The Ridges Nature Preserve and Scientific Research Area Trailhead

I’m not a big fan of hiking, but there are some nice views in the trails as well as some spooky controversy over the former mental hospital.

There are a few different locations in maps that all represent the same general area. This is the trail head off 682 which is a small parking area. I've never seen it so crowded you couldn't find a spot to park.nnThere are different trails here, and you can make it a 3 mile loop if you know the way, but it isn't well marked. It is about a half mile to Radar hill from here. Both trails here go uphill for about a half mile. They aren't necessarily hard to get up, but if you just want an easy hike I'd suggest one of the other trail heads.nnI feel I should warn you that you don't want to find yourself here after dark. The Ridges are said to be haunted by a Beagle that was once committed to the pet ward of the Athens Lunatic Asylum. The story goes that when the Beagle died it's body in one last spasm reached up and bit it's own spirit as it was ascending to heaven and drug it back to earth where it is doomed to remain.

There are so many paths you can visit here several times and get a wildly different experience at each visit!