The Mitnick Hideaway is placed within a large flat opening probably used as a log landing at the time this property was timbered. The road leading up to the memorial was an old logging road and the sculpture is a memorial to a man named Harold Mitnick, a donor to The Nature Conservancy in the 1980s. This is the only memorial to a donor on a preserve in Maryland and it created somewhat of a controversy when it was installed.
Warning! We just received word from the preserve monitor about a bad yellow jacket nest near the end of the loop trail. For now, we suggest you go out & back to find the geocache, not complete the whole loop trail.
This preserve has a hunting program for white-tailed deer to keep the population healthy and in balance with the environment. While enjoying Maryland's great outdoors during hunting season, remain mindful of hunters and wear orange for your safety. For more information, visit the Department of Natural Resources web site.
Directions to the Bryant Tract at Sideling Hill Creek:
Exit I-68 at High Germany Road. Turn right at the stop sign. You'll cross Sideling Hill Creek after just a couple hundred feet (bridge is inconspicuous). Immediately after crossing the creek, take a sharp right (back-angle) down dirt lane to edge of hay field. Park in the fenced parking area. Please do not block access to dirt lane across the field.
What to See at the Preseve:
Plants:
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The world's healthiest population of the globally-rare aquatic wildflower, harperella.
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Twelve rare, endemic (occurring only on the shale barrens and nowhere else) plants including the nationally-endangered evening primrose, shale ragwort, and Kate's mountain clover.
Animals:
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Olympian marble butterfly, green floater mussel, tiger beetle
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Wild turkey, hawks, and bobcat.
Keep in mind the preserve guidelines when visiting a Nature Conservancy Preserve:
To protect the health of the preserve for generations to come, and to ensure the safety of all visitors, the following activities are not allowed:
- Picking flowers, mushrooms, etc.; removing rocks or other parts of the landscape.
- Smoking.
- Camping, fires or cookouts.
- Driving motorized vehicles, including ATV’s, except on designated access roads.
- Biking.
- Fishing, trapping, or hunting, except as otherwise posted.
- Bringing dogs onto the preserve.
- Horseback riding.
- Feeding wildlife.
- Releasing animals or introducing plants.
- Disposing of trash or other waste, including biodegradable materials.
In addition, in order to minimize the impact visitors have on the preserve, please:
- Use trails.
- Avoid walking in wet, boggy areas.
- Inspect pant legs and shoes to remove seeds before entering and when leaving the preserve. Failure to do so could introduce unwanted weeds to new locations.
- If you flush a ground nesting bird - stop and avoid walking near the nest area.
- Observe all posted signs.
- Please do not remove stakes, signs, flagging, tape or other objects - they might be part of a research project.
- Please do not trespass on private property adjacent to the preserve.
Thank you for being respectful of the preserve and the geocache, and have fun exploring this preserve!