Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve

03/12/2026

Did you know that Flint Ridge’s forest is classified as an old-growth forest? This means that our forest contains mostly mature trees native to Ohio that help create a special environment for diverse populations of plant and animal life.

Flint Ridge’s forest is always active! The fallen trees provide homes of beetles, fungi, and other decomposers to thrive. Mosses and lichens abound. The vernal pools offer nurseries for salamanders, frogs, and fairy shrimp. Owls and other birds roost in snags. Wildflower bloom, and chipmunks, squirrels, and deer frolic in the understory.

The Old-Growth Forest Network recognizes old growth forests throughout the nation and Flint Ridge is celebrating 10 years of being a part of this amazing network of forests. Over 40 forests have been designated in the state of Ohio! Check out their most recent blog featuring Flint Ridge.

By OGFN Mid-Atlantic Manager, Brian Kane Many of us know families where the children’s heights and an accompanying date were scratched on a wall or doorframe with a pencil as the young ones grew to adulthood. The marks were never painted over until the house was sold. Families marked time by the g...

03/11/2026

Early spring is a great time to look for salamanders at Flint Ridge Historic Quarries and Nature Preserve. As temperatures warm and spring rains arrive, these secretive amphibians begin emerging from beneath logs, rocks, and leaf litter.

Many salamanders travel to the area’s vernal pools—temporary pools of water that form in the spring—to breed. Because these pools dry up later in the year, they don’t contain fish, making them a safe place for salamander eggs and larvae to develop.

Salamanders play an important role in the forest ecosystem, helping control insects and serving as indicators of a healthy woodland environment. If you’re hiking the trails this season, keep an eye on damp areas —you might spot one! 🦎🌿

02/25/2026

When visiting Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve this summer, keep an eye out for Black Cohosh, a striking native woodland plant. 🌿

Black cohosh blooms from May through July, producing tall, white, bottlebrush-like flower spikes. Its flowers give off a sweet but fetid scent that attracts flies, gnats, and beetles, which serve as its primary pollinators.

The name black cohosh refers to the plant’s dark, thick, knobby rhizome—“cohosh” meaning knobby root in the Algonquian language. It is also known as bugbane, a name that comes from its historical use as an insect repellent, though it is no longer commonly used for that purpose.

For centuries, North American Indigenous peoples have used black cohosh in traditional medicine, particularly to help ease pain associated with menstruation, childbirth, and menopausal symptoms.

02/19/2026

When visiting Flint Ridge Ancient Quarries and Nature Preserve this summer, keep an eye out for a striking red wildflower called Fire Pink.

Fire Pink (sometimes called Scarlet Catchfly) is an uncommon visitor to the Preserve. A small, scattered population of these beauties was last observed blooming in spring 2022 near the museum. If you spot Fire Pink in bloom—typically from early April through early June—please let staff know. This is a discovery worth sharing!

Fire Pink is a weak-stemmed, short-lived perennial that grows 1–2 feet tall. It has long, narrow, opposite leaves and brilliant red, tubular flowers that are hard to miss.

Plants in this genus are often called Catchfly, a name that comes from the sticky hairs or exudates that can trap insects. The flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, while the seeds provide food for juncos, pine siskins, sparrows, water pipits, and horned larks.

02/06/2026

A quiet, snow covered morning at Flint Ridge ❄️☃️

02/03/2026

Did you know? 🤔

In September of 1970, the museum at Flint Ridge won a major design award—beating out 130 other buildings! 🏆 The Architects Society of Ohio honored it for architectural excellence.

Designed by E.A. Glendening of Cincinnati, the museum is built primarily from wood and centered around an ancient quarry pit, blending history and design in a truly unique way.

While the museum is currently closed for the season, be sure to check back with us in the spring and experience this one-of-a-kind museum for yourself! 🌿✨

09/26/2025

Due to electrical issues, the Flint Ridge Museum will be CLOSED today, Friday, 9/26 - Saturday, 9/27.

The trails will remain open for your enjoyment. We apologize for any inconvenience!

06/06/2025

Join us for Summer Saturdays at the Ridge!

We will be hosting family friendly drop-in programs at Flint Ridge Nature Preserve every Saturday beginning on June 14th!

Join us each week to participate in a hands-on activity related to the natural resources or history of the landscape!

We hope you will join us!!

05/29/2025

The Flint Ridge Museum will be CLOSED on Saturday, May 31st. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause!

Please enjoy the grounds which remain open from dawn until dusk.

03/30/2025

Thank you so much to Emily Kridel from The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art & Technology for leading us on our exploration of the vernal pools at Flint Ridge!

We found egg masses, lots of fairy shrimp, 2 different types of salamanders, a little tree frog, and lots of larva! So much life in these little pools!

Join us next week as we explore fallen logs and the forest floor! 10-12 at the Flint Ridge Shelter House!

03/21/2025

Welcome Spring!! 🌼🌷

We are easing into the 2025 season and will open the Flint Ridge Museum for regular hours (Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm) on May 1st.

BUT in the meantime, we are excited to be offering some opportunities to learn about the site on Saturdays during the Spring!

Our first Spring Saturday will be on March 29th, and we will be exploring vernal pools at Flint Ridge.

There are thousands of vernal pools at Flint Ridge, so we have a lot to explore! Vernal pools are temporary wetland areas that are present in the early spring but dry up in the summer. There are thousands of them at Flint Ridge! They were created by American Indians when the dug into the earth to quarry flint to create tools like knives, spearpoints, and bladelets. While these pits were made by humans, they are an important part of the natural environment at Flint Ridge. They are home to salamanders, tadpoles, fairy shrimp and larva that are important food sources to the many animals that call Flint Ridge home!

Come and explore the vernal pools with us on March 29th from 10am to 12pm!

We will begin at the shelter house for a brief introduction and head out to look for salamanders and other interesting creatures that live on the Ridge.