2026 Lockkeepers Cabin Fever Hike

2026 Lockkeepers Cabin Fever Hike

Heritage Trails Park District invites everyone to start their New Year off right by participating in the 2026 Cabin Fever Hike Series!
Bundle up for a refreshing winter hike along the Miami Erie Canal Towpath Trail on Sunday, January 11th, 2026. Register anytime between 1pm-3pm at the Lockkeepers' House, located at 22 S. Water Street, New Bremen, Ohio. Explore the interpretive signage, historical photos & artifacts from the canal era, as well as the restored Lock One North. Sign up for the 'Road to Fitness' program with Grand Lake Health Systems to earn points & win cool prizes! Enjoy complimentary trail mix while you hike, provided by the St. Marys Area Resource Team. This event will be a great opportunity to lose your cabin fever, work on New Years fitness resolutions, and enjoy the sights & sounds of wintertime along the Miami Erie Canal.

Additional hikes to follow for the 2026 Cabin Fever Hike Series are:
-Feb. 8th at the St. Marys Utilities Building
-March 8th at Noble Township Hall
-April 12th at Noble Township Hall
Mark your calendar and invite a friend to go on a monthly hike with you! Free & fun for all ages!
The 2026 Cabin Fever Hike Series is hosted by Heritage Trails Park District, Grand Lake Health System, Miami Erie Canal Corridor Association and St. Marys Area Resource Team.

New benches & trail signage installed at Kuffner Nature Preserve

New benches & trail signage at Kuffner Nature Preserve

By Terry McDonald • November 10, 2025
New memorial park benches and trail signs have recently been installed at the Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve
2026 Valentine's Cabin Fever Hike

2026 Valentine's Cabin Fever Hike

By Terry McDonald • November 10, 2025
Heritage Trails Park District has the perfect plan for you & your Valentine this year: Complimentary trail mix snacks and a relaxing wintertime stroll along the Miami Erie Canal in Auglaize County…….. On Sunday, Feb. 8th, register between 1:00pm – 3:00pm at the St. Marys Utilities Building (lower level), located at 106
2026 Spring Forward Cabin Fever Hike

2026 Spring Forward Cabin Fever Hike

By Terry McDonald • November 10, 2025
Spring Forward with Heritage Trails Park District! Join us on Sunday, March 8th with an early springtime hike along the Miami Erie Canal Towpath Trail. Meet at Noble Township Hall, located at 16586 Co Rd 66A, just north of St. Marys anytime from 1pm-3pm. The St. Marys Area Resource Team will be on-hand to greet partici
2026 April Showers Cabin Fever Hike - St. Marys, Ohio

2026 April Showers Cabin Fever Hike

By Terry McDonald • November 10, 2025
Join Heritage Trails Park District on Sunday, April 12th for our April Showers hike along the Miami Erie Canal! Bring the whole family! Pets on a leash are welcome as well. Meet at Noble Township Hall, located at 16586 CR 66A, just north of St. Marys from 1pm-3pm.

Boardwalk Ribbon Cutting at Kuffner Preserve

By Terry McDonald • October 17, 2025
The ribbon has officially been cut for the new boardwalk trail at Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve! We are grateful to the Yahl Kuffner & Hartung families for their generous donations to help make these wonderful trail improvements happen. Heritage Trails Park District invites everyone to explore this amazin

Kuffner Nature Preserve is OPEN!

By Terry McDonald • September 18, 2025
The Dr. Elizabeth Yahl-Kuffner Nature Preserve has re-opened to the public! Thanks to generous donors, a brand new boardwalk has been installed to enhance accessibility to all hikers. In the coming weeks, new benches, trail signage, and informational kiosk will also be added to further improve this amazing Auglaize

2025 Autumn Newsletter

By Terry McDonald • September 15, 2025
To sign-up to receive our quarterly newsletter, please email info@htparks.org

Heritage Trails Park District - 2025 Stahr Award Winner!

By Terry McDonald • May 28, 2025
Earlier this month, Heritage Trails Park District was presented with the ⭐️STAHR AWARD⭐️ from Ohio's Grand Lake Region Visitors Center! We are so grateful to receive such an honor! Thank you! Each year, the Stahr Award is given to one group, organization or business for its outstanding contributions to the development and promotion of tourism in the Auglaize & Mercer County area. The granting of this award began in 1998, named for former Visitors Center Trustee, the late Bill Stahr. 💫 Pictured here:🏆 Heritage Trails Park District Executive Director PJ Fought along with Ambassador Award winner Matt Tuttle and Past President Award winner Jared Ebbing.

Progress Report for Heritage Trails Park District

By Terry McDonald • March 17, 2025
Progress Report for Heritage Trails Park District (By: Administrative Assistant Terry McDonald) Heritage Trails Park District has been moving forward in leaps & bounds during the past year, fueling our mission to create and preserve park lands in Auglaize County for conservation, leisure and educational purposes for everyone to enjoy. Our park district is currently comprised of six areas of park lands in Auglaize County, Ohio, including Lock 14 Park, Deep Cut Historical Park, Bloody Bridge Trail Head, Dr. Elizabeth Yahl-Kuffner Nature Preserve, eight miles of Towpath Trail along the Miami Erie Canal, and the future site of the E.J. Mackenbach Preserve. In 2024, Heritage Trails Park District acquired the E.J. Mackenbach Preserve, approximately 70 acres of historic property just north of St. Marys, Ohio. This preserve features 34 acres of woodland, 36 acres of fields and amazing views of the Miami Erie Canal. Plans are in place to restore the agricultural fields to wetland and meadow habitats, with plantings

THE STORY OF THE BLOODY BRIDGE

By HTPARKS • February 23, 2021
A tale of a lovers quarrel, and murder. Visitors say they can see the ghostly images of a headless man walking along the bridge at sundown, and drowned woman in the canal below. Making the Bloody Bridge a notorious attraction for those who seek the paranormal.