Editor’s Note: This is one story in a series highlighting the Ashland County Parks District’s 18 parks.
ASHLAND — Tupelo Bottoms is one of the Ashland County Park District’s (ACPD) newest parks.
The 41-acre park, located at 306 Township Road 581 in Sullivan, was acquired in 2013 and opened in 2017. It’s positioned near Hurdle Waterfowl and Sprinkle’s Serenity Parks.
The noteworthy features at Tupelo Bottoms include a 5-acre buttonbush swamp and 25 acres of wetlands.
It’s named after the tupelo (or black gum) tree that can be found within the park, but more than 250 plants and tree have been identified there. This includes trees like the Freeman’s maple, swamp cottonwood, Shumard oak and wildflowers like the cardinal flower and small wild orchids.
Currently, this park remains largely undeveloped. The only trail is short and leads across a field into the woods, where it comes to a dead end.
The park is open to the public and can be hiked, but ACPD director Stephanie Featheringill advises only advanced and dedicated hikers attempt traversing through Tupelo Bottoms.
For those planning a visit to Tupelo Bottoms, parking is suggested at nearby Hurdle Waterfowl Park.
