Nature Awed

Ohio's state nature preserves, in ODNR's words

What each preserve protects, how to visit, and what the rules allow.

Color photo: a paved trail runs along the foot of a towering sandstone cliff in a shaded gorge of hemlocks and hardwoods, a walker far ahead on the path.

A paved path runs under a towering sandstone wall, deep in the shade of hemlocks, one walker far ahead.The file's description: Rocky bluffs and walking trail surrounding a creek that goes through Conkle's Hollow State Nature Preserve and Hocking Hills State Park. Photo: Asahani123, Wikimedia Commons, CC0 public domain dedication (file page). Conkle's Hollow, Hocking County; the file dates it May 29, 2023.

Find preserves near you

Our count: 157 preserves and natural areas in ODNR's GIS layer, 95 with a page here, 115 with no whole-preserve permit requirement identified in ODNR's permit table or their ODNR pages (named-area or activity permits may still apply).

    Our calculation: straight-line miles from the ZIP code's Census centroid to the centre of the preserve's mapped land, not driving distance or the trailhead. Trail miles and the accessibility marker are from ODNR's printed guide; the guide's note for the marker is A portion of the trail system is accessible.

    Our take written by Nature Awed

    Nature Awed covers Ohio's state nature preserves from ODNR's own pages: 157 preserves and natural areas in its GIS layer, 95 with a page here that quotes what ODNR says each one protects, its trails and its visitor notes. 115 show no whole-preserve permit requirement in ODNR's permit table or in their ODNR pages as quoted here, though some of them need a permit for a named part or an activity.

    ODNR describes the preserves as sanctuaries, not parks. The rules page quotes the restrictions and their exceptions for pets, picnics, drones and leaving trails, and the seasons page gathers what ODNR's preserve pages say about wildflower and migration seasons.

    Our introduction to the pages linked here; each one quotes ODNR or the Ohio Administrative Code.

    State nature preserves are not like parks; they are permanently protected sanctuaries for rare plants, animals, unique geologic features, and fragile ecosystems.
    ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide page · our check found this text on October 14
    Preserves are best suited for low-impact outdoor pursuits like hiking, bird watching, nature study, and photography.
    ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide page · our check found this text on October 14

    Preserve scenes, and a Lakeside daisy

    Public-domain and CC0 photographs from Wikimedia Commons. Each links to the preserve's page here; the daisy photo names no place and shows the plant one preserve is named for.

    Color photo looking out from beneath a long overhanging sandstone ledge, with flat slabs of fallen rock and wet ground below and green woods beyond.
    Looking out from under the overhang: a long, layered sandstone ceiling, fallen slabs below, green woods beyond.The file's description: Under the "rock bridge". At Rockbridge State Nature Preserve, Ohio. Photo: Analogue Kid, Wikimedia Commons, released into the public domain by the author (file page). Rockbridge, Hocking County; the file dates it October 27, 2005. Rockbridge State Nature Preserve →
    Color photo of a grassy open meadow with a bench and a small interpretive sign beside a path, a line of evergreen and leafy trees behind under an overcast sky.
    An open, grassy fen with a bench and a small sign by the path, a wall of trees behind.The file's description: Trail crossing Cedar Bog. Photo: Mason Brock, Wikimedia Commons, released into the public domain by the author (file page). Cedar Bog, Champaign County; the file dates it August 23, 2009. Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve →
    Color photo along a rocky Lake Erie shore at low evening light: a breakwater runs out to a white lighthouse with a red roof, calm water on the left and large boulders on the right.
    Calm Lake Erie water, a boulder shore lit by low sun, and the white breakwater light at the end of the pier.The file's description: Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light, Fairport Harbor viewd from the Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve Photo: Pbalson8204, Wikimedia Commons, released into the public domain by the author (file page). Seen from Headlands Dunes, Lake County; uploaded June 9, 2006, per the file. Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve →
    Color close-up of a small plant with two bright yellow daisy flowers and a bud on thin stems, rising from grass-like leaves among broken gray limestone.
    Two yellow Lakeside daisies and a bud, rooted in broken limestone.The file's description: They need dry, rocky prairie with limestone underneath and full sun exposure. Photo: JoAnn Banda, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain (U.S. government work) (file page). The file dates it May 5, 2015 and names no place: it shows the plant the Lakeside Daisy preserve is named for, not the preserve. Lakeside Daisy State Nature Preserve →

    All preserves

    The full table by county, with mapped acres, guide trail miles, permit status and a CSV.

    Can I…?

    Dogs, drones, picnics, paddling: the rule's own text for each.

    Seasons

    What ODNR's pages say about spring wildflowers, summer prairies and fall migration.

    Privacy and cookie settings