Miami University maintains over 17 miles of hiking trails through its natural preserves on the edges of campus. These aren't manicured parkland — they are genuine second-growth forest, wetlands, and creek corridors that feel surprisingly wild for a university setting. The Ecology Research Center tract off Bachelor Road is particularly good for birdwatching and wildflower walks in spring.
The trails are free and open to the public. They are the best way to see Oxford beyond the brick quads, and they connect the campus to the surrounding farm landscape of Butler County. In autumn, the hardwoods put on a proper fall colour display.