The Mary Beth Zak Lohse Preserve was acquired in September 2018 and expanded in November 2019, using Clean Ohio Conservation Fund / Open Space grants. The property is 283+ acres in size. It has an interesting history involving many key people and organizations, most notable of course Mary Beth Zak Lohse, all documented on the official web site (see the link above).

Located on both sides of Strouds Run Road between the Athens city limits and Dow Lake. As well as bordering Strouds Run State Park and the Blair Preserve, the Mary Beth Preserve adjoins and helps buffer Hawk Woods, with its towering oaks and tulip trees, an exceptional stand of old-growth forest owned by the City of Athens and dedicated as a state nature preserve. 

To reach the Mary Beth Preserve from Athens, take Lancaster Street north to the top of the hill. Turn right at the stoplight onto Lancaster Street (across from Second Street; if you go straight, you’re on Columbus Road). After a block, it becomes Columbia Avenue. Continue a total of 1.4 miles from the stoplight (the street will finally become Strouds Run Road). At the stop sign after crossing over US-33, turn right, which is still Strouds Run Road. At 1.3 miles after turning, there will be a small gravel parking area on your right to access the preserve, which lies on both sides of the road for about a quarter mile in both directions from the parking area.  Click on the map on the right for a pdf to download and print.

Gillett Pond Trail (approximately 0.25 mile including access from parking lot; difficulty – easy)
This short trail around Gillett Pond can be reached from the parking lot via service roads. The pond was built as a farm pond around 1940 and is now naturalized. Two benches in memory of Mary Beth Lohse offer a peaceful place to sit.

Gillett Ridge Loop (approximately 1.1 miles; difficulty – easy, but the hike to reach it is hard)
This loop trail offers lovely views when the trees are partially or fully leafless. It is particularly beautiful from mid-October through November. The loop itself is mostly relatively level but accessing it from the preserve parking lot requires a 0.4-mile climb on a gravel service road, some of which is very steep. The loop can also be reached from Strouds Run State Park via the Trace Trail; from Sells Park via Athens and Trace Trails; and from Cucumbertree Trailhead (near the Ohio University Credit Union) via Cucumbertree, Rockhouse, Basswood (steep), and Trace Trails.