Enter the woods, if you dare
Join UC’s Hike + Write for an exploration of hauntings in nature
Just in time for the season when things go bump in the night, UC’s English department in the College of Arts and Sciences has come together with Cincinnati Parks to make the ultimate spooky experience for writers and nature lovers.
UC’s Hike + Write program hosts a Halloween hike and campfire at dusk in Caldwell Nature Preserve titled ‘Hauntings: Encountering the Unknowns in Nature.’
Maia Morgan, assistant professor of English, says: “It just feels natural at this time of year as the days get shorter and colder and the natural world goes enters a season of death, decay, and the wintering that will lead to rebirth in the spring.”
Cincinnati is highly ranked as one of the country's greenest cities.
Maia Morgan UC assistant professor of English
Forest at dusk. Photo/Freyer for Pixabay.
Guided by lead local naturalist Lara Wardlow, the program takes interested hikers and writers to local trails and natural parks, pencil and paper in hand, using their love for written word to explore and learn about the world around them.
Each walk is accompanied by a writing or environmental professional. Dana Rider, a UC student currently pursuing her PhD in creative writing & literature, joins the group this time to aid in any potential questions that attendees, from novice to expert, may have.
The collaboration with Cincinnati Parks and UC’s English Department dates to all the way back to Spring of 2022. What started as a way for UC students to become aware of Cincinnati's parks seemingly hasn't grown old, resulting in six hikes being slotted for the 2025-26 school year.
Assistant professor of English Maia Morgan. Photo/Provided
Morgan was earning her PhD in creative writing when she started Hike + Write. She was completing a graduate assistantship focused on engagement between the UC English Department and community partners when she met Wardlow.
“Cincinnati is highly ranked as one of the country's greenest cities, but many people face barriers to utilizing the over 800 miles of trails in our parks--barriers that may include safety concerns, uncertainties about hiking, or simply a lack of awareness about the many parks tucked away in our city’s neighborhoods,” says Morgan.
And while we assume the trails are not haunted, the same can't be said for their upcoming walk. On October 30th, the group will embark on a trip to Caldwell Nature Preserve to explore ‘the unknowns of nature’ in light of the spooky season sneaking up on us.
Maybe you’ll even share a fright with a new friend, Morgan said—and not necessarily the otherworldly type.
“On last October's hike, we had a pair of friends return who said they'd met on the Halloween hike the previous year,” said Morgan. “I love to hear it!”
The event is free to all with registration required. Whether you like to write, traverse through nature, learn more about your local parks, or want to try something completely new this Halloween season, you can register for Hike + Write’s ‘Hauntings: Encountering the Unknowns in Nature’ here.
Featured image at top: Campfire in the forest. Photo/Peggychoucair for Pixabay.
By Emily Widman
Student Journalist, College of Arts and Sciences Marketing and Communication
artscinews@uc.edu
Related Stories
How AI might help nonprofits
November 7, 2025
University of Cincinnati Professor Victoria LaPoe examined whether people respond differently to AI-created messaging in nonprofit advertising.
Shining like a disco ball: Rachel Hoermann’s story of finding passion and purpose at UC
November 6, 2025
Rachel Hoermann has dreamed of becoming a writer since childhood. But like many who grew up in Ohio’s rust belt, the idea of going to college felt out of reach. For years, she cycled through work that never quite satisfied her creative drive. That changed when she came across a box that once belonged to her father—a discovery that would alter the course of her life.
New hires reflect UC’s commitment to research, innovation and impact
November 6, 2025
With the 2025-26 school year in full swing, the College of Arts and Sciences has welcomed five faculty members to lead departments that span from chemistry to journalism. Dean James Mack said these new hires “reflect our unwavering commitment to ‘Discovery in Action,’ as we continue to enhance our academic and research excellence”. With these additions, the future of UC is in good hands, and students can look forward to new opportunities for learning, research, and innovation.