The New Swinging Bridge at Hueston Woods: An Interview With Kathryn Conner

Running through the heart of Hueston Woods, the Big Woods Trail takes hikers through acres of uncut beech-maple forest. The trail’s new swinging bridge, which Enjoy Oxford helped sponsor, was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 29, 2026.

We spoke with Kathryn Conner, park manager for Hueston Woods, about how the bridge came together and what it means for visitors. Here’s what she had to say:

Enjoy Oxford: What was the inspiration for the swinging bridge, and how was its location chosen?

Kathryn: The Big Woods Trail had a failing bridge that needed to be removed, as well as a creek crossing along the trail that made it difficult to traverse after a rain or snowmelt. By rerouting the trail to bypass the failing bridge and building the new swinging bridge to cross the creek, we were able to solve both of these problems.

The Hueston Woods Visitors Bureau is always looking for new ways to bring visitors into the park and enhance their experience while they’re here. Creating a picturesque bridge, while also creating a safe, comfortable hiking experience, was a great fit for the group’s mission.

Enjoy Oxford: What steps were taken to minimize the project’s impact on the surrounding environment?

Kathryn: Prior to construction, we were required to have the area surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office to be sure there were no cultural or historic artifacts in the vicinity of the proposed bridge. In addition, the area was approved by the Division of Natural Areas and the preserve’s state botanist, and no trees were removed for this project.

Enjoy Oxford: What people and organizations supported your efforts to build the swinging bridge?

Kathryn: The Hueston Woods Visitors Bureau, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Enjoy Oxford, TriHealth, Green Prairie Turf, Miami Valley Audubon, and the Oxford Lions Club.

Enjoy Oxford: How does the swinging bridge change what visitors can experience on the Big Woods Trail?

Kathryn: The swinging bridge has been a great addition that enhances the hiking experience for visitors. It allows the trail to be traveled in all weather conditions, year-round, making it easier for visitors to explore the surrounding preserve and enjoy its spring wildflowers, migrating songbirds and fall foliage.

Enjoy Oxford: What should visitors know before setting out to see the bridge, including where to access the trail, how strenuous the hike is and how much time to allow?

Kathryn: The Big Woods Trail is not a loop, so you’ll need to hike out and back unless you park a vehicle at each end. The trail has some hills, making it a moderate hiking experience. Allow roughly one to two hours to experience the entire trail.

If you only want to hike to the bridge and back, you can access it from the Sugar Bush Trail parking lot, which is before you get to the fishing pier parking lot. This shorter hike should only take a few minutes.

Because the trail runs through a nature preserve, visitors must stay on the trail. Collecting of any kind is prohibited, and pets are not permitted within the preserve.

Enjoy Oxford: What makes the Big Woods Trail unique, and what makes Hueston Woods unique?

Kathryn: At the core of our park is Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve. It protects more than 200 acres of uncut beech-maple forest, a remnant of what Ohio’s landscape looked like before European settlement. This preserve makes our park unique and is the reason we have a park.

The Big Woods Trail and other trails, including Blue Heron and Sugar Bush, allow park visitors to immerse themselves in this space and experience what it feels like to walk back in time.

Enjoy Oxford: What do you hope the bridge will contribute to Hueston Woods and the visitor experience in the years ahead?

Kathryn: We hope the swinging bridge draws attention to this special area of our park, brings more visitors to the Big Woods Trail and keeps them returning to enjoy the trail all year round.