Anderson Compass Plant Prairie State Nature Preserve
Lawrence County, Ohio · access permit required
Our take written by Nature Awed
Anderson Compass Plant Prairie occupies a steep, north-facing hillside in Lawrence County and contains the state-endangered compass-plant, which ODNR names August for viewing.
ODNR's page lists no parking, no facilities and no trail system, and it says visitors need an access permit from the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
Our plain-language reading of the ODNR text quoted on this page. It adds no facts of its own.
Verify current visiting hours and access restrictions with ODNR's page for this preserve and ODNR's permit page before relying on this summary.
What ODNR says about it
The prairie is located on a steep, north-facing hillside. The best time for viewing the state endangered compass-plant is in August. Besides the bright yellow blooms of the compass-plant, other species include green milkweed, rose-pink gentian, early ladies'-tresses and hairy ruellia. Prairie grasses— big bluestem, Indian grass and little bluestem— are abundant throughout this site.
This hillside prairie was named in honor of Ora (Andy) E. Anderson, who was a former state legislator and conservationist from southeastern Ohio.
Visiting
No parking or other facilities are present.
No trail system present.
Access is by permit only from the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.
In ODNR's preserve guide
This preserve has no row in ODNR's printed guide. The guide says: Preserves not listed are either unimproved, or require a written permit to visit.
(ODNR: Ohio State Nature Preserves & Natural Areas Guide (PDF)).
Access permit
ODNR's page for Anderson Compass Plant Prairie State Nature Preserve says a permit is needed (quoted above), though the preserve is not in the table on ODNR's access-permit page. The page quoted above names who issues it.
The permit application must be received by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves at least 14 days in advance of the requested visitation.
Permits will be issued and emailed to the applicant at least 7 days before the scheduled visit. Maps, directions and any special stipulations concerning the use of the preserve will accompany the permit.
Verify the current application deadlines with ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit before you rely on them.
The land on ODNR's map
| LANDS_NAME | COUNTY | PROP_TYPE | SUM_CALC_ACRES | MANAGING_AGENCY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Compass Plant Prairie State Nature Preserve | LAWRENCE | Dedicated Nature Preserve | 16.64 | Division of Natural Areas and Preserves |
| Mapped acres | 16.64 (our sum of the parcels ODNR's GIS layer maps under this name) |
|---|---|
| Access permit | Required, per ODNR's page for this preserve (not in the permit table) |
| Centre of mapped land | 38.6161, -82.4752 (our calculation; not an entrance or parking lot) |
Statewide rules
Ohio Administrative Code chapter 1501:17 sets rules for nature preserves and natural areas under ODNR's supervision or its designated custodian, on pets, drones, picnics, collecting and more. Can I…? quotes them rule by rule, with their exceptions.
Pets are prohibited at all state nature preserves, except Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve where leashed pets are only allowed on the multipurpose paved trail.
Check before you go. Verify current hours, access and trail information on ODNR: Anderson Compass Plant Prairie State Nature Preserve and ODNR: State Nature Preserves Access Permit; our checker last found the quoted words there on October 14.
Nearest other preserves
Straight-line miles between the centres of mapped land (our calculation), not driving distance.
- Baker Swamp State Nature Preserve · Jackson County · about 24 miles
- Raven Rock State Nature Preserve · Scioto County · about 32 miles · permit
- Glade Wetlands Dedicated Nature Preserve · Pike and Jackson counties · about 33 miles · permit
- Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve · Jackson County · about 34 miles
- White’s Gulch State Nature Preserve · Jackson County · about 36 miles