even in the middle of a dry summer.

July, 2020 – Photos by Ellie Nowels

This is the east end of the preserve; the stream is channelized from the Rustic Bridge east to its point of origin.

You can follow the dirt path at the top of the hill or climb down into the ravine to walk in the stream.

A shale-lined stream bed makes for a lovely walk.

A number of nice concretions in the stream bed.

Where the stream enters the Olentangy it passes under some sewer pipes. There are no public pathways north or south along the river bank.