Hayes Regional Arboretum

A wonderful little treasure in Richmond. I haven’t spent nearly enough time here but have fond memories of the times I have. They have a cute little nature center, nice trails for walking or driving & even some interesting landmarks along the way. In the fall, they’ve offered hay rides which are nice. It’s a great chance to get away from it all while being in the middle of town.

There are few places that keep wildlife separate from the world but this is one that allows the public some up close and personal time, too.
They have 3 hiking trails, all about 1 mile in length, along with a biking trail, and the car tour. The car tour is $ 3.00, which isn’t bad since you’re helping to support a small sanctuary.
The driveway from Elks Road takes you to the Nature Center. They have classes concerning plants, animals, and birds. They also have an observation room with an outdoor feeder where you can sit and watch animals and birds.
Just outside the front (west) entrance of the Nature Center, there is the start of the car tour. If you’ve paid your $ 3.00, you’ll receive a token to release the gate. Far back within the woods, along Hayes Arboretum Road, you’ll see the archway for the never built Morton High School, a symbol of better times for this area.
The hiking trails take you through the hills, across the streams and springs, and through at least 200 spider webs. I’m sure I’ll be cleaning them off through next Tuesday.
The place has a lot to offer and the naturalists have some great knowledge they’d love to share. In fact, education is a great service they provide. I can recall taking various classes on summer mornings and walking not only through the arboretum but other selected reserves, learning about life and living creatures. It’s a great way to step ahead of your classmates in high school biology.
If you haven’t been out there, take a visit. If you enjoy a drive through the woods, support them with your $ 3.00. It’s a good diversion from the electronic world.