Russ Nature Reserve — Attraction in Beavercreek Township

Russ Nature Reserve is a wonderful little gem of a park that I discovered only recently. There are a number of walking loops of varying lengths, which allow you to go for a simple loop of 0.3 miles, or jump from path to path in your own adventuring of any distance, really, that you like. The Naturescape provides an expansive "wilderness play area" where the wooden constructions allow for a forest-like play experience, while the cleared dirt surroundings prevent what would be a number of scrapes and potential poison ivy encounters in many other forests. Additionally, there is a sandbox area where younger kids can play safely, with nearby picnic tables for a timely lunch break.

There are informational signs along some of the trails, discussing some of the resident nature and wildlife. If you pay attention, you might be able to recognize the flora and fauna that isn't described by a nearby sign too.

I would certainly recommend this park to people of all ages, as the trails are distant from the screams of playing children, and the meadows, forests, and wildlife of the surrounding area can be breathtaking. Children have a number of options for learning and playing, and parents have as many choices from places to sit and talk, as older kids play, or sit closer, where children can be watched as they play tic tac toe, or checkers in the wood-craft boards in the...

I wish there would have been a end time posted on Facebook. I saw the start time and where they mentioned things going on the "entire night" but I didn't see an end time and that was disappointing for me because the line to get in took an hour and a half and then all the people giving out candy for trick or treaters were leaving and things were shutting down by the time we got in. So that sucked but the walk was amazing. And we all got a free pumpkin to take home. Any design we wanted we could just walk out and pick it up and take it home so that was pretty cool. My kids really liked that. I'm hoping to go back next year and maybe I'll have the day off so I can get...

A little on the small side for my usual trips with the doggo, but a very very nice park in any other regard. There are 6 or 7 different trails throughout, with lots of educational tidbits on plaques along the trails with info on the local plant life. There are at least 2 kids areas that im aware of; I havent had a good look at those areas but judging from what i have seen and the quality of the rest of the park they are fun looking interative educational play areas. Highly reccomend this park for all ages if you want to see a lot of of unique stuff without having to walk. I think we lapped it 3 times and we went about...