New benches & trail signage at Kuffner Nature Preserve

Improvements at Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve

Heritage Trails Park District is pleased to announce that new memorial park benches and trail signs have recently been installed at the Dr. Elizabeth Yahl Kuffner Nature Preserve! It's a great time to share a nature hike with your friends & family along our new boardwalk trail. Kuffner Preserve is open from dawn to dusk, located at 14840 County Rd 66A, just north of St. Marys, Ohio.

2026 Lockkeepers Cabin Fever Hike
By Terry McDonald November 10, 2025
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
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
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
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.
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
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
By Terry McDonald September 15, 2025
To sign-up to receive our quarterly newsletter, please email info@htparks.org
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.
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
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.