Away from the crowds

‘Alone, in a good way” is how Andrew Lane Gibson describes his visits to Christmas Rocks

State Nature Preserve southwest of Lancaster. h Gibson, an assistant botanist with the

Ohio Department of Natural Resources, said it’s a good place to find some solitude. h Although

the Fairfield County preserve is only about 30 miles from downtown Columbus, its long trails through a valley and onto a rocky outcrop have a definite Hocking Hills feel to them — but without the crowds, Gibson says.

Botantist Andrew Lane Gibson says forked chestnut oak trees in Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve are due to resprouting “stump sprouts” from the logging era in southern Ohio, which lasted from about 1850 to 1920.

The preserve, which is near Lancaster, has a 3.1-mile trail that splits into two. The orange trail goes to the main rock formation, Jacob’s Ladder, and the blue trail loops around a forested area.

PHOTOS BY DORAL CHENOWETH/DISPATCH Two chestnut oak acorns begin to sprout at the park. Spots of color can be hard to find on a wintertime hike.

Botantist Andrew Lane Gibson said the ladder in Jacob’s Ladder is evident in historical photographs, but trees now obscure it.

The main hiking trail at Christmas Rocks follows Arney Run, which flows into Clear Creek in Fairfield County.

The nature preserve features a large blackhand sandstone outcropping that peaks 250 feet above Arney Run, the creek below it.